Midvinter Ol
HammerHeart Brewing Company

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From:
HammerHeart Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
7.7%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.06 | pDev: 9.85%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
19
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 18, 2019
Added:
Mar 23, 2014
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Ratings by XmnwildX12:
Photo of XmnwildX12
Rated by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

May 08, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Alieniloquium
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle. Black body with a nice mocha head. Smells of licorice, black malts, oak, cinnamon and other spices. Like allspice or something. Something almost meaty. Tastes of strong roasted malts, licorice, oak, lots of cinnamon and spices. Finishes dry with lingering spice flavors. Boozy but not sweet. Fascinating. A little strong on the spices, but good.
Jun 18, 2019
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
L: Pitch black under a 2" tan cap with fair to poor retention and a very fine bead.

S: a fleeting sniff of aquavit, spices, apricot, chocolate, trace of dark malts

T: Rich malt flavors with the malt blending very well with the apricot. the chocolate malt flavors and the apricot flavors go especially well together. The aquavit and barrel character are in the background but present. here is a moderate bitter in the background.

F: Full bodied, smooth, creamy, medium low carbonation, creamy, mild alcohol warming, nothing hot or harsh.

O: A big, fruity, chocolaty, full flavored beer.
Jun 17, 2019
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
a neat spiced black ale, sort of fashioned as a winter warmer, and possibly barrel aged, at least in part, i didnt get all the details, but this has a crazy rich woodiness about it and even a curious botanical profile that would suggest to me something like gin or grappa, but i may be reaching. pours like a stout or porter in the glass, near black with some dark red edges and a rising tan colored head, almost nitro looking from the tap, rich and foamy. aroma and flavor showcase a warming winter spice complexion that to me features anise and black pepper notes, but also hints of clove, raisin, and of course earthy campfire smoke, this is hammerheart afterall. i get some nice wood nuance to it, some char from the dark grains and possibly a barrel, and then a cool woodsy element, fallen leaves in decay, wet dark soil, and split wood. its awesome. some light peppery warmth at the end with the alcohol, a botanical or even medicinal freshness that i cant explain, and some nice coffee tones with the accompanying bitterness. palate coating body but this doesnt finish sweet. splendid beer, perfect winter sipper, i really dug this one!
Apr 11, 2018
Photo of THANAT0PSIS
Reviewed by THANAT0PSIS from Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Hammerheart Midvinter Øl (Aquavit Barrel-Aged)

A: A fitting beer for a cold night in the dead of winter pours completely opaque jet black. Head on the darker side of tan of about two fingers crowns this Nordic king and stays in place a moderate amount of time. Lacing is excellent. Viscosity appears quite thick, and given the 11% ABV, there are slight alcohol legs present. The appearance more than lives up to the name (and the Danish and Norwegian word for beer, "Øl," conjures apt mental images of oil as a bonus). 4.5/5

A: This aggressive-yet-refined brew bursts forth with one of the most complex aromas of any beer around. Anise from the aquavit is the first stab, but considering the strength of that spirit, it is not nearly as overpowering as one might expect. Waves upon waves of spices come next with cardamom and cinnamon dueling for the title of most prominent; clove and coriander are firmly in the back seat. Earthy hops and intense roast presages balance and reassures the drinker that the base beer is not simply a canvas for spices and barrel. Baker's chocolate and a savory-sweet layer of smoke lie underneath it all, providing a very solid foundation for all the complexity. Amazing. 5/5

T: In a bit of a twist, the smoke comes first in the flavor and hits hard. The aforementioned spices strike next but more as overtones prodding here and there, escaping into the nasal passages on trails of sweet campfire smoke. A dark chocolate semi-sweetness dominates the middle of the palate before being swept aside by tons of roast and earthy hops. Some savory spices round the flavor out before the end, somewhat evocative of rye whiskey. Finally, the licorice and anise of the aquavit finish each sip off cleanly with the assistance of oak, a return of smoke, hop bitterness, and a building heat from the chipotles. The balance is impeccable, and this truly remains a beer first with the spices and barrel accenting it, not the other way around. The intensity is just a bit muted as compared to the nose, which is somewhat disappointing. 4.5/5

M: This is not the freshly-drilled, unrefined crude oil it appeared to be initially, but that actually has its benefits, despite being a little unfortunate. There is still plenty of creaminess and heft here, to be sure, but it is just thin enough to be (somehow) very drinkable. The bitterness of the hops, oak, and aquavit plus the dryness of the smoke do an admirable job of mostly cleansing the palate of all the complexity after each sip. The heat (neither pepper nor alcohol) never becomes too much to handle. This is a real achievement. 4.75/5

O: Well, like the wolves' share of Hammerheart's output, this beer is a stunner. There is so much going on, yet it remains drinkable, even restrained in most aspects. It is not easy to use this many spices and a very flavorful spirit like aquavit (plus smoke) and create a beer this balanced. It is rustic yet cozy, not unlike a fire-heated cabin in the Minnesota wilderness. Like co-founder Austin Lunn's brilliant folk/Americana/bluegrass/black metal project Panopticon, there is little else like this anywhere. Pair with their most aggressive release "Social Disservices" as well as the very interesting black metal documentary "Until the Light Takes Us". 5/5
Jan 26, 2018
Photo of NilocRellim
Reviewed by NilocRellim from Minnesota

4.34/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark black colour. Smells like fresh spruce, juniper, ginger, allspice, and dark fruits, with a touch of clove. Tastes Heavy and smoked, with a pleasant bittering oilcoat which lingers afterward into a light cooling sensation. Dark and roasty body, balanced bittersweet chocolate malts and peat smoke, ginger, cardomom, and perhaps a bit of mint or dill; some kind of subtle vegetal herbaceous notes at the end. Balanced and smooth. semidry finish.
Jan 01, 2018
Photo of MattyG85
Reviewed by MattyG85 from Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
750 ml mini growler from the brewery. Poured into a Hammerheart tulip glass. 2016 version aged for one year in aquavit barrels and coming in at 10%.

Appearance: Pours jet black with a moderate amount of bubbles. Slight finger of tan head that quickly fades away.

Smell: A rich, boozy, and spicy aroma with a scent of aquavit, winter spices, and roast. Big barrel presence with a strong scent of aquavit liquor. Spice scent of pepper, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, and anise. Dark roasted malt with a scent of dark chocolate, coffee, smoke, toast, biscuit, caramel, and toffee with yeast. Sweet hits of molasses and vanilla. Dark fruit hints of fig, raisin, and prune. Also some nice hints of earthy hops. A very good complex aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a rich, boozy, and spicy taste with notes of aquavit, winter spices, and roast. Upfront barrel presence with notes of aquavit liquor. Mix of winter spices including notes of pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, and anise. Dark malt notes of dark chocolate, coffee, toast, biscuit, smoke, toffee, and caramel with yeast. Some sweet notes of molasses and vanilla. Dark fruit undertones of raisin, fig, and prune. Some earthy hop bitterness towards the finish. A very good taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Fairly thick and hot as expected. Finishes dry.

Overall: A really good barrel aged brew. Nice mix of aquavit barrel, spice, and roast notes.
Dec 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by jakemn91 from New Mexico

Apr 14, 2016
Photo of SD-Alefan
Reviewed by SD-Alefan from South Dakota

4.29/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Aquavit barrel-aged version.
Enjoyed on tap. Pours an opaque black with a dark tan, finger-and-a-half head that dissipates to some lingering lace.
The aroma is loaded. Roasted char and dark chocolate, black coffee, dark fruits, charred oak and a hint of booze.
Tasty and complex on the tongue. Dark chocolate and roast coffee up front then some char and smoky notes come on followed by prune and raisin and just a hint of tartness. As it warms, a touch of fennel and oak, a bit of vanilla and a lingering bitter, slightly herbal, finish. A hint of boozy warmth.
Mouthfeel is medium and smooth.
It all comes together into a very appropriate drink for these frozen midwinter Midwest months.
Feb 01, 2016
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Jet black, big brown head. Much more carbonation than usual Hammerheart 750's.

Smell: Spices, vanilla/wood, roasted malts.

Taste: Starts with chocolate and spiciness, gets more fruity as it warms up. Not a lot of barrel in the taste, unless that's where the fruitiness is coming from. Dark chocolate bitterness in the finish. As usual, Hammerheart beer is hard to describe for me.

Overall: I had this a couple years ago, but missed it last year, so I had to get some with the late 2015/early 2016 release. Good stuff, as usual Hammerheart puts a ton of flavors into the beer, so it's hard for me to pick them all out. Kind of a stout with a touch of barrel and some unique fruitiness.
Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by tykechandler from Kentucky

Dec 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by DangerDawg from Ohio

Jun 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by bfirkin45 from Minnesota

Jun 22, 2014
Photo of barczar
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Black as night with one of the darkest heads I've seen.

Tar, roast malt, espresso, and dark chocolate dominate the aroma. Mocha, licorice, plums, and dates add complexity.

Flavor is more roast dominant than the aroma, fairly bitter, but with an initial brandy and nutty malt sweetness. Underpinnings of cocoa, raisins, and figs are subtle.

Body is fairly light, smooth, with minimal carbonation and significant alcohol warmth.

A little more roast dominant than I prefer, but the brandy and underlying dark fruit and chocolate character keeps me going back for more.
Mar 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by TheBeerAlmanac from Kentucky

Mar 26, 2014
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4.12/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
With brandy lovers in mind, Hammerheart has a beer for you. What's starts out spicy and stout-like takes on a fortified wine taste that promotes spirit spiciness, savory vinous tones and a tangy acidity that's sure to bring delight to fans of grape as well as grain.

This brandy-soaked version of Midvinter Ol pours with a near-pitch black appearance, only softened by the deep crimson low lights that illuminate its edges. While a pop and a fizz of short-statured head simmers atop the beer, its longevity succumbs to the barrel influence buried within. The ale prefers an ominous brandy-type appearance as much as it does of stout.

Sharp aromas announce its brandy influence with gusto as even the strong aromatics of roasted nuts, dark coffee, cocoa, campfire and charred toast are dwarfed by the beer's barrel character. Savory sherry, tangy tannin-rich red wine, tart blackberry, plumb and currant all rise with wafts of wine and stout intermittently.

Its taste is malty-sweet at first- weaving together the taste of french-roast coffee, burnt toast, cocoa powder and smoldering embers with that of black-strap molasses and burnt sugar. Its middle palate opens with an introduction of dark fruit- plumb, blackcurrant, raisin, blackberry and red grape seem sprinkled with herbal allspice before the barrel locks in its taste to finish. That's when the drunken fruit tones come alive with the spice of brandy, its oaken flavor and a finish of tang and pepper.

What seems to be a rich and lavish body is quickly dissected by the beer's wood spice and spirit heat as it picks apart the beer's early carbonation and residual sweetness with pinpoint precision. What's left is a powdery-oak finish with merlot, brandy and char echoing in aftertaste.

Midvinter Ol is simply a stout up front but brandy in the rear. Its a tale of two halves that are threaded together seamlessly. Perhaps a Frankenstein of flavor, the individual tastes are full, brash and unapologetic; and I'm not sure I'd have it any other way.
Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by kybeerdrinker from Kentucky

Mar 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Mar 23, 2014
Photo of KYGunner
Reviewed by KYGunner from Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This poured like an oatmeal stout as it set up a frothy tan head with a dull black coloring.

The aroma holds a roasted malt, toasted nut, sweet dried fruit and a Christmas spice of cinnamon, nutmeg and anise.

The flavor is hugely complex with deep chocolate, caramel malt, marshmallow, Graham cracker, toast, roasted nut, anise, maple syrup x2, cinnamon and nutmeg. This finishes with a vinous brandy soaked fruit.

The feel is dry, lightly carbonated with almost no bite but a fullness and heaviness that makes it a bit slow to drink.

This is a slightly different take on the Winter Warmer as it keeps the malt and spice but then diversified it with more chocolate, maple and nut. This makes it one of the better entrants to this genre.
Mar 23, 2014
Midvinter Ol from HammerHeart Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 19 ratings