Hazelnut Winter Fest Ale
Adams Street Brewery

 

 

Pours a slightly hazy orangish brown with a decent head that disappears quickly and leaves minimal lacing.

Aroma is a strong hazelnut pressence and some sweet caramel and bread like notes.

Taste is sweet. Again a strong hazelnut flavor, a little almond pressence too. Almost like a slight metallic taste as well which kicks it down a notch in my book. A little fruit and hops are there too.

Mouthfeel is ok as is drinkablility. Overall, an ok beer.

The winter seasonal, yes it’s September, but this beer was purchased in mid spring on clearance as part of a 6 pack and was cellared all summer. This Winter Ale pours a very deep golden color with hints of copper. A thin white head floats atop the beer diminishing to a thin skim. The aroma of this beer is dominated by malt, a very nutty malt aroma, quite unique; unique good and unique bad. The taste of this beer has a moderate-high malty sweetness to it with the background of hazelnuts. The bottle says a hint of hazelnut flavor, but I would argue it’s quite prominent. The sweetness is balanced by a low hop bitterness and exhibits little, if any hop flavor. The beer is moderately carbonated and medium-bodied, overall it is quite smooth. Overall I enjoyed this beer; I had the other 5 probably in April but this one was stashed in the back of the fridge and I’m just reviewing now. I enjoy the taste of the beer, although the hazelnut aspect could be a bit more subdued or maybe a bit more hop bitterness and/or hop flavor would have helped. The aroma as I said is unique, I think I dislike the aroma more than I like it, however the beer tastes better than it smells. I will buy another 6er or two this winter, especially if the price is right.

Appearance is dark golden or a light amber, nice white head that stayed.

Smell is HAZELNUTS ALL THE WAY!!! This doesn't smell like beer at all...it smells like hazelnut creamer.

Sweet flavor, very little bitterness, hazelnut flavor dominates and is almost the only thing I can taste. No malt flavor, oddly enough, in a winter warmer. One dimensional.

Mouthfeel is thinner than I expected. Medium bodied. Clean finish.

Very drinkable. I can totally see this being consumed in the coldest depths of winter, at cellar temps. However, I have a hard time seeing it as a winter warmer, it's almost more of a flavored pale ale.

I gave it higher taste and smell ratings than some might because I really like hazelnuts. If you're not a BIG fan of hazelnuts, keep away from this, because that's all it tastes like. That's a good thing for me, but for some, it might be WAY too much.

12oz. bottle courtesy of AKSmokedPorter.

Lighter-colored than expected. Like iced tea with some orang food coloring added. Only a small ring of tan-colored lace at the edges. No lacing.

Prominent hazelnut odors. Maybe some phenolic esters. Flavors mostly a nutty-sweet mix. There's an unpleasant "raw alcohol" flavor as well. Not sure what this is, but it really detracted from the flavor. Prickly dry finish. Some nutty aftertaste. Decent mouthfeel, maybe too carbonated? Average dinkability. Even in the dead of winter, I'm not sure how eager I'd be for this "winter" warmer. Maybe an early fall/late summer warmer?

Into a pint glass, at a Famous Daves, pours an amber/copper with minimal head, shrinking to nothing, with big carbonated bubbles sticking to side of glass. Aroma is definitely nutty, kind of hazelnut-like I suppose, weak but also malts. Taste has more of the hazelnut characteristic, not really overpowering, but not really appealing. Some sweet malt in there too, a decent body, though a little thin. So, ya, never having this again. Had to walk away from it, which is rare for me.

Poured into a tulip it had a simple thin head that fizzed away quickly, sparing ring lacing. Filtered, yellow to copper. Lazy, large carbonation.

Has some woody, earthy characteristics to it. I don't get a "distinct" hazelnut smell or taste but it does come across with some nuttyness. The macro corn, grainy smell and taste lay claim to the middle. A candied presence creeps out as the beer warms a bit, alcohol seems very evident for such an average ABV%. Some lighter side fruitiness becomes apparent later as well.

Notes: Eh...not for me really. I can see how some folks could get into this as it was interesting at least, just didn't strike the right cords with me.

Certainly worth a try, but far from becomming a quality brew. Moderate malt character contributes sweetness and body beyond a amber colored brew that fails to hold onto a lightly fizzy / lightly rocky head retention. An obvious nutty character, but undecernable of specific hazlenut. Light caramel flavor and a little butter-toast like. Body lacks the texture and roundness to mask a persistant grain flavor and husk astringency. Hopped only for the offset of sweetness, but contributing no real hop flavor. Finishes lightly sweet, nutty, and with a residual bitterness. All in all, it's fair, but I won't seek it out.

Appearance - Red brown with a sudsy head. Clear. Head lingers for most of the beer and leaves some lacing. All-in-all pretty good.

Smell - Woo! Strong hazelnut scent overpowers everything else. Not unpleasant in my opinion, but this is a beer not a Yankee candle.

Taste - Hazelnut is still prominent but not as overpowering as the scent may have lead one to believe. Mostly sweet malt with just a hint of lemony aftertaste. Kinda watery. Could be much better.

Mouthfeel - A bit on the watery side.

Drinkability - I actually like this. It suffers in the ratings, though, because it really overdoes the hazelnut. Instead of finding a subtle additional flavor, the drinker is instantly overwhelmed by the featured ingredient. Makes the beer a one note song. But it doesn't taste bad if you like hazelnuts.

Pours an amber color with a small head that's gone fast and doesn't leave much on the sides of the glass. The aroma has a little bit of fruit and an obvious nutty character. The flavor is almost a little too sweet and it has a metallic taste in addition to the nuttiness and the caramel malts. This beer is ok, but it's pretty thin and it could use more flavor and some punch.

12 ounce bottle. Berghoff Hazlenut Winter Ale pours out a clear copper color topped with an inch of white foam. Some hazlenut in the aroma, but there is also an overpowering sweet smell that makes me cringe a bit. Cloyingly sweet flavor with a strange, artificial hazlenut taste. A little bit malty. No hop flavor. The syrupy sweet flavor makes this beer difficult to drink. Some banana flavor too. Mouthfeel is thin. I won't be trying this one again.

On tap 01/17/06 at the Berghoff Cafe in O'Hare Airport in Chicago, IL.

Copper hued with little to no head, strange light carbonation, and no head. Sweet malty aroma and flavor with the hazelnut standing out way too much. Not subtle at all. Light-medium bodied, flat, and watery.

Blah ! Pass ! Too much Hazelnut character; one-dimensional.

Per JH website:
Availability: November – February
Malts: Brewer’s Two-Row, Carapils and Caramel Malts
Hops: Galena
ABV: 5.6%
OG: 13.7
IBU: 20

appearance: When I am handed the beer by the barkeep, the beer has a one finger white head that recedes to a low smattering of bubbles on the surface. The beer is a medium amber/light copper color.

smell: On the nose I get some moderate caramel sweetness and some lightly toasted grains. The hop aroma is light. There is also a slight skunky aroma.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is just under medium. The body is a heavier light with a slight slickness after the swallow.

taste: First up I find some moderately sweet caramel flavors. A slight metallic note is noticed. Hops are kept low, and have a spicy character to them. The beer is somewhat watery, and again there is a slight skunkiness. The finish is of a lingering bitterness and some light sweetness.

drinkability: Very drinkable, but average in character, especially for the style.

I had this beer at the Berghoff Cafe in O'Hare terminal C while on a layover to Madison.

Nice coppery amber color with a decent fizzy white head that disipates to just a slight skin rather quickly but does manages to leave some traces of lace.

The aroma is mainly toasted hazelnuts and biscuits with some hints of vanilla and spices.

The flavor is also mostly hazelnut, bread, figs or plums and some soft spices, nothing aggressive.

Light/medium bodied, a touch watery and alcohol becomes noticeable toward the finish which is just a bit metallic. Not too bad as a winter warmer.

Picked up a single at Steve's Liquor on a clearance shelf at the bottom of the cooler for $0.99. Maybe a little past its prime, but should be fine I think.

Pours a fiery amber with a snow white head that fizzes away quickly. Aroma is warm an inviting, like a fresh out of the oven sticky bun with hazelnuts with a bitter kick at the end. Taste starts out with this same nutty sweetness but transitions unfortunately into an astringent bitter flavor remeniscent of their original lager. It's a shame cuz that first second of flavor is pretty damn tasty, this could be a pretty damn good winter warmer if it had a more solid base to it. Mouthfeel is average, bubbly and medium bodied. If it wasn't for the nosedive the flavor takes, this would be a real drinker too, but as it stands, one will do. I'd like to see some refinement here as this stuff has potential.

Normal Berghoff label design but with light blue ascents and a snowflake in the middle.

A: No head, amber color.

S: Destinctive nut odor.

T: not all that good, the hazelnut flavor is present but not all that good of a mix with beer.

M: Flat.

D: Luckily part of a mix a six.

Blind tasted at just under fridge temperature in a tasting glass.

Appearance- Big crown atop a strong copper, clear brew. Head settles rapidly to a thin mat.

Smell- Nice, natural hazelnut immediately on the nose, followed by the warming spices usually associated with your winter seasonals. Hints of fig and dates in the background.

Taste- Pure hazelnut, not overly sweet as in some artificial flavorings. Alcohol comes next and almost becomes too obvious, but not to the beer's demise. The flavors hold up pretty well.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Light and watery, with strong carbonation that subsides as the beer warms. Overall, a decent one-time brew.

Served in a tasting glass (tulip) at fridge temperature.

A - Lovely burnished copper color. Head starts nicely, but quickly dimishes to a weak lace atop the beer.

S - Obvious hazelnut along with dark fruits and a smattering of gentle wintertime spices.

T - Medium caramel maltiness with a hint of natural hazelnut flavor (as opposed to a refined extract). A little alcoholic, metallic bite in the middle to the finish.

M - Watery and slick. Slightly sharp carbonation that wanes as the beer is consumed. Nothing of note.

D - The light and pleasant hazelnut flavor is this beer's saving grace. Decent as a one-off, but definitely not a session beer. Not bad, but not terribly great.

12 oz bottle pours a clear amber-brown with a small light brown head that doesn't last very long, not much lacing either. Nice sweet nutty aroma, flavor of hazelnuts and bread. Medium bodied with a soft and smooth mouthfeel, finishes on the sweet side.