Festeroo Winter Ale
Hop Valley Brewing Company

Remember the name and bottle and I gave it a little above average rating so was good not great. 60 IBUs

 

Treated as a winter warmer, this was poured into a mug. The appearance was a dark brown color with a good finger and a half worth’s of white foamy head. Dissipates mildly with a messy lace roaming all around. The aroma bleeds ginger, allspice, and caramel malts. Grassy hops seek to balance decently. The flavor leads with the same aromas. Sticky caramel malt backbone seems to really impound the aftertaste to run into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation feels fine. Overall, good as a winter warmer, maybe again.

12 ounce glass poured to wine glass
sight: amber, hazy, cloudy, small tan foam
Smell: very fragrant, malty aroma
taste: delicious, medium bitterness, sweet
Mouthfeel: creamy, good carbonation, with long finish with sweet follow through, finish, bitter aftertaste
Overall: Very good beer will definitely try again
drank: Friday, May 05, 2017 5:03 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle from Boise Co-op. Pours out a ruby tinged gold, with sparse head, yet leaves copious amounts of spotty lacing. Malt drives the aroma and taste, backup support comes from hops, spice and a bit of alcohol warmth. It all comes together quite nicely for a winter warmer.

Appearance: red-brown with white lace foam

Smell: bready, malt

Taste: "It's an IPA."

Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium body and solidly carbonated.

Overall: I didn't expect to open an IPA, it's an IPA. It's fine.

Reminds me, as another reviewer wrote, of an amber ale. Has a lot more hop character than most of the other winter ales I've been drinking recently. I'm enjoying it a lot.