Out In The Cold
Flying Fish Brewing Company

Winter ale.
A: One inch spongey textured head is tannish and sits with a good retention. Cola-ish pour color, sits a dark ice tea in the vessel. Good carbonation collection on bottom of glass slowly releases. Dark color, nice head formation and retention perfect for a winter warmer.

S: Caramel-soda syrup like sweetness on the opening nose. Chocolate, light roasted woodiness with a soft offering of winter spicing of cinnamon, dark fruit and raisins. Aroma strength was light to moderate.

T: Flavor was rich cola sweetness upfront, quickly followed by a cola bitterness with some warming flowery hops. Munich toastiness, spicy winter flair, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon that was lightly dry with some warming pine needles. A light dusty coating remains on the tongue.

M: Full viscose body, caramel substance, low carbonation factor with a spicy warmth of winter spicing on inner cheeks.

O: Good appearance, nice warming and winter spicing is backed by a hearty viscose body sure to warm on that chilly winter night. Good drinkability, gets smoother as it goes.

 

The pours that emptied two twelve ounce cans entirely into a clear glass liter mug went a little too foamy, but they were at room temperature. The foam is very light biege in color and it reduces slowly. The liquid beneath is brightly light brown-amber. Cola sodas are darker hued than this. Spice aromas are had, but they're rather mild. Likely nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla contribute to the overall. If there's clove, at least to the nose, its subtle. To taste, there seems to be nutmeg and maybe clove, with a little cinnamon. It also could be some blackstrap molasses to add some earthy sweetness. Whatever the recipe, it's tasty without being overly spiced. It does run a little sweetly, even for a Winter Ale, but not so much as to be out of balance. That might be the best characteristic of this brew. Nothing is overplayed here, although it's obviously a spiced ale. All the spicing works together and the sweetness is complex enough to accept at this level. The decent dose of alcohol is nicely incorporated into the flavor and mouthfeel. It's full flavored, yet rather light across the tongue. It's surprising there isn't as much glass lacing as its body would suggest. Sometimes, spiced ales are overdone, but this isn't one of those.

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has an amberish color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, spices. Taste follows the aroma, spices are more pronounced. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.