Winter Coat (2024)
StormBreaker Brewing

 

Reddish brown pour with a tan head. Having enjoyed multiple years of this series this is exactly as expected only the apricot tartness cut through more and more as it warmed. The nose has the apricot with the usual biscuit cookie, playful yeast, earthy undertones and mild caramel with warming bourbon barrel backing. Taste is much the same, a little more graininess and booze. Feel is the one aspect where the apricot cutting in more holds back the usual depth of this beer. Good but I preferred other years

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a dark orange red with a quarter finger light khaki head that dissipates to a thick cap with light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, bourbon, plums and a faint hint of citrus. Flavor is caramel malt, plums, raisins, light orange and apricot and a hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. A nice malt base that is reminiscent of a muted hybrid of English (plums) and American (stone fruit and orange) barleywines. Good bourbon character. The fruit flavors are harmonious and meld well with with the malt. Because of the barleywine-like taste, I kept expecting a greater depth of flavor, but it is more than satisfactory for its style. Despite my taste buds confusion, this is a a nice winter warmer with good barrel notes and a pleasant fruit profile.

 

Clear, dark brown body, opaque in the glass; decent head initially, fades relatively quickly to a thin yet lasting khaki colored head, semi-creamy. Very pleasant aroma; yellow pome fruits; soft, toasted malt quality; subtle whiskey note in the background. Fantastic taste; toasted grains with delicate bitter chocolate and light cacao nibs; mild caramel sweetness; prominent booziness offsets the inherent sweetness. Heavy mouthfeel; soft and velvety underpinned with a fine alcohol warmth; light stickiness.

Overall, a nicely balanced yet boozy holiday ale. The dark malts and fruit additives balance the single malt whiskey barrel aging. Good complexity and a fine cold weather sipper.

ABV: 8.3%; pouring temperature: 48.9 °F: canning info: 2024 Edition
Source: Tavour