South Pole Elf
Platform Beer Co.

 

 

 

 

L: dark brown, with a tan head and good lacing
S: hints of cinnamon, ginger and baking spices
T: sweet, baking spices
F: I wish it was a little more full bodied
O: really nice Christmas ale

 

12 FL OZ can
Served in a perfect pint glass

This beer pours rust colored with copper highlights. It is topped with a couple inches of tan head that leaves decent lacing.

I get the typical collage of Christmas spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc.

The taste matches the aroma. I get Christmas spices. Toasted malt

Medium bodied with a gritty mouthfeel

Typical winter warmer. Not great. Not bad.

 

 

 

Very nutty, winter warmer taste at the start then turns into almost like a scotch ale or bourbon beer. Smoothes out for a normal finish. Very dark in color, almost like a porter.

12 ounce can into stout glass, canned on 10/26/2020. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy ruby red, light orange/brown color with a 1 finger dense and rocky cream colored head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lasts. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas and flavors of big cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel, brown sugar, ginger, brown bread/crust, toast, biscuit, light coffee/roast/dark fruit, wood, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, woody, grassy, peppery, roasted bitterness; and cinnamon/clove spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel, brown sugar, ginger, brown bread/crust, toast, biscuit, light coffee/roast/dark fruit, wood, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness on the finish for while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of spices, dark/bready/light roasted malts, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/sticky, and light chalky balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is an excellent winter warmer. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of spices, dark/bready/light roasted malts, earthy hops, and light fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish; not overwhelming on any aspect. Minimal residual sweetness from lingering bitter/spicy dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive style example.

Not a huge fan of black licorice but this one is pretty balanced with winter spices and a smooth body. Doesn't get too sweet but has plenty of cinnamon brown sugar and nutmeg notes. Still drinking pretty good even though Christmas is far from over!

 

 

I got a 6pck of this beer from my local meijer store...but also got one in the advent pack I bought from my local beer store just around the corner. It poured a murky nearly opaque amber with off white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had anise hints mixed with some subtle holiday scents. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with oatmeal and holiday spice presence and subtle black licorice flare. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.

Pours a dark reddish copper color, minimal head. Over aroma of Xmas spices. Flavor is dark brown sugar, Cinnamon sugar, nutmeg, clove. Carbonation adds to a creamy texture. Overall A tasty Xmas beer.

12/17/20
12 oz can dated
4 rating

 

12oz can served in a rastel snifter glass. Canned on 09/26/20.

Appearance: Brown/dark amber with a thin off-white head. Island and thick strands of persistent lacing.

Smell: Ginger, nutmeg, sweetness - close to sugar cookies, but a bit more malty.

Taste: Ginger, sweet malt with a mix of caramel and bready/biscuity/cookie flavors, and an unusual finish. I can't quite place it - it's not exactly bitter, but it's not sweet either.

Mouthfeel: Good thickness, crisp but light carbonation, a bit of lingering spiciness, and a dry finish.

Overall / Drinkability: I feel like this needs to pair with something, probably cookies given all the other flavors. By itself, it's an interesting beer, but the odd taste at the finish made me glad to try it, but one is enough.