Old Man (Winter Ale) | Southern Tier Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Southern Tier Brewing Company
New York, United States
stbcbeer.com
Style: Old Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Jason on 12-17-2003
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,611 | Reviews: 571
Reviews by JohnnyMc:
2.91/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This is a very easy to drink winter seasonal ale. The taste is not bold, but subtle. The bottle says it is brewed with 3 kinds of hops and 2 kinds of malts, but overall the malt, smoky taste comes through over the hops.
There is a slight bitter aftertaste, but there are hints of fruit too. For the decent abv, there is not event he slightest hint of alcohol in the aroma or taste and that's a big plus.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This is a very easy to drink winter seasonal ale. The taste is not bold, but subtle. The bottle says it is brewed with 3 kinds of hops and 2 kinds of malts, but overall the malt, smoky taste comes through over the hops.
There is a slight bitter aftertaste, but there are hints of fruit too. For the decent abv, there is not event he slightest hint of alcohol in the aroma or taste and that's a big plus.
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More User Reviews:
3.73/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Head retention is remarkable with a sizable froth to start and lots of stickage after. Clarity is fine. Deep malty aroma of dark sugars and raisins, hops are not to modest at all with a thick oily nose of tangerine and wild flowers. Creamy slick mouth feel with lots of body, maltiness tries to set in but the bitterness from the hops up roots almost all of the sweetness and holds fast with bitter herb and hard a dried orange peel flavor. This does fade a little and some warming alcohol and caramel sweetness comes through. Finishes bittersweet.
Perhaps some age would be good or not, I like it fresh right now. Bitter and heady. I am sure a little age will dull the hops and bring forth the sweetness in hopes that the alcohol ages just as well. A solid pick for the season.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Head retention is remarkable with a sizable froth to start and lots of stickage after. Clarity is fine. Deep malty aroma of dark sugars and raisins, hops are not to modest at all with a thick oily nose of tangerine and wild flowers. Creamy slick mouth feel with lots of body, maltiness tries to set in but the bitterness from the hops up roots almost all of the sweetness and holds fast with bitter herb and hard a dried orange peel flavor. This does fade a little and some warming alcohol and caramel sweetness comes through. Finishes bittersweet.
Perhaps some age would be good or not, I like it fresh right now. Bitter and heady. I am sure a little age will dull the hops and bring forth the sweetness in hopes that the alcohol ages just as well. A solid pick for the season.
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3.9/5 rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
When I'm in the mood for Southern Tier, I usually go for 2XIPA, because it's delicious and always available at the local store. Today it was not. Even though I'm not a huge fan of winter ales, I decided to give this one a shot.
Pours a nice copper color. Not a lot of head or lacing here. Smells like sweet spiced malts up front, but doesn't lack that nice hop aroma. Booze definitely hits the nose. The mouthfeel is surprisingly moderate, with plenty of carbonation. Starting to think this ale goes a little out of bounds for its style. The taste confirms my suspicion: malty, spicy, subtle sweetness, but with a refreshing amount of bitter hops to round it out.
Pleasantly surprised by this brew.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
When I'm in the mood for Southern Tier, I usually go for 2XIPA, because it's delicious and always available at the local store. Today it was not. Even though I'm not a huge fan of winter ales, I decided to give this one a shot.
Pours a nice copper color. Not a lot of head or lacing here. Smells like sweet spiced malts up front, but doesn't lack that nice hop aroma. Booze definitely hits the nose. The mouthfeel is surprisingly moderate, with plenty of carbonation. Starting to think this ale goes a little out of bounds for its style. The taste confirms my suspicion: malty, spicy, subtle sweetness, but with a refreshing amount of bitter hops to round it out.
Pleasantly surprised by this brew.
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2.5/5 rDev -32.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Had better winter warmers from local breweries, no need to keep this middle of the road example from across the country.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Had better winter warmers from local breweries, no need to keep this middle of the road example from across the country.
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4.11/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a nice clear bronze with a very tight,sticky white head that very slowly dropped leaving a sheet of lace behind.Aromas were not as big as I thought they might be brown sugar hard water and caramel mainly appetizing but not assertive.Great complexities and more assertive flavors though starts out with notes of brown sugar and roasted malt I noticed a hint of molasses but its not strong the flavors meld into a spicey,dry earthy finish showing off some hop muscle.Quite warming,yeah I know its a little late in the season for this beer but on a cold blustery damp day here in the Buffalo area it really hits the spot Iam gonna pair with some hearty meatloaf in mushroom gravy and mashed red skins Iam sure it will hit the spot.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a nice clear bronze with a very tight,sticky white head that very slowly dropped leaving a sheet of lace behind.Aromas were not as big as I thought they might be brown sugar hard water and caramel mainly appetizing but not assertive.Great complexities and more assertive flavors though starts out with notes of brown sugar and roasted malt I noticed a hint of molasses but its not strong the flavors meld into a spicey,dry earthy finish showing off some hop muscle.Quite warming,yeah I know its a little late in the season for this beer but on a cold blustery damp day here in the Buffalo area it really hits the spot Iam gonna pair with some hearty meatloaf in mushroom gravy and mashed red skins Iam sure it will hit the spot.
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3.88/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It only seemed appropriate to review Old Man Winter after snowshoeing in the 12 inches of snow that we got today.
A: A medium copper with good clarity. The head is thin but long lasting with creamy light-tan bubbles.
S: The aroma is kind of faint when it's cold but gets strong as it warms having a moderately-light hops aroma that is mostly citrus and a little bit resinous pine. There is a moderate malt with a clean sweetness, a touch of fruity esters and a slight peppery aroma.
T: A firm hops bitterness with a moderate hops flavors that are earthy, pine and citrus peel. There is some malt sweetness with a light bitter cocoa flavor but the balance is decidedly bitter. There is a low fruitiness from the yeast that is of light fruit. The finish is slightly sweet.
M: A slightly creamy, medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation.
O: Nicely bitter for an an Old Ale with a bit of hops in the and peppery phenols in nose. Many of Southern Tiers beer caters to the hops lover and this is one is no different but mostly just the bitterness. I has a good hops bitterness but still manages to be a bit on the sweeter side, though no where near as sweet as most Old Ales.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It only seemed appropriate to review Old Man Winter after snowshoeing in the 12 inches of snow that we got today.
A: A medium copper with good clarity. The head is thin but long lasting with creamy light-tan bubbles.
S: The aroma is kind of faint when it's cold but gets strong as it warms having a moderately-light hops aroma that is mostly citrus and a little bit resinous pine. There is a moderate malt with a clean sweetness, a touch of fruity esters and a slight peppery aroma.
T: A firm hops bitterness with a moderate hops flavors that are earthy, pine and citrus peel. There is some malt sweetness with a light bitter cocoa flavor but the balance is decidedly bitter. There is a low fruitiness from the yeast that is of light fruit. The finish is slightly sweet.
M: A slightly creamy, medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation.
O: Nicely bitter for an an Old Ale with a bit of hops in the and peppery phenols in nose. Many of Southern Tiers beer caters to the hops lover and this is one is no different but mostly just the bitterness. I has a good hops bitterness but still manages to be a bit on the sweeter side, though no where near as sweet as most Old Ales.
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3.52/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear bronze color.
More hop forward on the nose than expected. Smells like a piney christmas tree dipped in caramel malt.
The taste is also leaning heavily toward the hops, with pepper and pine, and a malty strong ale backing.
Pretty middle of the road for me. Hop it and they shall come.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear bronze color.
More hop forward on the nose than expected. Smells like a piney christmas tree dipped in caramel malt.
The taste is also leaning heavily toward the hops, with pepper and pine, and a malty strong ale backing.
Pretty middle of the road for me. Hop it and they shall come.
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4.05/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This beer was an amber color with a medium-sized tan head and a fair amount of lacing.
Aroma of caramel, brown sugar, citrus. Some sweetness also.
Caramel taste, grapefruit, a little piney hops. There was also some spice that I didn't notice in the aroma.
This was a real easy beer to drink. I think I found a new winter favorite.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This beer was an amber color with a medium-sized tan head and a fair amount of lacing.
Aroma of caramel, brown sugar, citrus. Some sweetness also.
Caramel taste, grapefruit, a little piney hops. There was also some spice that I didn't notice in the aroma.
This was a real easy beer to drink. I think I found a new winter favorite.
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4.04/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured out a deep golden amber with huge amounts of milkshakey eggshelled colored head that finally settled down as about a quarter inch of froth. Killer head retention, very impressive. Tons of carbination seen rising up. Mainly malty scents, could not really get anything else from it. Creamy and thickish feel, very smooth. Alot of nice bitey hoppiness, peppery and dark toasty. Nice and spicey tasting, white grapefruit juice and grapefruit rind. Leaves a ton of flavor in your mouth -mainly the burnt toast and blackness. Schweeet....
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured out a deep golden amber with huge amounts of milkshakey eggshelled colored head that finally settled down as about a quarter inch of froth. Killer head retention, very impressive. Tons of carbination seen rising up. Mainly malty scents, could not really get anything else from it. Creamy and thickish feel, very smooth. Alot of nice bitey hoppiness, peppery and dark toasty. Nice and spicey tasting, white grapefruit juice and grapefruit rind. Leaves a ton of flavor in your mouth -mainly the burnt toast and blackness. Schweeet....
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4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very clear darker shade of amber with a very good head that retains very well and leaves behind good lacing. Smells of citrus hops and some maltiness. Taste is very hoppy. This is not what I ws expecting at all...more like a very good IPA. Very well balanced between the great hop character and the malts. A certain spice element is present in the background but not along the lines of a traditional holiday spice like nutmeg or cinnamon..more like a spiciness from the hops. Good deal of carbonation, drier finish, and pretty crisp. Very drinkable and enjoyable. This belongs in the same vein as SN Celebration Ale. A Holiday IPA....only much better imho.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very clear darker shade of amber with a very good head that retains very well and leaves behind good lacing. Smells of citrus hops and some maltiness. Taste is very hoppy. This is not what I ws expecting at all...more like a very good IPA. Very well balanced between the great hop character and the malts. A certain spice element is present in the background but not along the lines of a traditional holiday spice like nutmeg or cinnamon..more like a spiciness from the hops. Good deal of carbonation, drier finish, and pretty crisp. Very drinkable and enjoyable. This belongs in the same vein as SN Celebration Ale. A Holiday IPA....only much better imho.
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3.5/5 rDev -4.9%
Soft nose of toasted malts under a thin, subtle blanket of piney hops. Much more hop-forward in the taste, with the malt and hints of caramel quickly surrendering to pine and dried floral hops along the sides of tongue. Too unbalanced, especially given the style.
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Soft nose of toasted malts under a thin, subtle blanket of piney hops. Much more hop-forward in the taste, with the malt and hints of caramel quickly surrendering to pine and dried floral hops along the sides of tongue. Too unbalanced, especially given the style.
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Old Man (Winter Ale) from Southern Tier Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.68 out of
5 with
1,611 ratings
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