Schell's Snowstorm 2016
August Schell Brewing Company

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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 7.65%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 02, 2017
Added:
Oct 26, 2016
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  10
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mdog:
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

3.77/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Clear amber, good head.

Smell: Fruity, grape/apple/pear plus some toffee.

Taste: Very malty, toffee then quite fruity. Some grape/apple, raisin. Finishes earthy.

Overall: Picked up a 12 pack of this year's Snowstorm after trying it at a beer tasting. After working through half the 12er, maybe should have got a 6 pack instead, but it is still a good quality beer. The initial tasting seemed to have a little more hop influence, but this is definitely a malt bomb. Many similar flavors to English style barleywines, just toned down due to the lower strength.
Dec 11, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.78 by Chaz from Minnesota

May 02, 2017
Photo of Try-em-all
Reviewed by Try-em-all from Missouri

4.04/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oh, sweet mother, this is a good one. They update the snowstorm, just like a seasonal forecast, each year. 1 1/2 finger head that sticks around awhile, as it should. Dark gold, approaching amber. Malty with a touch of fruit and a little hoppiness. A "busy" beer with a bunch of different things in play, all combine fro something special. Just don;t make the mistake I made in purchasing this in the Fall and not drinking it until April. WHAT AN IDIOT!
Apr 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Feb 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Jan 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by dnmyrick from Minnesota

Jan 25, 2017
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12oz brown bottle, sample from the brewery.

Love how this brewery does not chase trends, even with one-off seasonals. Very old school take on beer.

The head on this ale is nothing short of amazing, clarity showing a bright amber hue. Smells malty and fruity with some mild esters and herbal hops. Lots going on, a battle for balance between the malt, hops, and alcohol and all seem to meet in the middle with it is all said and done ... a long linger of all three on the finish. Bitter but sweet, fruity but herbal, warming and full bodied.

This is one of those brews that the brewery need to seriously find a way to make it year-round. Not many American brewed English Strong Ales in the market and someone knew damn sure how to brew one. This beer makes me really happy.
Jan 13, 2017
Photo of TX-Badger
Reviewed by TX-Badger from Texas

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear orange, coppery color with off-white head. Caramel, nuts, grassy hops, and some earth on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with nuts and some cereal grains.
Jan 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.77 by MrUse from Minnesota

Dec 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.38 by flyinhawaiian from Hawaii

Dec 24, 2016
Photo of ta_hagen
Reviewed by ta_hagen from Minnesota

4.54/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I think I'll put this in the upper half of the Snowstorms I've had. Tons of toffee and caramel - and some fruity flavors like dark cherries coming through. It definitely has the English strong taste, but lighter than an English strong, if you know what I mean. A little honey sweetness as well. A pretty good taste and a nice dry finish.
Dec 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.93 by Taybeh from Minnesota

Dec 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by Ish1 from Minnesota

Dec 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by sgttibbs from Minnesota

Dec 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by einman from Minnesota

Dec 18, 2016
Photo of MattyG85
Reviewed by MattyG85 from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a chalice.

Appearance: Pours a bright amber orange. Lots of rising bubbles and a big two finger off white head that settles into a thin creamy layer.

Smell: A bready, earthy, and fairly sweet malt forward aroma with a scent of biscuit, caramel, and floral hops. Upfront bready malt scent of biscuit, grains, caramel, toffee, and nuts with yeast. Solid hints of spicy and floral hops with some grass. A little dark fruit. A really solid balanced aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a bready, earthy, and sweet malt driven taste with notes of biscuit, caramel, and floral hops.Nice bready malt notes of biscuit, grains, toffee, caramel, and nuts along with some yeast. Spicy notes of floral hops along with some grass. Subtle notes of dark fruit. A little honey sweetness as well. A pretty good taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy and very smooth.

Overall: A very good English style ale. Good balance of bready and sweet malt notes with floral hops.
Dec 17, 2016
Photo of bsp77
Reviewed by bsp77 from Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Great lacing on this. Aroma is sharp, with floral hops, grape skins, biscuit and metallic notes. Taste is very complex, with biscuit, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, nuts, and spicy/floral hops. Nice mouthfeel with a very dry finish. This is a great English Strong Ale. Authentic and a rarity in the US.
Dec 16, 2016
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This has been one of my favorites they have brewed in a while. Nice biscuit malts. Toasted. Caramel. Nutty and malty. Extremely drinkable. This is a fun one for the winter. Nice feel to it. Ends clean. Well done.
___
Drinking this 4 years later and it’s still enjoyable. I am picking up a bit of orange citrus mixed in this time. Floral and herbal hops. Some honey and cereal grains. I really wish they’d rebrew this one.
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Drinking this 1/23. My last bottle. I think it’s finally over the hill. It’s not bad, but everything has just muddled together. Tastes like an ale, but not really anything distinguishable of a British ale. Biscuit, crackers, toffee, light citrus, light hops.
Dec 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by herman77 from Minnesota

Dec 12, 2016
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.19/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
One of my favorite breweries, and one of my favorite "series" beers each year, I've liked all of the Snowstorms. This one is no exception.

This iteration is an English Strong Ale, and it's a malty winter treat. Loads of toffee and caramel - and some fruity flavors like dark cherries and stone fruit to really elevate this. I wish Schell's would offer this year-round, because I'd buy it regularly.
Dec 12, 2016
Schell's Snowstorm 2016 from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 28 ratings