Schell's Snowstorm 2009
August Schell Brewing Company

Schell's Snowstorm 2009Schell's Snowstorm 2009
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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 8.67%
Reviews:
60
Ratings:
69
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 02, 2015
Added:
Oct 26, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mjryan:
Photo of mjryan
Reviewed by mjryan from Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Once upon a time in Copenhagen Denmark I got smashed at the Carlsberg Brewery. The server just kept on giving me free beer. It was awesome. Just the other day I drank a bottle of Schells Snowstorm 09 and the first thing I thought of was that fine day in Denmark. Baltic Porter, sort of an East European/Scandinavian interpreation of a Russian Imperial Stout. That would be an imperial stout brewed with a lager yeast strain. Thats my undestanding of the style anyway. Much like the porter I had at Carlsberg, Schells baltic porter is very dark, with roasty malt aromas. Flavour is less roasty with a bit of caramel sweetness and some chocolate that finishes slightly sweet and charred. Not much discernable hop character, which is how I remember that Carlsberg beer as well. Very smooth on the finsih. Outstanding!
Oct 29, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.97 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.98 by ALC82 from Iowa

Feb 24, 2015
Photo of TX-Badger
Reviewed by TX-Badger from Texas

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From notes: pours a dark brown color with tan colored head. Roasted malt, caramel, coffee, and a chocolate sweetness on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with roast and cocoa, with some sweetness.
Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Eric908 from South Dakota

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Hopstout from Minnesota

Jun 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Doyle from Minnesota

Aug 05, 2012
Photo of Duff27
Reviewed by Duff27 from Illinois

3.52/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown/black with a small tan head that leaves a collar. Minimal lacing left.

Slight roastiness with oxidation written all over it.

Chocolate notes although oxidation is setting in. Licorice. Very spot on for the style I'd say. Would guess at a 7%abv.

Very smooth mouthfeel with just enough carbonation.

I guess it didn't realize this was so skimpy on the ABV when I set it aside for 2.5 years. Regardless it still was drinkable and enjoyable, though I can't say how much longer you're going to want to keep a full one around.
May 28, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by zenwatts from Minnesota

Jan 11, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by ponbon63 from Minnesota

Dec 22, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Shango42 from Minnesota

Dec 14, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
thick dark brown, looked black to be honest but if you held it up to the light some very nice ruby tinted notes came out. Nice tan colored head settled back pretty quickly and left a thin veil of lace across the top throughout the rest of the session. Decent amount of side glass lace as well could be observed.

The aroma wasa little light, and full of alcohol, but hell its almost 10% right? Decent roasted malt nose with hints of licorice, and maybe raisin, something with a touch of fruit tartness in there. Hint of chocolate way in the back as well. The flavor was dominated by the alcohol, though it was not overbearing at all, rather just coming through very full. Lots of roasted malts, hints of dark earthy tones and a hint of bitter chcolate. Almost a smokey feel to it. Nice medium bodied ale, alot lighter then I thougt it would be, but still very nice.
Dec 04, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by dizztracted from North Dakota

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of biteme398
Reviewed by biteme398 from New York

3.82/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a mug.
The head is small and fades quickly while the body is an almost impenetrable black with shades of amber around the edges. Smell is of fruit and some darker malts. Taste has a solid backbone of hops that everything else is built around. Also in the taste is some chocolate, fruitiness and some maltiness that rounds out the profile. Mouthfeel is somewhat creamy and carbonation is fairly low. A very solid beer overall.
Feb 10, 2011
Photo of bamadog
Reviewed by bamadog from Ohio

4.17/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I received this bottle in a trade a while back, I think from MPLS, but I can't be sure. Review is from notes taken on 9/26/2010 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Pour is darkest brown, near black and starts with a 1/2 finger of creamy tan head that fades to nothing other than a thin, cloudy wisp and thin ring around the surface; body is nearly opaque and only has a couple of dark cola-like highlights; only a few spots of lacing and transparent oily residue.

Smell: Really a fantastic and big, robust smell -- dark and syrupy chocolate covered cherries; some charred woodiness and some semblance of a sweet vanilla; bit of a smokey/mulchy/peaty scent.

Taste: Really matches the smell to a "T" -- the beer really does remind me of bitting into a chocolate covered cherry with the nice dark chocolate and sticky syrup that comes with them; mild roasty and burnt maltiness lies behind the initial burst of flavors and offers just enough bitter balance; just a touch of alcohol and smokey peat as it continues to warm.

Mouthfeel: Body is a little thinner than I would like, but still I would consider it to be of medium weight; carbonation is solid and still comes across fairly soft in the mouth; a thin semi-dry coating is left on the roof of the mouth and the belly is left a little warm.

Drinkability: Not bad -- I really love the smell and the flavors are super solid; I do wish it was a little bit thicker and the ABV may catch up after a bit (even though it's only 5.8%, it feels like more for some reason), but I really consider this a treat to have tried this beer.
Oct 02, 2010
Photo of psychotia
Reviewed by psychotia from Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle w/ best-by date: 5/01/10

A: Slightly transparent black. Nice, 1.5 finger light tan head after pour, settled to a thin lace throughout.

S: Subtle (probably amped fresh) roasted malt, caramel.

T: Chocolate, caramel, and a slightly roasted. Tasty!

M: Not super thick, but not thin... I'd say a little creamy - it feels nice going down!

D: I would love to put a few of these back in the cold winter months!

I may have to get a few more of these to put back this upcoming holiday season - I didn't try this last winter, but I will say it tastes great 4 months after the best by date!
Sep 04, 2010
Photo of pdoran10
Reviewed by pdoran10 from Minnesota

4.07/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
nice appearance as i pour into my tulip glass. two fingers of white head. not much staying power with only a hint of lacing.

smell is a nice crips mocha with a touch of hop bite.

taste follows the smell closely. delicious dark chocolate, some roasted malt. finishes with a nice hop bitterness. very impressive taste.

mouthfeel is thin for a baltic porter with moderate carbonation.

a nice tasty big porter. body is thin but im not minding that much.
Sep 01, 2010
Photo of dstc
Reviewed by dstc from Florida

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours black with a big, foamy tan head. Head falls slow but stays. Nice lace.

Aroma is actually a bit thin. Roasted malts is all there is but it's mild.

Nice roasted malt taste. Bit of sweetness and a hint chocolate.

Medium bodied to full and mildly carbonated.

Not a bad beer. Nothing spectacular but worth trying.
Jul 12, 2010
Photo of Tballz420
Reviewed by Tballz420 from Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Medium size khaki head, good amount of lace. Even without holding directly to the light, some slight brown hues come through the jet black body. Creamy chocolate malt nose. Chocolate malt taste, but thats fairly subdued somehow. Dark fruit along with a spicy alcohol actually come through before the main malt flavor. Creamy soft feel, fairly wet as well. Interesting for sure, worth a taste
Apr 29, 2010
Photo of AmberMan22
Reviewed by AmberMan22 from Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on-tap over the winter break, one of my first beers back in the states.

I didn't know this was a baltic porter at the time, not to mention I didn't know what the style entailed even after seeing this first piece of information.
After looking over some intel, I drew my conclusions.

Pours a deep deep brown. A pretty looking brown head crowns the beer, but settles to almost nothing quite quickly.

Smell and Taste are a bit disappointing, I would've hoped this beer would be slightly more complex. Instead, this is not only a weakling by ABV standards (rather suited to the range of a normal porter) but only incorporates very basic flavors.
Dark, roasted chocolate malts, with a nice snap of hop flavor. I mean, this beer passes for a delicious (regular) porter, but as this is one of my favorite categories, I was hoping for a real zinger out of Snowstorm.
Apr 14, 2010
Schell's Snowstorm 2009 from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 69 ratings