Gnarly Oak Hazelnut Dark
Minhas Craft Brewery

Gnarly Oak Hazelnut DarkGnarly Oak Hazelnut Dark
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From:
Minhas Craft Brewery
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.43 | pDev: 14.58%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
34
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 15, 2015
Added:
Dec 30, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Lovely85:
Photo of Lovely85
Rated by Lovely85 from Florida

2.5/5  rDev -27.1%

Feb 09, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.34/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
"Hazelnut dark is a reddish amber ale that has an impeccable balance between its Carapils and Caramel roasted malts and Centennial hops. We add just a touch of hazelnut to give a rich nutty flavor and aroma." Brewed in the style of an American Amber ale, available as a pack in with 2 other beers brewed under the Gnarly Oak label, found at Walgreens in a variety gift pack. Available in 22 oz. bottles.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a Gnarly Oak tulip glass. Served above 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a caramel white color over a moderately hazy maple amber body with sparse lively carbonation. Retention is good, and lacing is light and spotty. 3.75

(Smell) Toasted caramel bread with a mild graininess and a modest dose of toasted hazelnut character. Aroma is slightly sweet, somewhat buttery. Potency is high. 3.5

(Taste) Grainy caramel with a light syrup sweetness, moderately dry on the finish. A bit more shallow on flavor than the aroma and more notably astringent. The toasted hazelnut is far more reserved in the flavor than in the aroma, merely lurking in the background throughout the flavor. 3.25

(Mouthfeel) Texture is clean, mildly chewy and medium dry. Carbonation is moderate, with a full frothiness and medium crispness. Body is medium for the style, medium overall. Balance is nearly equal sweet to grainy bitter. Alcohol presence is mild and there are no off characters. 3.25

(Overall) While this isn't a promising first experience with a new brewery label, I could see Hazelnut dark coming off far less enjoyable. Decent balance, limited flavor profile including, surprisingly, limited flavor emphasis on the hazelnut, which I usually find over-the-top in hazelnut beers, yet I felt let down by the lack of hazelnut in this beer. At times, the graininess of the caramel slows down the drinkability of this beer and the simple flavors don't distinguish it apart from other amber ales. This may satisfy the cravings of a budding craft beer connoisseur, but outside of a fantastic bargain buy (it was for me), I don't recommend this beer as a reputable or enjoyable amber ale. I'd prefer both Fat Tire and Laughing Skull as superior. 3.25

Minhas Craft Brewery's
Gnarly Oak Hazelnut Dark
3.33/5.00
Jan 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by Dicers from California

Nov 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Hoganlaw from Texas

Oct 26, 2014
 
Rated: 2.96 by rustyeaton from Arizona

Sep 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by DFlynn from South Carolina

Sep 17, 2014
Photo of StevenMilligan
Reviewed by StevenMilligan from Florida

3.5/5  rDev +2%
I got this beer in a pack with their Winter Bock, Chocolate Stout, and some glassware for $5 on markdown at Walgreens. So the value is great.

Poured a nice 1 inch head into the provided Gnarley Oak Goblet. I really enjoy this beer. Right off the bat I'm picking up roasted malt, caramel, and hazlenut. The first sip is very malty, no complexity really. Very minimal lacing.

Overall this beer lacks in complexity, but I wasn't really expecting much. It surprised me with it's drinkability. Guess I shouldn't be surprised, it is an amber ale. But I enjoyed it. Probably won't be drinking again, but I'm curious what the stout and bock have to offer.
Sep 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by JC95ISU from Iowa

Aug 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Akrueg7272 from Wisconsin

Jun 30, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by anvilx from Texas

Apr 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by kerry4porters from Arizona

Apr 13, 2014
Photo of twiggamortis420
Reviewed by twiggamortis420 from Texas

2.99/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Found these 50% off at Walgreens after the holidays, had me curious. At a little over $2, what could go wrong? 22 oz bomber pours a clear copper color with a decent coating of fine-bubbled white head. Nice retention, not much lace.

Nose is stale grains with a Nutella-esque aroma.

Taste is quite borish after the first couple sips. The hazelnut aspect is ok at first, but gets a little astringent after a bit. Basic amber ale, really...I'll be able to finish this bottle off, but wouldnt buy another - even at just $2.
Apr 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by wilfonzo from Florida

Mar 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by chris1919 from Florida

Mar 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Beerdudenumberone from Indiana

Mar 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by WolfAlynn from Ohio

Mar 02, 2014
 
Rated: 2.25 by JohnBender from Texas

Feb 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Agnarr

Feb 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jheezee from Texas

Feb 11, 2014
Photo of nickfl
Reviewed by nickfl from Florida

2.63/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5
A clear, amber body with minimal head. The aroma is... Interesting. Lots of burnt hazelnuts and burnt butter/popcorn. The flavor is somewhat less upsetting with notes of toasted grain and lightly burnt hazelnut. Medium body, average carbonation. Not good, the nut character is catastrophic, it turns an otherwise average beer into a distinctly unpleasant burnt popcorn mess.
Feb 09, 2014
Gnarly Oak Hazelnut Dark from Minhas Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 34 ratings