Sled God Winter Warmer Ale
The Fort Collins Brewery

12 oz. Can

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, with a pretty nice small off-white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, chocolate/toffee, spicy. The taste is hoppy, malty, chocolate/toffee, spicy. Medium body, with a nice dry/bitter finish. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.

As the Winter of 2017 winds down, relatively mild as it may have been, I want to take this opportunity to get in a CANQuest (tm) review. I have been absolutely immersed in the eradication of the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody for some time & it is kind of nice to get back to what really matters. Happy Vernal Equinox from all of us at Chez Woody!

From the CAN: "Imperial brown ale brewed with brown sugar, coffee and aged on Ameri[CAN] oak. Malt driven with mild bitterness from Magnum hops, our winter warmer finishes with notes of oak, hazelnut, vanilla and chocolate. Hali to the victorious snow day."; "Family owned & operated since 2003"; "Pairs well with Duck Confit, Peanut Butter Brittle"; "Ale brewed with brown sugar, coffee and aged on Ameri[CAN] oak".

I was so ecstatic upon hearing the Crack! for the first time in a while that I immediately went to an inverted Glug! I watched as the liquid formed two-plus fingers of dese, rocky, light-tan head with moderate retention that slowly fell, leaving nice lacing in its wake. Color was Brown to Dark Brown (SRM = > 22, < 27), but much closer to 22, with NE-quality clarity. Nose definitely had a malty sweetness, but the oak aging lent it a coconut quality as well. I was reminded of whisky or an Almond Joy CANdy bar in an odd juxtaposition. Mouthfeel was medium, The initial taste was clearly of vanilla, chocolate & oak, again, hearkening back to what I noted on the nose. It was a lot of sweet flavors, but melded nicely, rather than jarringly, which I have experienced in some beers lately, It was as the beer warmed, and especially on the finish, that I began to get the hazelnut flavor. Finish was quite sweet, but just as advertised, so no finding fault there. For me, though, it was just too sweet to want more than one. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to retire my sled for the season.

Appearance - Pours deep clear copper color with thin tan head that quickly dissipates, not much lacing.

Aroma - This is a great smelling beer, I could smell it just pouring it in the glass. Sweet brown sugar, roasted malts, chocolate very mild coffee notes but this thing smells great.

Taste - Follows the nose pretty close, brown sugar, malts, sweet caramel and chocolate.

Feel - Medium body very well carbonated smooth and creamy.

Overall - This might be my favorite winter warmer so far, great flavors and an unbelievable aroma.

 

Pours a deep brown with mild head and little lacing. Smells of coffee, brown sugar, and malt. Taste is pretty nice, you get the brown sugar notes up front with a smokey coffee taste mixed in. Very mild bitterness and clean finish adding in some vanilla bean or cookie flavors. Overall this was a nice beer, first time having and a nice treat for the holiday season, well done.