Winterfest
Free State Brewing Co.

WinterfestWinterfest
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From:
Free State Brewing Co.
 
Kansas, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 13.76%
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
118
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 30, 2017
Added:
Nov 08, 2011
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  23
Bright golden, with citrus flavor and an aroma that combines notes of grapefruit, orange zest and a touch of the tropics. Like a warm ray of sunshine on a cold winter’s day.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by teromous:
Photo of teromous
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Notches in the label indicate that the beer is best by 2 week 4 (the end of February).

Appearance: The beer is slightly hazy and dark orange-brown in appearance. The head is short and eggshell white. The collar of the beer describes this as "deep-golden" but I would say it is much darker, like a dark bronze.

Aroma: It has a faint but nice tangerine aroma.

Taste: It has a good citrus flavor that is followed by grains. This ends with a bitter touch that layers over itself as the drinking experience continues. A pine-like flavor follows the bitterness and starts to take the place of both citrus and grain the more I drink the beer.

Mouthfeel: Good off-dry mouthfeel with ample carbonation.

Overall: It's a good IPA but the overall flavor is a bit weak and the same could be said for the aroma. It's middle of the road on bitterness. As most average beers go I wouldn't swing either way with this beer in the recommendation department. I might drink it again or I might not but it isn't memorable.
Dec 29, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by YalovaIA from Iowa

May 30, 2017
Photo of HoppyBastard
Reviewed by HoppyBastard from Nebraska

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "best by" date third week of March 2017.

APPEARANCE: pours a hazy, dark copper color with less than one-finger tan head that slowly dissipated until a thin, broken layer of small bubbles remained, lighter carbonation, significant lacing on the glass.

SMELL: bread, caramel and tropical fruit.

TASTE: the taste follows the nose, initially sweet caramel, bread and tropical fruit and an earthy hop finish.

PALATE: medium body and lighter carbonation.

OVERALL: this is a very good IPA, it's more balanced than most, I enjoyed this and would buy again no problem, would recommend to anyone who enjoys IPA.
Apr 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.8 by irongator from Kansas

Jan 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.38 by dcotom from Iowa

Dec 15, 2016
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: A cascading bottle show produces a two fingered head atop the clear amber liquid; nice retention and lacing action

Smell: Spruce and pine, buttressed by caramel tones, with strong fruity tones

Taste: The caramel and fruit tones (very English, as in an ESB) jut forward, with the spruce and pine flavors building, through the middle; the combination of the malt and hop flavors here blend nicely, through the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A really nice IPA with a different twist; works well for the season

Thanks, jmueller216, for the opportunity
Dec 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by cavitae from Missouri

Nov 25, 2016
Photo of secondtooth
Reviewed by secondtooth from Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a semi-cloudy amber, with a thick head of off-white suds and a wispy, insubstantial amount of lace.

Aroma: Citrus hops — grapefruit, orange, some tropical mango and pineapple. Nice!

Taste: Not bad, but the hops here are a bit muted, likely due to age or being kept improperly (this bottle was a gift so I can’t verify it’s handling or storage). Malts come in prominently here, and this one finishes just kinda average.
Mar 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.76 by Groenebeor from California

Feb 17, 2016
Photo of jw4free
Reviewed by jw4free from Kansas

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Weizen glass. L: clear dark Amber. Good fluffy head, good retention. S: pine and spruce. Malts present as it warms. T: pine and tangerine. F: good crispness. Nice mouthfeel flavor retention. O: a good IPA not overwhelmed by hops.
Feb 08, 2016
Photo of Try-em-all
Reviewed by Try-em-all from Missouri

3.59/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pretty good, but I am learning my knowledge of beers and what to look for need to improve. I can tell that hoppy beers are not my favorite, but for those of you who like these types of beers, my guess is you will like this one. Strong hoppy flavor and a nice beer to enjoy when it is cold outside and the game is on inside.
Jan 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by SweetChicken from Massachusetts

Jan 25, 2016
Photo of CotterEU
Rated by CotterEU from Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Better at the brewery obviously. A bit abrasive in the finish. Bummer
Jan 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Dec 01, 2015
Photo of stlfatguy
Reviewed by stlfatguy from Missouri

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a pint glass. Nice amber color was slightly hazy on this one with a very thin head. The head remained throughout, however, and it had nice lacing. The smell was neutral and light, without anything overpowering coming through. Some definite hop flavor with a sharp feel at first, and some aftertaste. Several drinks in, the taste mellowed considerably.

Really liked the look of this one. Not too strong for an IPA. I would drink it again.
May 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by ALC82 from Iowa

Apr 03, 2015
Photo of Ryan_Klink
Rated by Ryan_Klink from Kansas

4.71/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
By far my favorite beer from Free State! Wish Free State would have a great year-round IPA as good as Winterfest.
Mar 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by Lucoli from New York

Feb 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.23 by Nomadorable from Iowa

Feb 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.67 by Ironstutz from New York

Jan 24, 2015
Winterfest from Free State Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 118 ratings