Glacial Drift
Heavy Seas Beer
- From:
- Heavy Seas Beer
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #59 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #20,435 - Avg:
- 3.93 | pDev: 5.34%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 25, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 04, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Glacial Drift is an ever evolving cold weather release brewed to keep you warm as you float upon the frozen seas. Each year will bring a new recipe. This year’s variation is a rich brown ale brewed with ginger, molasses and winter spices. English malt provides familiar comfort while the unexpected ABV lurks just below.
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Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland
3.93/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.93/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from the bottle into a nonic(k) pint glass.
Dark mahogany brown with some deep red highlights. Slight bit of clarity at the top there with a soft collar that is tan in color, and even hints slightly red also. Manages a tan one finger head that dissolves easily.
Real excellent aroma of warm spices. Hints of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a real nice sharp gingerbread cookie note that fits in lovely. Light touches of dark caramel and even a fig like quality. Practically a perfect sensing Christmas beer but not in name.
Palate seems to be more underwheling after experiencing the aroma. Light bodied which is surprising for the high abv, and flirts wet leaving some of the base flavors not as powerful. Light touches of clove and nutmeg, but less diverse additions or missing flavors captured from the original aroma particularly gingerbread. A good spicy kick in the finish, even a touch of woody hop it seems with a light dried fruit hint, but also a bit of steely flavor to go with it.
Overall not bad for a warmer, but the palate just doesn't give the great aroma justice making it sort of a let down.
Dec 12, 2024Dark mahogany brown with some deep red highlights. Slight bit of clarity at the top there with a soft collar that is tan in color, and even hints slightly red also. Manages a tan one finger head that dissolves easily.
Real excellent aroma of warm spices. Hints of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a real nice sharp gingerbread cookie note that fits in lovely. Light touches of dark caramel and even a fig like quality. Practically a perfect sensing Christmas beer but not in name.
Palate seems to be more underwheling after experiencing the aroma. Light bodied which is surprising for the high abv, and flirts wet leaving some of the base flavors not as powerful. Light touches of clove and nutmeg, but less diverse additions or missing flavors captured from the original aroma particularly gingerbread. A good spicy kick in the finish, even a touch of woody hop it seems with a light dried fruit hint, but also a bit of steely flavor to go with it.
Overall not bad for a warmer, but the palate just doesn't give the great aroma justice making it sort of a let down.
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.47/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.47/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
12 ounce bottle poured into a nonic pint glass.
Best by: 3/12/23
L: Dark cola brown, one finger head with moderate retention, foam is tan and tight.
S: Nose is mild in strength, generally spicy, picking out whiffs of clove and allspice.
T: Opening malty and moderately sweet, dry spicy (baking spices) finish, caramel malt, clove.
F: Medium body, fairly smooth and creamy, enough carbonation to build a crisp bite at the finish, lightly warming.
O: Not bad but like most spiced beers, it leaves me feeling like I was eating dry baking spices. Twelve ounces is enough.
Jan 20, 2023Best by: 3/12/23
L: Dark cola brown, one finger head with moderate retention, foam is tan and tight.
S: Nose is mild in strength, generally spicy, picking out whiffs of clove and allspice.
T: Opening malty and moderately sweet, dry spicy (baking spices) finish, caramel malt, clove.
F: Medium body, fairly smooth and creamy, enough carbonation to build a crisp bite at the finish, lightly warming.
O: Not bad but like most spiced beers, it leaves me feeling like I was eating dry baking spices. Twelve ounces is enough.
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
3.96/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.96/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Heavy Seas Beer "Glacial Drift"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle "22186 BEST BY MAR1223"
$21.49/Frozen Seas Sampler 12-pk @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: This is a "brown ale brewed with ginger, molasses, and winter spices". Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't ginger be considered a winter spice? Anyway, it's a very dark mahogany brown that appears almost black in the glass beneath a finger's width of creamy tan foam. The head retention appears to be quite good. In the nose it suggests brown sugar, almost burnt sugar, cola, and spice. The flavor is much clearer and reveals notes of cinnamon, apple, ginger, nutmeg, molasses, almost burnt sugar, cocoa powder, bread crust, cola, spearmint, and black licorice candy. It's neither too malty nor too spicy, and nicely balanced by a moderate bitterness. It finishes dry with lingering notes of sugar, spice, and herbs. The mouthfeel is smooth with a medium body and a fine-bubbled, moderate carbonation. The head held up well but the lacing was unfortunately limited. It's nicely done with the brown ale character not getting drowned by spice.
Review #8,458
Dec 18, 202212 fl. oz. brown glass bottle "22186 BEST BY MAR1223"
$21.49/Frozen Seas Sampler 12-pk @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: This is a "brown ale brewed with ginger, molasses, and winter spices". Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't ginger be considered a winter spice? Anyway, it's a very dark mahogany brown that appears almost black in the glass beneath a finger's width of creamy tan foam. The head retention appears to be quite good. In the nose it suggests brown sugar, almost burnt sugar, cola, and spice. The flavor is much clearer and reveals notes of cinnamon, apple, ginger, nutmeg, molasses, almost burnt sugar, cocoa powder, bread crust, cola, spearmint, and black licorice candy. It's neither too malty nor too spicy, and nicely balanced by a moderate bitterness. It finishes dry with lingering notes of sugar, spice, and herbs. The mouthfeel is smooth with a medium body and a fine-bubbled, moderate carbonation. The head held up well but the lacing was unfortunately limited. It's nicely done with the brown ale character not getting drowned by spice.
Review #8,458
Reviewed by MrOH from Virginia
3.67/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours very dark brown, thin tan head, so-so retention, spotty lace
Winter spice nose with a rich, toasty malt background, hint of chocolate
Nutmeg leads, but cinnamon and ginger are there. Little bit of chocolate, some caramel and sweet, toasty bread, some cookie.
Medium heavy body and appropriately carbonated.
Meh
Nov 21, 2022Winter spice nose with a rich, toasty malt background, hint of chocolate
Nutmeg leads, but cinnamon and ginger are there. Little bit of chocolate, some caramel and sweet, toasty bread, some cookie.
Medium heavy body and appropriately carbonated.
Meh
Reviewed by bubseymour from Maryland
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice brown body and nice head that disappeared after a couple minutes. Aroma is cinnamon, ginger spiciness. Flavor is actually nicely balances with some hops to balance the brown ale and spices. A little thin in body. Winter Warmer and these spices used generally doesn’t work for me, however this One is quite drinkable.
Nov 04, 2022
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