Smuttynose Winter Ale

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

This is a Abbey Dubbel ? I don't think so ! Pours out a dark brown color and that is the last good thing I have to say about this beer. It smells like a big glass of hops. And even though it's not an IPA it's still bitter.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

The fruitiness from the Belgian yeast is detectable throughout this offering, but I'd still consider this more of a brown ale than anything else. Nicely done with a deep malt profile of nuts, dark berries, heavy caramel and toast. Accents of clove, licorice and chocolate round it out. Deep amber color with a filmy tan head and supple lacing. Medium bodied with a slight bitterness.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

A deeply occluded amber colored beer. A big light beige head rises robustly above. Good hang time, settling eventually into splotchy thick film and thick soapy ringlet. A very light nose of roasted malt and raisins. The body is light. Moderately carbonated. Some creaminess on the palate. The tasting slightly less light then the nose is all about malt, sweet and roasty as well as dark fruit, like raisins. A drinkable experience.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Just who is that lady on the label? Is it mom coming home from a Christmas shopping trip? Is it a neighbor bringing over Christmas cookies for a party? So asks the Christmas beer book I purchased last year. The Smuttynose people I am sure would like to know who that is on the label of this very fine winter warmer. Smutty Winter starts out by displaying a foggy reddish brown hue that holds up an off-white creamy foam, which dissipates quickly. Aromas of cherry and alcohol waft from the confines, and on the buds, Smutty Winter has flavors of burnt malt, caramel, smoke, low key sugar and hops, with a chewy toffee-like finish. Reminds me of a cross between an Abbey Dubbel and a Scotch Ale. Good drinking for the Christmas season. And tell the lady on the label to bring some along too! Yo Ho Ho!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Comes out of the bottle a clear, warm, dark coppery brown with a fairly thick cream-white head. Aroma is strong and malty with a fruity undertone and a hint of spice. Malty flavor has a spicy undertone and a hint of fruit, mainly apple. Texture is fairly smooth with a nice tingle to it. Not Smuttynose's best, but worth a try anyway.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

While not a bad winter beer, it certainly didn't live up to what I thought/think an Abbey Dubbel should be. they missed the boat on that, but it is a decent beer with a nice blend of hop/malt/spice without being over-the-top. Lacks complexity.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This beer poured a dark copper color with a thick tan head. It had a nice fruity aroma with subtle hops. Flavor was dominant with roasted malt notes and had a dry finish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

This beer pours a clear, dark copper colour. A small thin tan head, with a firm mouthfeel. It has hints of smoke and black licorice. Aromas of caramel, toffee, oak and cinnamon. Fairly smooth, but a little weak in its style representation.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Rubyish brown colour, small beigeish brown head. Aroma is grapes, redwineish hints and some alcohol. Flavour is quite the same, in a pleasant mix, though quite sweet.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Clear, red-brown fox colored body. Off-white head, rocky from a fast center pour, fades quickly. Smells farmlike in a Belgian way. Flavor is more tangy than anything else. Mouthfeel is quite thin, and the lack of carbonation doesn't help. Tangy flavors turn honey sweet in the aftertaste. This is a sprightly beer, enjoyable.