Sled Wrecker - Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thin dissapating head which couldn't be revived even with some healthy swirls, over a dark brown pour with scents of sasparilla root beer and smokey charcol. Detected some hammy flavors with ginger and coconut notes. Cidery a bit with a bark wood suggestion backed up with some cake maliness. Fairly complex tasting brew, with a dry ephemeral finish.

Last swigs: On tap at Sugarmom's. Interesting for a winter warmer.

Beer is good. Happy local beering.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2005 18:42:12 | More by blitheringidiot

letsgopens

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Another one sampled on-tap at Nodding Head in Philly, this seasonal brew pours dark ruby/copper with a frothy tan head and good retention. The lace seemed to stick rather nicely as well.

Sweet and very spicy on the nose. Lots of sticky caramel malt and candied fruit. Maraschino cherries and candied plums mostly. The spiciness consisted mainly of cinnamon with some nutmeg and brown sugar. Extremely sweet, but festive and pleasing.

Heavy nutmeg seems to outweigh the cinnamon flavor-wise; especially in the finish. The sweet spice and candied fruit dominate the flavor as well. Also a strong malt backbone holds the flavor to a palatable level. More dark fruit than in the nose but still with a splash of maraschino syrup. Some honey and dark brown sugar are detectable as well. Very festive and candy-like. Possibly too sweet/spiced for many, but what can I say, I'm a sucker for a nice festive winter warmer.

Moderate bodied and medium carbonation with a slightly slick creaminess on the tongue. A hint of warmth in the finish helps as well. As I said, festive and pleasant. Probably my favorite selection I've had from Nodding Head.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2007 18:54:28 | More by letsgopens

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had Sled Wrecker in the past, going all the way back to when Brian Selders (now at Dogfish Head) was there, and I think that this year's version is the best so far. It has a dark, ruby-accented mahogany body beneath a dense, bone-white head that holds well and leaves splatters and smears of lace about the glass as it goes. The aroma is malty with lots of cark caramel and even a hint of underlying roastiness; and a touch of spice as well. That carries into the flavor, and it displays cinnamon and nutmeg. Combined with the deep caramel which has a touch of molasses to it, it's almost like a very dark, almost burnt gingerbread cookie. It's Xmas in a glass! But I don't want to make it seem as if it's all that spicy, because really it's not. The malt is balanced really well by spiciness and firm bitterness, and it's not sweet, but surprisingly dry in the finish despite its girth of flavor. I don't think I'd want more than one, but having one is a rich and rewarding experience. Certainly worth trying!

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2007 00:11:06 | More by NeroFiddled

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a review of the 2005/'06 version.

This was presented with a big, foamy, deep tan/light brown head. The nose was both sweet and sharp, like licorice with a hint of candied fruit. The color was a deep brown with garnet highlights. The mouthfeel was thick and creamy with a spicy nutmeg flavor on the palate. For all of the sweeteness evident in this drink, it was actually quite dry, possibly due to the spices. Warming, the spices became even more evident. A very good holiday beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2006 20:12:55 | More by woodychandler