Winter Palace Wee Heavy - Paper City Brewery Co., Inc.

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.18/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a mahogany with deep garnet colored highlights. Big off-white head kicks of tons of lace.
Aromas of caramel, chocolate and a peaty smoked barley notes.
Flavor of caramel, chocolate with a peaty and slightly charcoaly hint. Fairly innocuous and anonymous bittering on the close true to style.
Mouthfeel is a rich hearty malt with a gritty charcoal note and faint touch resiny bitter astringency.
Drinkability is excellent. To me about as prototypical to style as I've experienced. Malt backbone and hints of peat/charcoal and only a light residual bittering = Wee Heavy


Thanks for the sample Pete.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2004 20:06:03 | More by CRJMellor

blknikon

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -18.9%

05-07-2013 23:28:28 | More by blknikon

BGsWo22

New York

2.25/5  rDev -39.2%

03-20-2013 23:28:29 | More by BGsWo22

Ecxeeder616

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

02-15-2013 16:30:15 | More by Ecxeeder616

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a tumbler pint glass.

A: Dark, reddish color with a three-finger head of tight, bubbly foam built up by some aggressive carbonation. Clingy clumps of tan lace line the glass.

S: Sweet, spicy, fig, plum and raisin notes with a hint of wet tobacco blended in the dark, mulled fruits. A potpourri of caramel, booze and fruity esters rounds things out.

T: Fruity, rich and roasted caramel malts hit up front with a touch of tart cherry. A boozy, fruity smack of licorice and bittersweet, roasted coffee. Very interesting, herbal, spiciness imparted in the cloying, sweet and alcohol laced finish.

M: Full-bodied with ample carbonation and a fairly smooth, balanced approach. Some cloying, slick sweetness and boozy heat in the finish, though.

O: A pretty nice, big Winter wee-heavy for New England drinkers. Enough complexity and balance to keep things going and the 8% ABV certainly carries a warming effect. It'd be tough to get down more than 1 in succession, but the ride is enjoyable when you're on it.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 01:19:01 | More by Gambrinus1184

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

02-19-2012 00:44:12 | More by jfcaa193

tclapper

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.1%

12-05-2011 02:12:40 | More by tclapper

deapokid

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

12-04-2011 21:46:25 | More by deapokid

mctizzz

New York

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%

11-23-2011 16:04:48 | More by mctizzz

beer4colin

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I am only now getting a chance to taste Paper City offerings (thanks the THE BEARDED GUY who is offering mixed craft cases at GRANITE LIQUORS in Weymouth) so far not blown away but:

A - This poured nicely into a pint glass. Good head nearly overflowed glass. Made me wonder, hmmm, would a REAL wee heavy act like this. I'd prefer a bit more turbidity but this is a very good roast color, albeit crystal clear.

S - Very present. Actually a smokiness here.

T - A good try. Open disclosure: I love Scottish Wee Heavy. Skullsplitter, Chub, Scottie Karate and the old SA Scotish rule. This is a very good intro to the style. I don't mean that in a bad way. I just think that the smokines is a tad contrived, maybe introduced as charred wood chips? Overall, not a lot of complaints. Good roasted malts, maybe a bit too hoppy -- no, definitely a bit hoppy for wee heavy.

MF - Relatively light on the tongue. I expect a WH to be a little chewier.

D - Ah, here's the rub! This is probably more quaffable over time than any "wee heavy" has a right to be. WHs are fireside sippers not back porch slammers. This is closer to the latter. This is a good intro to the style but nowhere near representative of what is "BOB - Best of Breed".

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 23:57:31 | More by beer4colin

Brad007

Vermont

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a mild red/garnet color with a thick head that fades down after a minute or two, coating the glass with haze.

Aroma is full of sweet, slightly smoky malt that seems like it would be chewy. Time to find out.

Taste is somewhat mediocre with a definite first hint of sweet malt that's only slightly smoky. A bit of alcohol peeks out as well, adding a bit of undesirability to the overall taste.

Mouthfeel is much the same except "mediciny" in nature. Not horrible but not too impressive either.

Not a bad stab at the style. It's just not the best either. If you enjoy trying new beer, check it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 02:49:45 | More by Brad007

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pour - deep dark reddish brown in color with a good inch of fluffy off-white head. Very nice looking pour.
Aroma - malt extract, pancake syrup, maltose, molasses, brown rice syrup and dirt.

Taste - very sweet, lots of molasses, brown sugar, Caro syrup and some bitterness in the finish. I am not sure if this is too sweet, after a few more sips I decide its pretty damn close. I really want to like this beer as I am a big fan of the style and this brewery is very close to me. It has some slight hints towards metallic flavors and an almost cloying sweetness to it that make my mission difficult.

Overall - deep breath. I really, really want to like this beer but it has some issues. Its much too sweet without a lot balancing it out. Can you enjoy it? Sure, I am not hating this glass, I just wish it was a little more varied, maybe some peat-y smokiness and maybe a little less syrupy sweetness.

Would I buy more of it? - I am going to have to say probably not. Although on Thursdays and Fridays you can visit the brewery in Holyoke and for $7 ($6 if you bring a canned good) you have two hours of limitless samples from the bar and when you leave you get a 4-pack of beer. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 03:57:27 | More by indiapaleale

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to steelersxl for the extra! Dark, chestnut brown and smells like a very subtle maltiness, hard to say because there isn;t much there. The flavor was a little too sweet, overly malty but not in a good way. I had a hard time drinking the whole glass and I usually like wee heavy style beers. oh well, on to the next one.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 01:44:13 | More by ArrogantB

Overlord

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky amber-ish brown. Small light tan head that vanished quickly.

Smells like dark fruits, some alcohol, and a grainy breadiness. Some malt-y caramel in the aroma.

Taste is pure sugar. Whoa. Some brown sugar notes, but also a bit roasty grainy sweet crackeriness, some randomized sweetness, a bit of caramel and dark fruit, and more sugar.

Pretty much a sugar bomb. Interesting to try on a cold night. A bit thin for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2010 09:28:06 | More by Overlord

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown with very little head and no lacing. Nice red hues in this one.

Odd scent -- some strong candied fruit notes coupled with the smokey toasted malt. I'm getting big whiffs of artificial grape (like strong grape bubblegum), as well as butterscotch and other burnt oddities. I guess this one isn't dull!

Some sweetness on the candied side, almost too much sugar, and some raw toasted burnt edge that - coupled with some evident chemical alcohol, left me kinda -- eh. As the beer warmed in the pint, the edges rounded a bit and it became more palatable. This one has alot going on and is too sweet for its own good.

Decent body, although it is on the flat side. I think the carbonation was ok, as the flavors clear clean enough and quickly enough on the palate.

Overall, it went down ok, but I can find man better examples of the style. It was a dusty bottle from a leftover 6 pack, so I snagged one. Nice try, but kinda misses.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 22:45:48 | More by OtherShoe2

thespaceman

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass, this one is from 2006.

Appearance: Nice dark black in color, poured a wispy medium sized head, decent lacing and retention.

Smell: Nice malty tone hits the nose, a nice array of spice, some nutmeg, toffee elements, caramel and espresso bean.

Taste: Robust, roasty and spicy! This one taste like a liquid coffee bean infused with a bit of spice. A bready/biscuit flavor deepens on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy, medium carbonation and keeps it's body well throughout the pickup and finish.

Drinkability: I was pleased to try this even though it sat on the shelf since 2006 I think it added a bit more character to this one. I'd love to try it fresh but glad I tried it aged. A very complex and robust Scoth Ale that I will defintley seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2008 22:58:33 | More by thespaceman

Atron67

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to wolfsblood for the extra!

Pres: old fashioned new england winter town, since i know holyoke and have been there i thought it was funny to find out about where this beer is from, from the label

A- poured a dark dirty brown, very dark actually looked like a porter coming outta the glass however up to the light, and in full depth it takes on its mocha brown character, as opposed to going black. offwhite thin tan head, never really built up and was only half hearted, ohh well, looked pretty intense for only 8 %

S- now it definitely goes into the wee-heavy character, heavy spicy malts with a light sweetness. the hops are undertoned, but it stays in the slightly sweet zone thats appropriate. slight biscuit character

T- very tastey, very smooth, lightly spiced maltiness and a slightly sweet lingering finsih. light biscuit again, some light nuttyiness as well . some caramel character. very nice

M- damn full body, slightly light carbonation, lingering on the tongue

D- pretty solid brew all around

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 00:38:54 | More by Atron67

garcia2a

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a rich deep amber with a thin, wispy head that dissipated quickly. The bouquet has medium roasted malt overtones, with subtle caramel undertones. These carry through on the taste, which initially is a front of the mouth affair that gradually envelopes the tongue and the back of the mouth. Nice complex tastes of caramel, a hint of smoke and a drizzle of grain.

The malty tones, while on the palate, do not translate to the body of the beer. This one is smooth and quite easy drinking. Good for a winter's night. In fact, this beer is so light on the heavy that it is as smooth as a slip and slide in an ice storm.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2008 06:15:20 | More by garcia2a

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a frothy, one-finger thick, dirty-tan colored head. The beer sits in my glass with a concentrated, burnt amber color, but shows an absolutely brilliantly clear, ruby hue to it when held up to the light. Huge toasted bread aromatics are found in the nose, it smells like pure biscuit malt. Wheat cracker aromatics a touch of grassy grain character and just a hint of sweet, caramelized malt. I am really surprised how lacking the aroma is in the sweet, caramelized malt character, but the huge, dry, toasty grain notes are quite interesting.

Lightly sweet, with a light-medium heft to it. The beer is pretty well attenuated and finishes with a toasty malt character as well as a touch of astringent roast grain flavors. What lingers on in the mouth is a big, slightly astringent, toasted (almost burnt) cracker like malt character and a touch of herbal hop bitterness. While this does have a light sweetness to it, the beer is fairly dry overall. Hints of berry like malt character and a clean, grain sweetness peek through the huge toasted grain character here.

This tastes like a combination of Pale malt and some dark, roast malt, which is perfectly traditional for a Wee Heavy. This seems to be missing a complexity of malt character that I, personally like to find in these types of beers. I do like that huge toasted grain character and even the simple malt approach; this certainly sets this beer apart, but a focus on a bit more kettle caramelization / concentration would make for a much more interesting beer. This is actually a fairly straight forward beer, which can certainly be nice at times.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2008 01:18:02 | More by Gueuzedude

albern

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Better than average, but not brilliant. The beer pours a fairly dark, clear, mahogany color with a smallish head, some retention, not much lacing. The smell is bit molasses, rum, maybe some nut like aromas too. The taste is medium bodied, a bit syrupy, caramel, molasses hints, it has the burnt straw taste you would find with a Scotch ale, there is a spiciness to this beer too. The mouth feel is a bit buttery, the aftertaste is a bit bitter as well. The sweeter malts do emerge as the beer settles in. Not bad, nothing to go out of the way for.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2008 19:54:28 | More by albern

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle. Area for freshness date is blank. Oops!
It pours a dark/orange-hued mahogany color with a thin, fast fading beige head.
A sweet caramel malty aroma rises, then falls...all too fast. A faint rummy alcohol whiff also fades away rapidly.
This is one big meaty, beefy brew. Tastes of strong coffee with cream and sweet caramel are upfront. A nice rye cracker flavor lasts throughout. A light taste of black pepper inches forward. The piney and citrusy hops provide a decent bitter counter-balance to the malty sweetness. The rummy alcoholic kick is noticed more in the taste than in the aroma. All in all, a very sturdy Scotch-style ale. A very nice pairing to my Beef Carbonade on this snow-bound evening.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2007 23:42:35 | More by BeerResearcher

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - this wee heavy pours nearly black, but further inspection shows its true colors, a dark crimson, it wells up a thin tan lacy head rimming the glass

S - malty and rich, roasted and nutty with a hint of wood resin, almost sticky smelling

T - the roasted malts dominate the taste as well as the aroma, although it is rather one-dimensional, no inherent or perceivable sweetness to balance the malt, still great flavor

M&D - a decent wee heavy, not among the best, but a damn good one, one you can get a sixer of and enjoy, paper city continues to impress

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2007 05:06:53 | More by sinstaineddemon

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 fl oz brown bottle; served in a nonic.
Best if served by space is left blank.

Dark maple with tones of auburn and mahogany. Thin white head that fades after a moment to a thin film with a few pools of bubbles. A few drops of spotted lacing but nothing much.

Sweet molasses and caramel. Vinous, fruity esters: apple, orange, plum, fig, and date. Faint notes of adjunctory rice and corn.

Sweet molasses with a few hints of dry toffee. Dry hazlenut and peanut. Fig, raisin, and apple with a bit of unripened flavors. The sweetness fades at mid-sip and reveals an adjunctory wheat and grain character.

Medium in body; this starts smooth but turns grainy which doesn't quite fit all the well for the style.

Some of the sweet, slightly rich flavors you would expect for a Scotch Ale, but the bottom falls out in the middle revealing an unappealing grainy base.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2007 12:45:10 | More by NEhophead

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Paper City- Winter Palace Wee Heavy

A- Clear ruby red with a small foamy head. No lacing.
S- Malty and spicy. Molasses and black licorice come through.
T- Spicy dry malt with licorice, molasses, and pine.
M- Big dry start to this 1, with a creamy body and an oily thick finish. Low carbonation.

Overall- A nice strong flavorful finish. Another good offering from Paper City.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2007 00:57:29 | More by NJpadreFan

fitzy84

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured out smoothly, dark color. It had a nice big head but it thins out pretty quickly. Spicy and fruity aromas thickly float up from this drink. The taste is wicked good: sweetness of raisin/plum and malt. Very thick with little to no carbonation. Overall this will definitely warm you up for the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 02:46:25 | More by fitzy84