Wassail Ale - Woodstock Inn Brewery

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a nice bright ruby red body and briefly capped by a dense ivory colored head that faded with no lace left behind.

Nice strong malty aroma with lots of caramel and toffee notes. A bit fruity as well.

Sweet and a bit boozy upfront like any good winter warmer should be. A bit of apple fruitiness and some caramel notes to go along. Bold hop flavors come in next with a bit of a herbal character that leaves plenty of bitterness. It's nice to have the hops to balance out such a malty brew but something doesn't fit in right. Not sure what varieties are used so it's hard to say what exactly is going on.

Mouthfeel is thick and a bit creamy. Overall, Wassail is probably my favorite of the Woodstock beers but this bottle doesn't quite do it justice. On cask at the brewpub it was much better (unfortunately no notes for review).

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 01:17:30 | More by Kinsman

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

05-15-2013 22:10:12 | More by BostonHops

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

04-29-2013 06:56:27 | More by Kelp

PaulD

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-30-2013 04:52:31 | More by PaulD

BeeGinner

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

03-20-2013 16:10:17 | More by BeeGinner

mbs11

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-12-2013 00:26:20 | More by mbs11

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

03-01-2013 22:21:35 | More by AOShabaz

Mikecap

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

02-23-2013 18:39:01 | More by Mikecap

ShippinUpToBoston

3/5  rDev -16.7%

01-29-2013 23:50:42 | More by ShippinUpToBoston

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.89/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Into a pint glass:

A: dark brown colored body yielding a nice two finger white foamy head. Some nice spider web yet light foamy lacing speckles the sides of the glass.

S: spicy having the normal winter spices up front such as nutmeg, allspice and ginger. There is some light brown sugar in the background.

T: semi-sweet with the previously mentioned flavors and light bitterness coming in through some light hops, mostly balanced.

M: medium, could be ranging closer to heavy . . . hmmm, a mostly one and done in a session, maybe. Some light sharpness a bit here and there, nothing obscure

O: this is a good winter warmer that I would come back to.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 23:57:36 | More by kangarooAdam59

VALIS666

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +11.1%

01-16-2013 00:56:22 | More by VALIS666

benoit917

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -30.6%

01-12-2013 01:27:17 | More by benoit917

Screper

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%

12-30-2012 03:25:46 | More by Screper

tpauer

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%

12-26-2012 22:59:32 | More by tpauer

kristiekatk

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Wassail Ale pours the same light brown as the bottle it comes in. A small and fizzy head quickly recedes to a thin, bubbly ring. Its aroma is full of spices, with cinnamon standing at the forefront. Fruits, chocolate and molasses are also in the very sweet mix.

The taste is very similar to the nose; sweet/toasted malts, cherries, scotch and floral hops. Some spices linger in a very stiff and dry finish that is also accompanied by a somewhat bitter aftertaste. At 8% alc/vol, Wassail definitely starts giving you some warmth after a few sips, but hides its alcohol very well.

Slick and smooth and with a medium body, I think if Wassail were a bit heavier, it would have matched the flavor profile and alcohol content a bit better. Though it has a great spice/sweet balance, overall, there is nothing incredibly compelling about it.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:21:24 | More by kristiekatk

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -16.7%

12-06-2012 22:33:38 | More by JAHMUR

Mick-e-d

4/5  rDev +11.1%

10-23-2012 03:08:58 | More by Mick-e-d

sdaly3

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -16.7%

09-18-2012 22:53:28 | More by sdaly3

albertjr21

New York

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

Enjoyed in a snifter on 6-18-12.

A: Reddish brown color under a light tan head.

S: Toasted rich malty aroma with notes of gingerbread cookie, raisin, cherry, peppermint.

M/T: Malt body dominates with a naturally sweet and dark bready flavor complemented by a fruity and peppermint like cool taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 02:27:08 | More by albertjr21

Jim_DemonDeacon

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%

05-07-2012 01:45:05 | More by Jim_DemonDeacon

FuturePilot

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%

04-28-2012 17:13:12 | More by FuturePilot

DirtyPenny

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle tucked into my Leinenkugel pint glass for a long winter's nap. Well, it's April now, but you get the picture.

A: Cinnamon red/brown with an inch of beige head. Lots of webwork lacing. Head gradually disappears, but a think layer of foam is always left on top.

S: Spices, cinnamon and nutmeg with a hint of pie crust and sourdough.

T: Cinnamon and nutmeg into caramel sweetness, with a touch of cough syrup and some chocolate malt bitterness on the tail end. Holy god, 8% ABV!? The booze in this is incredibly well hidden.

M: Creamy, with the resulting foam in each sip making each mouthful feel a little thicker than normal.

O: Purchased a single of this on clearance and wish I'd bought a whole six pack. Really fantastic and flavorful winter beer that I'll be looking for again at the end of the year.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 01:11:15 | More by DirtyPenny

BenGreedie

5/5  rDev +38.9%

03-17-2012 18:19:07 | More by BenGreedie

dunix

Vermont

4/5  rDev +11.1%

02-11-2012 16:43:03 | More by dunix

sauger86

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

01-31-2012 05:46:39 | More by sauger86