Double Diamond Winter Ale - Dick's Brewing Company

jdense

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle procured at John's Marketplace, consumed in Saint Arnold's shaker pint glass, 11.8.11.

One finger slightly off white head tiny bubbles, medium dissipation with a decent layer of head retained, above average lacing. Reddish amber clear body, continual stream of carbonation streams rising up one side of the glass. Caramel, light molasses and faint stone fruit in the nose, plums, floral hops. Same malt profile on the tastebuds, fairly big caramel hit, and a nice light resiny hop finish. Mouthfeel is a bit on the light side of medium, light effervescence. Tasty stuff, though hardly sessionable at the ABV. Yummy, to be honest one of my favorite PNW Winter Warmers. Makes me reflect I should be drinking more from this first wave northwest brewery. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 03:37:53 | More by jdense

woemad

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased at Huckleberry's in Spokane for $1.39. First time I've seen this beer here, though Dick's has been making inroads into the Spokane market for the last year or so.

Poured a garnet brown color that looked positively ruby when held up to the light. Decent sized off-white head that stuck around for a couple of minutes. Not much in the way of lace, but a foam collar endured as the beer made it's way down the pint glass.

Possibly the most complex smelling winter beer I've had this year. There's toasty malts, caramel, cherries, and some spicy hop notes. Yum!

I was not disappointed by the taste of this at all. The start of the taste is toasted malt, which is then matched with a caramel sweetness. There are also some spicy notes, and in the background is a cherry fruitiness. Pleasingly dry at the swallow.

Slightly oily mouthfeel to this. The body is best described as medium.

Hat's off to Dick's for making a very tasty winter beer that I will remember next year. That's if I can't get any more at Huckleberry's this year!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2007 21:09:20 | More by woemad

RJLarse

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This one was on tap at the Elk Public House in Spokane, WA. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a dark walnut brown with copper hues and is clear. A foamy off-white head forms and quite resilient.

The smell is hoppy and piney. Evergreen.

The taste is bitter and hoppy. There is a little sweet malt flavor, and some alcohol. The taste is sharp and shocking initially. But it grows on you.

Mouth feel is crisp, sharp and clean.

This is a drinkable beer, but not very sessionable. The bitter flavor might get tiresome. Good in moderation.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2006 05:48:05 | More by RJLarse

cswhitehorse

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The Double Diamond Winter Ale poured a copper color with a good finger foam head and some real nice lacing.

The aroma was spicy and of nutmeg, malty and caramel. The taste was a solid biscuit malt with a nice and spicy finish. In the mouth it left a nice ibu on the tongue. It was moderately carbonated and was semi chewy. Overall a pretty decent winter.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2008 03:13:37 | More by cswhitehorse

dnichols

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed a capped 500 ml bomber with my sons while packing for a move.

A: It poured a brown body with amber tints. It had a moderate one finger plus off-white head that receded quickly. There was a nice evenly distributed layered lacing that clung to the side of the glass to the very end.

S: It had a sweet caramel malt and dark ripe fruit aroma profile with citrusy and floral hops on the back side of the smell.

T: It had a plesant and flavorful lightly toasted malt front that was sweet and punched with flavors of caramel and chocolate. Emerging in mid-palate were dark ripe fruit flavors including plums and raisins. The back of the tongue was lightly tingled by citrusy and bittering hops. It hid the alcohol well and presented distinct yet well balanced flavors.

M: It was medium bodied with an enjoyable level of carbonation. It finished tangy, warm and sweet. There was a hint of bitter and sour aftertaste that lingered long but did not harm the experience.

D: It was an enjoyable and very drinkable winter warmer. It could have used a bit bolder spices but the balance was outstanding and it was a nice winter brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2008 06:52:53 | More by dnichols

Spikester

Oregon

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

From a 12 ounce bottle. I assume it is the 2008 version but there is no date of any kind on the bottle.
Poured crystal clear brown color with no haze. A one finger off-white head from a gentle pour. Good amount of lacings but the head recedes quickly. Aroma is spicy with some toffee.
Taste is sweet carmelized brown sugar, nutmeg, and earthy bitter hops with a tinge of lemons and orange zest. The alcohol is well masked and listed on the cool ski scene label as 7.5% abv. Mouthfeel is just right and there is a fully bitter effect on the back of the tongue. Plenty dry finish which makes you want another taste. Drinkability is good, almost too good. This brew will sneak up on you if you aren't aware of the 7.5%. Another fine beer from Dick's which has so far been a very positive experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 07:24:28 | More by Spikester

Thrasher

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled at the 2003 Holiday Ale Festival, Portland, OR. This winter warmer is just a big, fresh, malty, hoppy ale. No tricks, no spices, no berries. A robust amber color with tiny lacing. Aroma is musty, horse-blanketish, a bit sour - it is the low point of the brew. Malts are forceful, and somewhat raw, but appealing. There is some roastiness too. Hops are very crisp, a bit gummy and chewy which I love. Mouthfeel about as large as you would expect from a big beer like this. A solid and enjoyable ale, for winter or anytime. At the holiday ale fest this was a welcome respite from spiced, sweet holiday beers, this just being your basic malt and hops English ale, just jacked up a few notches.

Edit 1/05: I recently had this beer in a bottle and really hated it. Dick's bottle-conditions their beers and this one had too much dirty-tasting, dead yeast. The numbers reflect my original review, but you are advised to seek the beer on draft.

Edit 2/05: Also tried it from a cask. It was quite good, although thick to the point of being gloppy.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2003 04:06:42 | More by Thrasher

loren01

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark reddish color nice sized frothy white head, nice sticky lacing down the glass
S: Roasted malts, lots of earthy scents in there as well.
T: Sweet malt up front, earthy hops along with plentiful amount of spiciness.
M: Medium to full bodied beer, nice amount of carbonation goes down with a nice creaminess
D: This is a nice beer, one of my favorites from Dick's.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 23:55:05 | More by loren01

freed

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Winter seasonals? yeah. Skiing season too? Sweet.

Pours a rich mahogany, no head but for an ultra slim ring around the glass. Aroma is slightly offensive but in a good way. A hint of barnyard in the husky smell. Taste is full and somewhat spicy, but not as appetizing as some. Still a nice and welcome addition to the winter family.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2003 02:20:11 | More by freed

czechsaaz

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The best part of moving to another state is that I get to try a whole new group of Christmas/Holiday/Winter beers. (I'll miss my Yulesmith dearly though...)

The beer has a big malty aroma, in the caramel range, not really roasted varieties. Carapils or some darker crystal probably. Lots of estery fermentation effects with some fruity and spicy hints. Pleasant hop aroma but definitely a back seat to the malt and yeast.

Deep amber, almost red. Very small head that just barely hangs on after pouring. Very clear (It's bottle conditioned and I wasn't too careful about handling it so the clarity is pretty amazing. )

First sip seems like a well balanced ale. Lots of malt with mid palate and aftertaste of hops. Another sip seems more fruity and yeasty but the hops come to the fore in the finish. Definitely has a good malt backbone as each sip seems initially sweet but it's always balanced out with that hop kick. Not a wallop, but a good kick. Definitely Northwest in style with it's strong hops.

Body is pretty big. Carbonation level is somewhat low but that helps to make it a sipping beer. The only hint at it's strength is a slight warming in the belly as you get through about half a bottle.

Very nice and deceptive beer. Great as a winter warmer. It's got tons of flavor and seems easy drinking. But at 8.5% it could warm you up quick.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2005 08:03:03 | More by czechsaaz

velosuds

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clear pint glass. Single purchased for $1.69 at John's Market.

A-Poured a medium amber hue with a one+ finger head that receded into a modestly sticky lace.

S-Piney and citrus hops and some biscuit like malt. More like a DIPA toward a light barleywine than a winter warmer, but I'm not complaining. Nice effect for a 7.5% ABV (according to the label).

T-Hoppy bitterness with a nicely balanced malt sweetness I find very pleasant. It is a lot like a light barleywine. I love the taste. I often am disappointed by DIPAs that are more like barleywines, but to have a winter warmer with aroma and taste like a barleywine, without the ABV to kick your ass is very nice.

M-Very smooth and well balanced. Nice carbonation level.

D-This went down very easily and I would readily reach for another. Wish I had bought more. First time I have had this and I will reach for this again. Also wish it wore more readily available.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 03:43:13 | More by velosuds

LuckySevens82

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle courtesy of Skyhand...thanks Kim!
Pours a light brown with subtle amber hues. There is no head, but there is decent lacing.
Smell is strong caramek, a little coffee, ripe fruits, a little bit of crusty bread and a little bit of alcohol. Very complex aromas from this one, I'm kind of pleasently surprised.
Taste is sweet, toasty and just a little bitter. Coffee, toffee, caramel, and cinnamon round out the flavors. There is, of course, some hops and just a little bit of alchol heat.
Very good mouth feel: Just thick enough and not overwhelming.
Overall, an excellent winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2005 02:11:28 | More by LuckySevens82

olympuszymurgus

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Could there have been a better beer for the first meeting of the new city hall than this? A thirty degree night atop this unfinished beast with three 08 double diamonds. We called this meeting to celebrate life. This beer is in fact a winter warmer and as the tempered high gravity glided down our throats, our very souls were warmed. a year in the bottle has made this beer truly smooth and very easy in the frosty night.
Dick, you will be missed.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 00:04:57 | More by olympuszymurgus

hawks10

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottled poured into my Sam Adams "perfect pint" glass, received as an extra from ScreamForMe, thanks!

Pours a slightly hazy dark toffee color which when held up to the light becomes a nice dark amber. A one finger so white head forms and leaves just as quickly, pretty much no lacing...

Malt bomb in the nose, bready, caramel malts dominate and make for an overall sweet aroma. A bit of a yeasty aroma mixed with some dark fruits and "Christmas" spices make for an interesting nose...

Hoppier than expected with an equally unexpected, albeit really nice warm alcohol presence has made me doubt my nose. Initially, I didn't believe I was drinking the same beer I smelled. Beer is malty and somewhat sweet, some of the spice in the nose shows through, but both aspects are more subtle than I expected, surprisingly hoppy and warm from the alcohol...

Medium bodied, depth of flavor with an alcohol burn all keeping your palette satisfied...

Pleasantly surprised by this one, normally not a big Winter Warmer or Brown fan in general, I really enjoyed this one, probably would've enjoyed it even more in December not this balmy 35 degree spring day...

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 00:32:28 | More by hawks10

olmatty

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance- Pours a high, creamy, beige head and a deep brown amber color.

Smell- Molasses, raisins, yeast, dark malts and port wine.

Taste- Warmth of brandy-like alcohol, spicy with dark fruits galore, hops are perfectly balanced with sweet malts that carry on for a while. Very complex and satisfying.

Mouthfeel- Middling carbonation is smooth, full bodied brew a bit stickey for the sweetness.

Drinkability- Delicious, but somewhat heavy. With ABV 7.5 more than two in a session would probably be too many.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2009 03:57:32 | More by olmatty

deanhead

Vermont

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

Appearance-Nice brown Deep amber Toffee like color. Poured a nice frothy head that laced down the glass, and lingered to the last drop. This beer was clearly bottle conditioned.

Smell- Smells of caramel, dried fruit, and figs, with hints of roasted toffee.

Taste- Well balance malt backbone with some subdued hop notes. Figs and caramel pushed their way thru to the front of this beer while it finishes slightly sweet

Mouthfeel- Full bodied, Dank Winter ale that was a delight to drink. Medium bodied in the front but finishes thin. Either way it is a respectable beer.

Drinkability-This is good stuff. Hard to tell it was over 7%, so be careful drinking this one. I imagine the 2nd or 3rd might catch up to you rather quickly.

This was an excellent beer. Get some if you can!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 02:35:36 | More by deanhead

Flightoficarus

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

NOTE: The Bottle I have says it's ABV is 7.5%, not 8.5. Regardless, here goes!

A - Pours a deep mahogany-amber hue, with a big, thick tan head, with excellent head retention and lacing.

S - Smell is of spices, molasses, nuts, dark fruits, and toffee. Not a potent aroma, but one that captures the essence of the style well.

T - Taste is of bready caramel/molasses malts, with wintery spices (nutmeg?), toffee, cherry, other dark fruits, nuts, and a hint of balancing pine towards the end. Warming alcohol. This is definitely a winter warmer done right here!

M - This beer is on the higher side of medium body-wise, with fairly modest carbonation, and a creamy, almost chewy mouthfeel.

D - The ABV is pretty deceptive here. This beer is delicious and relentlessly commands another sip!

Overall - This is definitely one of the better offerings from Dicks (Not that I've had anything I don't like from them yet!), and one of the better local examples of this style that I've come across. This is a great winter warmer. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 11:22:47 | More by Flightoficarus

MaltsOfGlory

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pretty simple beer here. Done very well, but nothing too exciting. Pours a small head that only sticks around for a minute or so, leaves nice lacing throughout the glass. Nice dark brown color with hints of red in it. Smell is extremely malty, very sweet. Taste is just the same, very malty and unbelievably sweet, that is really the only shocking thing about this beer, I know malty beers are supposed to be sweet, but wow, this was on another level. It didn't taste bad, or overpowering, just really sweet. Drinkability was decent, might have been higher if that sweetness was diluted. Now that I think about it more and more I can't decide if the intense sweetness was bad or good, I guess I'm neutral on it, either way, not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 10:51:44 | More by MaltsOfGlory

erikm25

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a heavily, and heavenly, tinted amber with burnt brown and reddish colorings. After an aggressive pour the head was a pillowy mass. Receded quickly but left decent lacing. Sits in the glass darkened caramel with ruby striping apparent when held up to light.

S: Sweetness is in the forefront of the nose. Spices make an appearance towards the back but this is saturated in confections and taffy apple goodness. A slight hops scent ultimately overshadowed by a tightly wrapped present of candies, sugars, and fruitiness.

T: The taste is extremely candied, sweet, and buttery rich. Sugary malts with a nice cinnamon and nutmeg spice. Reminds me of a gingerbread house that was doused in brandy and set a blaze so that the remnants could be liquefied into this fine beer. There are also citrus and pine hops which add to the dizzying array of celebratory tastes.

M: Medium, bordering on full, bodied. Good carbonation.

D: I picked up a six and it has kick. This makes the drinkability a little less but at the same time helps live up to the winter warmer style. I dig the graphic on the front of the bottle, like a polaroid. Overall, this fits the PNW winter months nicely.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 01:33:33 | More by erikm25

xoqx

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a garnet brown winter warmer with an off-white head that is predictably fleeting due to its 8.5% alcohol by volume. There isn't much lacing either. Both the smell and the flavor of this beer are wonderfully complex. The smell is herbal and almost medicinal, rooty, with spicy, yeasty notes. The taste is most certainly alcoholic and has dark fruit, herb, medicinal, raisin and spicy notes. Complex. There is a medium-long finish. The mouthfeel is full and alcoholic. A very drinkable as a winter warmer - to be enjoyed mindfully as it's a strong beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2006 00:56:52 | More by xoqx

froggyfrog

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle. Snifter.

A: Golden darkness with a tenacious 1-finger head of white bubbles.

S: Promising with thick syrupy malt and spicy/mossy hops. Caramel sweetness and sticky toffee notes with cream.

T: Dark rich malt notes lead off with earthy hops in the mix. Some hints of stronger alcohol permeate intermittently throughout the solid malt base. More caramel/crystal malt character is apparent.

M: Strong carbonation and high bitterness lend a harshness to this beer that knocks my mouthfeel and drinkability scores down a bit. This medium-bodied ale, while quite tasty, seems to attack the tongue in a way that seems to contradict the overall perceived maltiness.

D: Again, enjoyable, but somewhat over-aggressive in mouthfeel.

[This bottle appears courtesy of Svejk in Washington State. Thanks!]

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2007 05:03:30 | More by froggyfrog

SickBrew

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Got this one in variety pack of 12 from Wild Oats on my lunchbreak!

This winter brew pours a full brown to amber with loads of tan head. The head has good persistence and leaves some wide rings of lacing. Nose is good, malty, sweet with caramel and with some minor herbal tones. Hopyness is subdued, but nicely replaced with the herbs. Taste is good, mostly reminds me of an amber ale, but with more character from some spices. Mouthfeel is really good and supports all the flavors with it's full body. This is my 3rd beer from Dick's and I have to say that they definitely have some moju going on!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2008 01:09:42 | More by SickBrew

nvsblman

Arizona

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep brown in color and cloudy with a fluffy off-white head. Rich, malty aroma full or caramel and toffee. There are some nice fall spices and a little oak too. The taste is a little fruity with the caramel and a bit spicy. There is a noticable alcohol burn and a nice lingering bitterness. Creamy mouthfeel. The alcohol standing out keeps this from being more drinkable, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2006 21:08:42 | More by nvsblman

zacharius

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours an amber brown color with a thin head. The smell is malty with fruity esters or possibly fruitty hops, smells more like yeast though. At first the taste is of citrusy hops which quickly leads into toffeelike malt. Warming alcohol sensation, then finishes with hops. Nice thick bodied beer. Very drinkable considering the abv.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2005 07:59:46 | More by zacharius

amatuerbeerguy

Oklahoma

3.6/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out a reddish brown, head was low, dissipated quick, left lacing.

Aroma of malt, earthy,

Flavors indicate a slight peppery character, with malt sweetness.

Mouth feel is medium/high body, with moderate carbonation.

Nice interpretation, it is a little light for me but it is still a drinkable brew. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2006 02:45:40 | More by amatuerbeerguy