Peak Organic Winter Session Ale - Peak Organic Brewing Company

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Pours a decent frothy 1.5 finger head that fades at a medium pace, with a bit of lacing, over hazy copper reddish brown color.

Nose brings some interesting earthy hops, a bit herbal that gives it a tannic minerality like herbal earthy hedgerow hop aroma, some copper reddish malts with some dark wheats.

Taste is decent, some dark malts, dark crystal and reddish toasty malts, some dark wheats, a bit of a choc or very dark roasted malt giving it a slight porter like taste, a bit of an interesting fruit too, again with some herbal earthy hedgerow hops giving it a slight minerality taste. Finish brings some lingering herbal hop flavors, a little flat though, with some bitterness lingering and a bit of minerality from teh hops.

Mouth is medium bodied with decent carbonation.

Drink is decent, no real booze, fairly easy to go down, a bit of the minerality and bitterness on the finish don't help.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 01:07:59 | More by jlindros

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

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

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. Best Before: March 2011.

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark mahogany-hued body with a proud, sustained, off-white head. Splotchy lacing on the way down.

Smell: Sliced grapefruit and tropical fruits garnished with morningtime mown, sun-dried grasses. Or, maybe, is it the other way around? Unemphatic toasted, faintly roasted maltiness mixed up with savory diacetyl.

Taste: Dry toasty wheat bread crusts brushed with margarine spread and a slight background roastiness and vague pistachio-hinting nuttiness. Insubstantial sweetness throughout. Grassy character from the dry-hopping takes over, though other hop flavors of citric citrus fruits and pineapple also emerge. Moderately bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A winter ale, maybe, but not a winner ale and not overtly wheaty for a wheat-based brew. The unengaging maltiness overlapped with buttery diacetyl and Citra hops just didn't do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 20:00:32 | More by ChainGangGuy

negroobserver

New York

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Twist Off Bottle - Expiration Date: JUNE 2011

APPEARANCE: Filtered crystal clear with a dark amber color, similar to a brown ale.
SMELL: Hops at the front. Malty sweetness. Woody/Oak notes with nutty qualities.
TASTE: malty with light sweet flavor.
MOUTHFEEL: Nice, rich with good body.
DRINKABILITY: a little heavy, but enjoyable.

This is my second attempt at trying the Peak Organic Winter Session Ale. My first beer turned out skunky, so I decided that it may not be the best one to review. I was reluctant to have another as my first experience wasn't too pleasant.

Overall, I found that the beer was pretty good. It's drinkable, but a little on the heavy side, so I felt that drinking more than one consecutively would not be enjoyable. I'm also not keen on the malty/nutty flavor that these brown ales tend to have. The mouthfeel is pretty nice. It's rich texture is nice and the carbonation is pretty light.

GRADE: B-

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 00:26:23 | More by negroobserver

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark amber color and clear with a one finger fluffy white head that settles quick to a layer of bubbles.

S: Molasses, roasted malt, brown bread, toffee, currants, a hint of ginger. Hops are herbal and spicy.

T: Roasted malt is clean with molasses, toffee and currants that dominate the flavor. Bite of bitter coffee, with a herbal and spicy hop character and touch of ginger and cardamom.

M: Light to medium body with prickly carbonation.

D: Balanced beer with an easy going flavor profile. Nice for introduction of winter ales for newcomers to craft beer. Not too assertive and easy going.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 20:03:25 | More by scottbrew4u

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark amber/brown color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a dry pale, wheat, crystal malt scent along with a nice bouquet of yeast esters. The taste is decent. It has a bone dry pale, wheat, and crystal malt flavor. It has a light hop character and some excellent yeast notes in the finish. The mouthfeel is decent as well. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a very drinkable session ale. It's overly complex, but it does have some interesting yeast character and a touch of hops.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 23:24:28 | More by WesWes

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into my mug, Winter Session Ale reveals a dark copper colored body with a frothy and sticky cream colored head.

Aroma was a pleasant and slightly pungent hoppiness, characterized by the citrus notes and paired with a biscuity malt aroma.

First taste matches well with the aroma, with the malt being slightly stronger than it was in the aroma, giving this a more balance profile. Plenty of citrusy and even some pineapple notes as the carton suggests but also plenty of toasted bread and biscuity malt flavors.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but at 5% abv, this is understandable. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this brew, as I quite enjoy hoppy wheat beers. I enjoy Peak Organic for their simply but solid representations of various styles and beers like this might make me consider them more often.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 01:55:19 | More by Kinsman

rtepiak

Poland

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

a dark end of 10 percent wheat and mostly earthy citrus hops. a tad darker than amber with a nose of pear and raspberry. the beer is simply that with a bitter finish. not something that you can have more than one of in my sense of drinking. one dimensional and simple but there consistent. so it could be a beer to love but is all based on personal

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 07:20:38 | More by rtepiak

shangwang

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I picked up a 6 pack of Winter Session on a whim; I'd never heard of the brewery before but the description on the packaging intrigued me and I decided to give it a shot. Glad I did.
This beer pours with very little head. It's a deep reddish brown color, and very clear- a deceiving appearance for the smells I detect. The first scent that comes to mind is that of peaches, followed by floral hops and traces of wood. It's a wonderful combination that immediately brings to mind the smells of winter thawing and giving way to spring.
Winter Session has a curious mouthfeel- light and watery initially, but it finishes feeling slightly creamy. The taste is just as complex; initially sweet and smokey, but quickly the qualities of a pale ale take over- hoppy bitterness, while the smokiness remains throughout. The beer leaves a pleasant aftertaste- coffee, malt, and chocolate all come to mind.
Overall I really enjoyed this beer. Definitely lives up to the "Session" part of its name as you can enjoy several of these without feeling a major buzz, and I highly recommend this one on a cold winter night if you'd like to remember that warmer weather is just around the corner.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 02:13:18 | More by shangwang

Samashley

New York

3.15/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I have mixed emotions about this beer. I tend to enjoy most winter style beers but this one just tastes a little "off" to me. A lot of the organic style beers (this one included) have more of an earthy taste to them in my opinion, although conversely, this beer seems to lack in the spiciness that I desire with a winter ale. It has a nice subtle caramel and roasted flavor, but it just seems kind of plain to me and lacks a complex flavor dynamic. Average carbonation with a decent head when first poured. Not the best winter beer I've had, but not the worst either.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 05:24:53 | More by Samashley

largadeer

California

2.78/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

fresh 12 oz bottle into a tumbler. Darkened amber, though very clear. A vigorous pour left me with two fingers of off-white froth.

The nose has a pleasant citra hop bouquet, lending that distinct tropical fruit character that I love. As it warms up the hops take a back seat to a grainy wheat aroma, a touch of buttery diacetyl and a bit of coffee-like roast.

It's watery on the palate, surprisingly so - I've had beers of 3 to 4 % alcohol that had more body. The flavors are decent; citrusy, tropical hops are fairly prominent, and then there's that tinny, metallic yeast character that I've noticed in other Peak beers. The malt profile is bland, thin, bringing only a mild unmalted wheat flavor. The finish is lightly astringent and bitter.

Not a terrible beer on the whole, nor one I'll go out of my way to try again.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 03:19:24 | More by largadeer

billab914

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Pumking chalice. It poured a dark copper color with a thin and spotty head to it.

The aroma has a bready and sweet flavor to it with wheat, caramel and a little bit of butterscotch coming through. I get a good dose of citrusy, fruity hops coming through as well. It has a hint of spice with a little banana flavor too.

The taste has some of the sweeter wheat malt throughout the flavor. Caramel and toffee come through as you get to the finish. I get a moderate bitterness in the finish as well, but it still on the sweeter side overall.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinkability was pretty decent, I liked the sweeter wheat and malty flavors it had. Enjoyable beer overall and a pretty decent winter seasonal as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 00:36:44 | More by billab914

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.68/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I want to like this beer. I love interesting session-strength beers and at 5% with dark wheat a 60+IBUs, this more than qualifies. However, as soon as I poured the beer there was a big, unpleasant tin aroma and flavor masking the actual beer character. I can tell that underneath, there's delicious, juicy citrus hops, butterscotch diacetyl and toasty wheat bread, but I'm totally distracted by this flaw. It begins to fade as the beer warms, but this is unacceptable.

The best before date is May, 2011, so it seems like something went wrong in production and bottling. I like the idea and basis for this beer that I'll try it again. I sincerely hope it gets better.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 03:54:11 | More by tempest

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

"The throat of winter is upon me and the cold will linger in me." - Opeth

Clear hazelnut color with an egg shell white cap. Quickly fades to a thin skim with ample lacey smatterings. Nice color.

Suprise! Aroma is tangerine and pineapple (citra) with some bread crust background. I wasn't expecting so much hop aroma from a winter wheat. Me likey.

Taste is tangerine hops up front with a friendly nuttyness in back. Not much of a malt character beyond that nutty blip and I feel that the hops are trying to cover up that fact - but hey, it's an American wheat.

Peak impresses in a usually unimpressive style. With the light feel and citrus hops this could do as a spring beer as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 01:15:07 | More by donkeyrunner

fitzy84

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a six pack at Table and Vine. The beer has a clear, light amber brown color with patchy lacing on the sides. Great aromas of pine, cloves, citrus, and malts. Light bread flavor with a sweet, malt aftertaste. Really clean finish and crisp mouthfeel. This is a very refreshing beer for me at least.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 05:28:37 | More by fitzy84

obireidkenobi

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is inspired by Peak's Summer Session beer. Winter Session has a lot in common. The flavor profiles are mildly similar.

Pours dark amber, very clear & clarifyed. The smell is most definitely citra hops, with a whiff of dark malts. The flavor follows along with notes of pineapple, citrus. Turns a bit tropical as it warms.

The mouthfeel is soft, most definitely from the wheat. Winter Session is dark without being roasty, flavorful, & easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 15:59:51 | More by obireidkenobi

kylehay2004

Florida

4.01/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half finger head with nice lacing on a clear amber with a very slight golden hue body. Aroma of earthy hops, caramel, toasted malts and sweet breads. Flavor is nicely balanced with earthy and bready flavors and sweetness with wheats and rye. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Fairly certain this is the first of this style I have had. Very drinkable and flavorful.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 21:11:45 | More by kylehay2004

plaid75

New York

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a medium amber hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light earthy caramel, vanilla and a vibrant herbal hop.

The taste featured a grainy caramel and an assertive herbal hop spice that lingered past the finish.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness with a dry finish.

Overall a tasty hop forward winter beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 03:34:26 | More by plaid75

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Looks like a dark cream soda, except the thin head remains.

Toasted wheat, woodiness, light cola, extra toast, strange fruitiness, clove-y spice, and very light maple. Interesting enough to win me over.

Bitter and sweet. Wheat tangy with some roastiness. Earthy/herbal hops, toffee, light mulling spice, and a splinter of soft overripe fruit (pineapple).

Light-medium body with a semi-spicy carbonation. It feels prickly, but I think it works. Thank goodness, there's some noticeable alcohol.

American Dark Wheat, eh? I don't mind this. I'll seek out more. This one here... is good. Good? Yes.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 04:18:33 | More by thecheapies

Durge

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A clear, mahogany colored winter ale with an impressive eggshell cover and tenacious lacing. The aroma has tart rhubarb yeast and strawberry caramel-vanilla. Very interesting, I like it. The flavor brings more tart lemony malt with a bit of ginger-nutmeg. It's a little aqueous in feel, medium-light bodied with mild but tingly carbonation. I get a little bit of an evergreen hop that makes this an overall enjoyable change up for the winter months!

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 08:32:00 | More by Durge

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, gingerbread like and a note of peppermint. In the taste, orange citrus and just a touch minty. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry orange citrus hop like aftertaste. Tastes of orange citrus with the hops, but fresh hop like brings the mint like note.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 15:07:17 | More by OWSLEY069

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 12/18/2010 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright reddish brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains wheat, citrus, bananas, dark malts and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a bitter burst of grassy hops bitterness. Then some sweetness from flavors of citrus and caramel comes in. Then some bready flavors of wheat and a hearty malt character bring a good balance. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a very good beer worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2010 23:51:38 | More by TheManiacalOne

WhiteOak

Connecticut

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

A- Bright amber color with a white moderate head.

S- Citric hops dominate the aromatics.

T- Mostly hop flavors here: Fir bud resin, pineapple. Way back behind the hops bitterness is some maltiness.

M, D- Straightforward, medium-light. Not quite enough substance to inspire drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 13:18:58 | More by WhiteOak