Frostnipper Winter Warmer - Aviator Brewing Company

callisbeers

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from growler. Nice dark amber color, with great head and lacing that sticks throughout the glass. All the flavors described by others, just a nice blend of them that makes a really nice winter beer. At 8.5% it does pack a punch, which makes this a one or two beer night. However, unlike some other winter beers where the alcohol takes away from the taste of the beer, here the alcohol adds to it. It is not overpowering but just enough to "warm" you up. Nice job on this one, will try to have on tap next winter.

Serving type: growler

02-12-2011 12:50:32 | More by callisbeers

maxwelldeux

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -18.7%

06-04-2013 05:10:42 | More by maxwelldeux

bum732

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%

03-26-2013 00:51:23 | More by bum732

Duvel

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.4%

03-08-2013 15:32:16 | More by Duvel

BigGingDrinker

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

01-19-2013 15:25:58 | More by BigGingDrinker

KevinGordon

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

01-08-2013 06:14:14 | More by KevinGordon

cheribom

California

2.5/5  rDev -32.2%

12-19-2012 21:41:01 | More by cheribom

brewdude1982

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%

12-07-2012 20:01:40 | More by brewdude1982

beermenowplease

4.55/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler purchased at "What's On Tap" in Greenville, SC.

A: Pours a dark brown color. Good head and lacing.

S: Spicy (wood & nutmeg), some pine notes, also detect toasty caramel, and certainly smoke.

T: Complex...smoky (like a smoked ham), again pine notes, nice level of bitterness to balance the malt. Very clean finish.

O: A very interesting and complex combination of smells and tastes. The high alcohol content is not too apparent, and somehow adds to the overall drinking experience. This is my new favorite "winter beer". In fact I liked it so much I bought another growler of it the next day!

Serving type: growler

12-03-2012 15:51:19 | More by beermenowplease

adam_e

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

11-19-2012 21:10:31 | More by adam_e

Jason_Quad

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

07-09-2012 20:32:59 | More by Jason_Quad

GTB

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

03-04-2012 17:26:45 | More by GTB

carrollmel7

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

03-03-2012 22:15:35 | More by carrollmel7

cantfindme

North Carolina

2.5/5  rDev -32.2%

02-25-2012 22:57:44 | More by cantfindme

ghunterck

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Just bought a bottle of this beer while passing through NC. The label is outstanding, so much so i went to the Aviator Tap House and bought the shirt!

I poured this beer (in a hotel room) into a small glass, immediately there was a smell of rich malt and smokiness. The beer had a great full brown head of foam. The taste was of rich malt, spices (cinnamon and nutmeg?), and full hops which i guess is Aviators thing since most of their beers has this signature. I like the hops overtones.

The finish was great, with breadiness and somewhat clean finish besides the hop taste.

Good job again from the guys at Aviator.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 02:25:55 | More by ghunterck

Pity

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap the other day.

Poured a nice amber color, with minimal head.

Smells of cinnamon and some sort of root or leaf that I can't quite put my finger on.

Tastes like Christmas. No other way to put it. Smokiness and cinnamon overpower. Thankfully I'm a fan of both. Fairly dry mouthfeel.

I'm glad I tried this one, definitely something unique from an up and coming NC brewer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2012 17:32:57 | More by Pity

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Take this review for what its worth, but I just smoked a nice Macanudo blunt before reviewing this beer.

Pours is light orange. Translucent at best. White heat floats atop.

Smell is loaded with nutmeg. I cant feel anything else other than nutmeg and a decent malt backbone.

Taste is laden with spicy nutmeg. A decent malt backbone tries to come in, but the nutmeg really kicks its ass. Very spicy and light. Like eating a nutmeg nut with a light beer. Kind of odd. Not special, but not great. Too much spices and no backbone.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2012 04:32:59 | More by VncentLIFE

tdm168

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the breweries tasting room on 12/29/11.

It pours a medium amber with a thin lacing of white head. The nose is smokey with notes of hickory as well as some faint notes of cinnamon. The taste is very smokey up front with notes of hickory followed by some nutmeg and cinnamon. There is some sweet caramel malt in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

This was an intense, smokey winter warmer. The smokiness makes it a little intense, but overall a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2011 23:35:02 | More by tdm168

jimmyjames8

North Carolina

2/5  rDev -45.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

Aviator is a small but growing micro brewer. You cannot compare the beers they made a year ago to beers they are making now much less several years ago. This beer IMO is awful. It tastes like a burnt pork butt. I got a sample shot first that I did not even ask for and it smells great and the sample even tasted pretty good, intriguing, layers of flavor. When I got the whole pint and took the first sip, OMG, all I could taste was smoke. If you like smokey or burnt tasting dark beer, brother, this one is for you. The layers of flavor are still there but the smokiness just punches you in the mouth. I really like Aviator beers. Their Hog Wild IPA is top notch and their this year's October Beast was incredible. The nipper may be someones cup of brew but not mine. You have been warned.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2011 16:14:06 | More by jimmyjames8

meich75

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +35.5%

11-16-2011 17:27:37 | More by meich75

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

tap

Pours a clear reddish brown color with a bit of lacing.

Smells of dark fruit sweetness like plums and maybe some molasses.

Flavor is toasty and spiced with hickory flavors. Reminds of a campfire.

Moderate to full mouth with tingly carbonation.

As far as the style goes, I don't normally like it, so the interesting flavor profile plays in my favor. These are normally too cloying for me. This one is odd but in a good way.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2011 02:14:53 | More by Cylinsier

daliandragon

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I knocked back a growler of this nectar for Super Bowl Sunday and was highly impressed. I actually wrote a review but my internet shorted and I lost it right before I finished so this is the redo. Tawny maroon body with a solid inch of beige head and intermittant lace. Nose is spicy and malty in equal measure but not completely bereft of hops.

More complexity than first appears. The caramel and roasted malts are the backbone but a generous nutmeg/cinnamon/allspice injection colors the whole shebang. Hops give a pine edge tpo the second half of the sip and especially the aftertaste. Plus, almost no alcohol at 7.3% (that's what the label on my growler says).

To me this is about craftsmanship. It would be real easy for all these flavors to get muddled and soupy but these Wake County boys keep them distinct and still get the texture right. Very enjoyable. Not my last growler from Aviator.

Serving type: growler

02-13-2011 03:22:11 | More by daliandragon

Crimefish22

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Smuttynose "Big Beer Series" goblet from a growler from the Aviator Brewery.

A- a dark beer that reveals alot more amber coloring when held up to the light. Excellent lace retention around the glass.

S- Roasted malts. Chocolate with cinnamon and nutmeg in the back, as well as a substantial alcohol presence.

T- Much like the nose, chocolate up front that fades into cinnamon and nutmeg in the finish. A very warming presence from the alcohol as well.

M- Very smooth. Velvety but sharp on the tongue. Smooth yet crisp.

D- I could easily have a few pints on a winter's night. The high alcohol prevents it from being an all-out session beer, it packs quite a punch in small quantities.

I was highly impressed with this one. A winter warmer that does just that. Being from a brewery that's still relatively new, only good things would happen if you brought this one to a holiday party. An excellent entry from a brewery on the rise.

Serving type: growler

11-20-2010 23:14:03 | More by Crimefish22

NCSUdo

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler, filled 2 nights prior to drinking.

A: Deep brown with some ruby hints alond the bottom. Big brown head, maybe a too aggresive pour, that settles to chunky texture. Good retention and lace.

S: Spicey, maybe some all spice, some pine notes, hint of clove. Behind the spice is some caramel and toasted malt notes and some smoke that help to bolster what at first seems like subdued aroma.

T: Spice apparent again, but more muddled, hard to separate from each other. There is some pine notes, but that could be from hops. Suprising level of bitterness, nothing huge, but at first taste I expected a sweeter beer. Smoke more apparent in the taste, but still lower than I expected. Maybe a very slight hint of mint, but that could be my tongue failing at picking out the spices.

M/D: Full bodied, carbonation is slightly high. Drinkability is good, overall a solid beer.

Serving type: growler

01-24-2010 22:18:55 | More by NCSUdo

madjustin

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep chestnut brown with decent head retention and some lacing. Smell is of subtle spices of smoky cinnamon and nutmeg. Taste is similar, but not overpowering of spices, and the smoked malts lend a very nice counterpoint. Definitely a light touch on the sweetness and spiced flavors, which can be overpowering in others of this style. Smooth mouthfeel, a little thin, with a nice level of carbonation. Drinkability is very good considering the ABV. I'm not a big fan of winter warmers, but this is a very nice beer.

Serving type: growler

01-09-2010 22:09:45 | More by madjustin