Abominable Ale - Fremont Brewing Company

hreb

Washington

2.93/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22 oz bottle dated 10.18.11. Beer pours a thick dark brown with a chestnut head. Little aroma. Flavor is immediately spicy. Ingredients ("Down & Dirty") claim no additives, so the spice must be all in the hops. Otherwise I might have guessed cloves, based on the "heat" of the flavor. 8.0% ABV (based on this year's label) doesn't hurt, either. There's a malt backbone to thing thing as well, but flavor-wise, it's lost here. Mouthfeel is pretty good thanks to well-moderated carbonation, but drinkability suffers due to the one dimensional bitterness. Verdict: not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 03:03:50 | More by hreb

olympuszymurgus

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

We strolled into this little warehouse late in the day, the boss man ready to run out the door. He stopped and happily poured some tasters. 3rd in the lineup was this splendid winter ale colored mahogany, smelling of roast, hints of smoke and chocolate and coffee. The hops are pronounced but soft, friendly hops.

He followed that with a limited tasting of a bourbon barre aged version which was, perhaps, the best beer I have tasted in the City of Seattle. Stop in, say hello. You will not regret the decision.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 01:48:55 | More by olympuszymurgus

sukwonee

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I am not quite sure what "winter warmer" is supposed to taste like since beers labeled as winter warmers all tasted very different to me, but this one certainly tastes like a chocolate stout with a bit of a hop bite towards the end. ANYWAY

A: Black with 2 finger head. Lots of lacing.

S: Smells like an oatmeal stout. roasty, coffee, chocolate, malt.

T: Tastes definitely like a stout. It's not one of those hoppy stouts. Roasty malt, chocolate notes, brown sugar, and in the middle, there is some strong sweetness accompanied by hops. Slightly bitter finish, but again, not a hoppy stout (like Victory storm king).

M: Smooth. Like an oatmeal stout. Not much alcohol heat detected.

O: It's quite good. Its big brother Bourbon Abominable is in a different class on its own, but I can see why this beer would make a great base beer for bourbon aging.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 03:30:23 | More by sukwonee

Ratman197

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber from Malt and Vine poured a clear dark reddish brown with a small lasting brown head. Aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malt, carmel, light vanilla, light earthiness and a hint of spice. Mouthfeel was mediuum bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of dark chocolate, roasted malt, light carmel, light coffee and a hint of spice with a smooth dry lingeing chocolate finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 14:01:27 | More by Ratman197

jpbebeau

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle dated 121311 poured to tulip.

A: A very dark cola with a finger of cocoa-colored head, which dissipates quickly leaving—temporarily—large, sparse, soapy bubbles. Red tinged edges when tilted.

S: Roasty. Chocolate. Sweet dark fruits: prunes, raisins. Really nice, particularly as it warmed up.

T: More hop presence here, particularly at the front and end of the taste. Woody, slightly fruity, the hops follow the fruit and chocolate roast.

M: Full-bodied, mild carbonation. Really smooth. Silky.

Really liked this, and it got better throughout the time I spent with it.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 06:55:41 | More by jpbebeau

sergeantstogie

Afghanistan

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a pint glass. When I think winter warmer, I imagine some red or ruby hues. This looks like a porter or stout. Nice 3/4 inch head that leaves nice lacing. Not much of a nose on this. Faint roasted grain. Maybe a hint of raisin. The taste is good. Not great. It's an easy drinking beer for sure. Very slight roasty flavor. Bit of sweetness. Again that hint of raisin. Really smooth and balanced. Hops are nowhere to be found. They are in there because it is really well balanced but nothing really shines flavor wise. I like this beer more than my review reflects. This is a good beer for a cold winter day. However I think when you slap "winter warmer"on it, you expect certain flavors to be bolder. This cost $5 and change for a bomber at Full Throttle Bottles. Really good price for this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 22:33:52 | More by sergeantstogie

bifrost17

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. can poured into a tulip glass

A: Very dark, not black, but a very dark brown mahogany. I definitely can't see through the beer. Tinges of ruby red around the edges of the glass.

S: I get lots of chocolate malt and orated barley on the nose. Maybe a tiny bit of black licorice, kind of reminiscent to the smell of a porter. Smells really nice to me.

T: The taste isn't similar to any "winter warmer" I've had (what really classifies this style anyways...?) I get lots of chocolate, just like the nose, and also lots of bitterness. I like how the bitterness of the hops plays off the chocolate malt to create a kind of coffee flavor.

M: Nothing but good to say about the mouthfeel. Super silky/creamy, moderate carbonation. Nice balance.

O: Overall I think this is a really nice take on what I feel like can be a very broad style. While this isn't my favorite winter beer it's certainly one that I look forward to every year. The profile for this beer says it's 7.5%, but the can that I'm looking at (2012 batch) says this winter monster clocks in at 8%, the alcohol is masked well. Abominable definitely gets more complex and enjoyable as it warms, don't pass this beer up if you see it.

Serving type: can

11-18-2012 08:24:18 | More by bifrost17