Abominable Ale - Fremont Brewing Company

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

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

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

harrymel

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Hucks for aging this for me!
Bottled 18OCT11

Pours a dark brown with a sheet of tan foam and a spotty leftover of lace. Nose is lots of caramel, toffee, tawny character - surprised given the SRM here. I like the sweet nose on this one. Flavor is sharply dry with malts and hints of sweetness and a molasses character. The malts have oxidized slightly over the year and have developed a woody character. Medium bodied with moderate carb and a semi dry finish. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 04:32:35 | More by harrymel

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

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this beer and for 5000 for sending me another bottle of it.

The beer pours a dark brown color with red highlights and a tan head. The aroma is full of roasted malt and chocolate with some nice cream notes mixed in as well. The flavor is similar. The beer is very chocolatey tasting and there is also a nice amount of roasted malt. There is also a little bit of mint in the flavor, which goes well with the other flavors. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 21:44:27 | More by Mora2000

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

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to my in-laws for this bottle stuffed in my stocking for Christmas 2012! Had this once before (actually 3 times!) after the 2012 Resolution Run on new year's day in Magnuson Park, Seattle, but this is the full review 1/8/2013

Appearance. Pours a deep dark brown with only a little redish light coming through and capped with a half finger of khaki head.

Smell. Dark malts, caramel and some sweet chocolate. Yum.

Taste. Dark and maybe a bit smokey malts, some bitter dark chocolate and just a touch of dried dark fruits without the sweetness. Quite dry and the alcohol is VERY well hidden ...that much I remember from the last time I had this. I also remember feeling better after that race than any other I've ran.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body, below medium smooth carbonation.

Overall. A very nice beer, especially for a winter warmer. I remember a little spice the last time I had it, but not getting much this time ...not that that's a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 02:22:10 | More by Rutager

Bookseeb

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very heave amber holding up a soft brown head and leaving nice ringed lace. Smell of dark rich roasted malt, coffee, dried plums. Taste is rich with the roasted malt, coffee and dark fruits having a nice balance with the mild hops. Mouthfeel is full with mild carbonation making it go down smooth. A tasty rich dark winter ale with subtle alchohol on the senses that goes down well on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 01:33:05 | More by Bookseeb

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

Purchased at Brewforia... Poured into my CC snifter... deep dark brown brew... tan head... good retention and spotty lacing.

Nose is nice and fresh... lite cocoa and pretty pronounced fruity esters... still pretty dry... dark cherry and lesser dried plum...

Flavor mirrors the aroma and begins with a good push of dark malts.... not as dry as the nose... but the fruits bloom nicely... with warmth a blanketing rich maltiness grows and makes this one a pretty good brew. The fruits thankfully make this one better for me as I don't think it is spiced... a bit figgy.. golden raisin.... dark malt and fruity esters.... nuff said.

Great body... coating and still nicely carbonated.... well done no doubt.

All 4's.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 04:38:58 | More by JohnGalt1

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber sent as an extra from ArchEnemyBrew, much thanks! Bottle date is 11-2-11 and it's listed as 8%.

Pours very dark brownish-red, beige head is huge at first eventually staying at about a finger, some lace.

Smell becomes fainter with time, but good, caramel and roast with some dark fruit and fruity hops.

Nice balance of caramel, cocoa, and roasted malt in the taste. Some molasses there too. Some light fruity hops and dark fruit, a bit of spice.

Very smooth, full mouthfeel. A little high on the carbonation for the style but the silkiness makes up for it.

Really solid winter ale, goes really easy on the spice and brings on some big malts. Easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 17:27:02 | More by Chico1985

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle picked up in Seattle, poured into a Pint glass.

A - Pours a dark brown with a light brown head. It's a small head, but good retention and lacing left on the glass.

S - Coffee, roasted malts, and a sweetness, hard to place.

T - Sweet roasted malts, spices, and coffee finish it off.

D - Heavy body, low to average carbonation.

O - Suitable for a winter ale. It could use a bit more spice.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 03:37:25 | More by HuskyinPDX

dirtylou

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz BOMB, bottleworks

the cask version of this layed on a ton of raspberries was wonderful - this review is the bottled base beer

appearance: split/served in great divide shaker pint, near ebony body, splotchy tan head with a nice lace

smell: char, light dry roasty aroma, not much else

taste: Bitter roast, dry char, bakers chocolate, some nice dark fruits, smoke, toffee. Interesting, but benefits from the barrel and cask treatment at the brewery.

mouthfeel: dry, bitter roastiness

overall: ok, not my favorite fremont bottling

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 02:26:35 | More by dirtylou

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from a beer competition.

Pours a murky brown with tons of head. Too much if you ask me. No real lacing to speak of with massive bubbles on the head. Smells Pretty non-descript. Some sweetness on the nose and a bit of spice. Tastes dry and sweet. A bit of yeastiness as well. Fairly light on flavour but well balanced.High carbonation and fairly drinkable. Overall, not stellar but definitely not bad

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 18:59:31 | More by Urbancaver

brew3crew

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to urbancaver on this wonderful spring afternoon.

A-clear amber with nice carbonation and tan head retention
S-malty and sweet
T-very sweet, mellow carmel taste. Very smooth malt character.
M-mediun bodied and so smooth
D-very drinkable if the head wasn't so prevelant!

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 18:55:15 | More by brew3crew

snaotheus

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler, filled last night, poured into pint glasses

Pours dark brown-amber, dark but translucent (no cloudiness), medium beige head and surprising lacing, slow fizz. Smell is caramel and bitter chocolate with a little smoke.

Taste is bitter up front (coffee, smoke, chocolate) with a sweet finish (caramel, toffee).

Mouthfeel is thick, sticky, and chewy, nice drinkability. Malty beer that my wife and I can agree on.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2010 21:13:19 | More by snaotheus