Winter Ale - Rivertown Brewing Co.

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cinnamon Toast Crunch dry cereal- There! Review over. But to add, it's remarkable in how the malty flavors of light toast, pale caramel, and hearty barley malt frame the backdrop for added spice of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in such a way to evoke an uncanny resemblance to the cereal that I loved as a kid. Where the medium bodied beer carries a caramel-heavy start, the copper colored ale develops into a semi-dry mid palate before utimately falling a bit weak. But the cinnamon and caramel flavor are inviting, if not one-dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 19:50:00 | More by BEERchitect

Brent

Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

In what has been a pretty lackluster season for winter seasonals, this beer shines above the rest. Bright, almost luminous, copper. Aroma was warmly spicy. Moderate, clean bodied mouthfeel. Spicing is prominent but not overpowering. Natural cinnamon, a touch woody, with some other cookie-like background spice. ETOH is well integrated - a little warming and perhaps lending some pepper to the cinnamon. Overall very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2012 14:36:09 | More by Brent

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - iced-tea color with a thin, soapy layer of manila. Good staying power for less than a finger of thickness. Nice lace stickiness too, and there was a layer of foam from start to finish.

Aroma - has a caramelly, Coke-like aroma. Light spicing that is hard to identify. It smells like licorice and cinnamon because that's what it says on the label, but without knowing, I might guess clove, cardamom, or anise.

Taste - malty with a touch of roast. The molasses and cinnamon dominate the palate at first, followed by a stiff bite of hops. Quite the heavy hand on hop additions, I'd say. It's a decent counter to the sweeter ingredients. I generally like a little less bitterness in a winter warmer, but this has good balance. Ends bitter but on the wet side.

Mouthfeel - smooth and lightly crisp. Medium body, pretty ideal for the style.

Drinkability - a tasty winter brew from the good guys at RTB. Happy holidays, guys, and thanks for this seasonal easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 03:20:17 | More by brewdlyhooked13

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter.

2.5 A: Clear deep amber color. I could only muster 1/4 of a finger of beige head that fell almost instantly.

3.5 S: Lots of cinnamon (but not too much) that meshes well with the caramel maltiness. Molasses adds another well integrated layer of depth. Simple, but certainly pleasant.

3.5 T: Like the nose. Cinnamon, caramel, molasses. Malts are slightly grainy and this is very clean overall.

4.0 M: Light to lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Good creaminess for how light the body is. Smooth.

3.5 D: Not a bad winter brew. Very simple, but tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 04:57:27 | More by DavoleBomb

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an E&J Cask & Cream glass (poured the second half of the bottle into a snifter at the suggestion of the label)

Dull amber color that has enough depth to look a bit like a jar of honey. The puffy, two finger head didn't last long, thinning to an slight, lasting layer after a few minutes. No lace.

This smells like a big old gingerbread cookie. Hints of cinnamon bread underneath. Earthy hops & nutty undertones. Smells good as far as spices go; maybe too much for a beer. Imagine incense sticks prior to being burnt, only good.

Spices are similarly strong to taste; lots of cinnamon & ginger. Eh, they don't seem quite as strong as the nose; perhaps this is due to a more prominent bread notion that envelops said spices. Toasty & dry. Some earthy hops without much bitterness.

The feel is an appropriate medium body yet retains a nimble quality (at least before multiple swigs begin adding layer of lingering spices). The spices impart a sharp dryness which makes for a granular feel, as if over saturated with cinnamon & such. Carbonation is reasonably low & doesn't over-assert the spices. The finish is, no big surprise, dry & wrought with spices.

In the past I haven't been one to gravitate toward overly-spiced beers such as this. However, as far as spiced winter ales go this is easily drinkable & pretty enjoyable. Easily the best I've had from Rivertown.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 06:20:49 | More by Ryan011235

bamadog

Kentucky

3.43/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Well, I guess I'll give Rivertown another shot. Review is from notes taken on 12/30/2010 and poured from the bottle to a pint glass.

Appearance: Pour is a dark coppery color with some burnt orange aspects to it; starts with a scant 1/4 finger off-white head that fades immediately to nothing other than a thin pond of skim and a thin ring around the surface; body is very clear and shows some faint carbonation;

Smell: OK, we've got quite a bit of warm and spicy cinnamon in there, and perhaps even a hint of some cocoa; a bit of toasty and grainy barley as well.

Taste: Yep, lots of cinnamon -- I like cinnamon and all, but this may be a little bit overdone -- still though, not too bad; beyond the cinnamon, I do believe there is just a touch of cocoa (probably from some chocolate malt?); bit of a slight, toasty graininess underneath it. Overall, it's one of the more drinkable RTB beers, but not something to go out of your way to get.

Mouthfeel: Body is just lighter than medium in weight, and the carbonation is much better in the mouth than one would think based upon looking at it; a moderately thick, semi-dry and very sticky coating is left all over the roof of the mouth; the gums are left a little tingly from the carbonation, and the belly is left warm from the slightly overdone cinnamon.

Drinkability: I can handle one or two of these, but the spiciness does become more overbearing as I continue to drink it, and it tastes kind of like freshly ground cinnamon has been poured into it... for RTB, it's good, for other and better established breweries, it would be subpar.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 04:22:54 | More by bamadog

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle courtesy of Ryan011235, poured into a Duvel tulip (back in February). Hazy amber with a short lived bubbly head and nada in the way of lacing.

The advertised cinammon and molasses are certainly present in the nose, along with a generous helping of bready malt and a citrusy undertone of citrus. Hints of toast and chocolate, too. Tastes more or less like I expected. I'm not a huge fan of huge spicing in winter warmers, but a decent sting of bitterness and ample carbonation seem to keep the cinammon in check here. Pretty nice depth of flavor; I especially dig the earthy hops in contrast with the tangy molasses. The bready and toasty malts don't take the molasses overboard. Better than your average spiced beer for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 23:50:23 | More by PDXHops

secondtooth

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clean amber in appearance with moderate carbonation and only light lacing.

Nose is curious -- caramel, molasses, cinnamon, candy sugar. Unusual and unique, and certainly not bad!

Taste is another revelation. I get molasses again, taking me back to my youth, enjoying molasses cookies from the local bake shop. Body is heavy here, with a heavy malt presence and an almost coffee cake vibe.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable experience, like no other beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 22:59:08 | More by secondtooth

Beejay

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Slightly Hazy, the color is a dark amber with red hues when held to the light. The head is thick and tan.

S: You can definitely pick up the cinnamon. Not as sharp as some cinnamon can get. Sweet with a nice spice back.

T: Sweet at first with a nice strong hit from the cinnamon. There is a nice bready quality to this as well. The finish has a bit of a bitter hit from the hops. Nice overall.

M: Medium in body, fairly high carbonation, and a bit slick on the feel.

D: Good, but a bit of a holiday/ cinnamon lovers beer. I enjoy it, but it is not something I am going to do a night of. Bet it would be wicked to cook with too!

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 02:16:46 | More by Beejay

schoolboy

Ohio

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Alright Rivertown! This one works. I know I haven't liked all of their stuff, but this one is very OK. I would definitely buy it again.

As you want in a winter warmer, this has a nice bunch of spice taste. A nice mix of spices, actually, and somewhat unique. The malt and hops characteristics do not seem as complex or interesting, but the are inoffcensive and it is very drinkable. It doesn't taste boozy in the least.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 22:25:13 | More by schoolboy

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Having been rather unimpressed by the majority of these beers, I wasn't planning on buying more of them, but I was told this is pretty good.

A - A deep red body with a nice frothy tan head. Looks pretty good.

S - Caramel and spice (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg?), molasses, a spiced dark fruit cake. Not bad here either.

T - Tastes pretty well in line with the nose. Like a Molasses/cinnamon cake. A touch of funny sweetness, but this is otherwise quite enjoyable.

M - Smooth and light. Doesn't linger too much.

O - Probably the best regular type beer I've had from RT. Looks like they're getting their stuff figured out over there. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 21:16:02 | More by ColdPoncho

gmfessen

Michigan

2.48/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, Winter Ale is an amber sweet-tea color with a soapy tan head. The nose is all malt and spice; thick, bready with molasses and cinnamon - there is also a faint whiff of alcohol at the end. Gingerbread followed by hot damn! The taste starts out as malty sweet but transitions to overly bitter and dry. The cinnamon does not seem to be overdone but doesn't help the cause on the finish either. Mouthfeel is medium and slick yet drying on the finish. Overall, not a beer I will be going back for.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 03:57:49 | More by gmfessen

BB1313

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a transparent copper; not much head and lacing, but nice color and retention. The aromas are very faint and only start to develop as the beer warms up. It's not that the aromas are bad, they're just too subtle. It doesn't really smell like it tastes. The flavors are pretty good though. Cinnamon is the main ingredient, and I think they did a great job with the spices. I've had alot of beers brewed with cinnamon, but none have tasted like this. The spices taste very raw and grainy. There's some ginger in nutmeg in the mix as well. There's a spicy bitterness. Mouthfeel is ok, pretty spritzy and on the lighter side. Reguardless, it still drinks pretty smooth. Alcohol goes unnoticed.

I wasn't sure what to expect, this was my first time having something from Rivertown. I do like this, although it has flaws. But at the end of the day it does taste good.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 23:21:01 | More by BB1313

wingman14

Ohio

4.71/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Pours a nice dark orange with an off white head that didn't stick around too long. Smell is dominated by the cinnamon, with some sweet and malty notes as well. A very inviting smell, was hoping the flavor wouldn't overpower and it didn't. The malt and cinnamon work well together for a great taste. A medium mouthfeel, a nice smooth beer, an easy drinker, could easily have a few and the flavor is not going to overwhelm. Overall a good winter warmer, definitely a beer I would get again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2012 03:37:35 | More by wingman14

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark rich amber, around a 18 SRM. Sadly not a huge foamy cap but a thin layer of foam.

S: The smell of cinnamon and molasses is very powerful and intense with great malt balance with a light hops.

T: Big sweet malty taste with a super blast of sweet caramel and molasses is very powerful and a great balance of cinnamon and some light hops.

M: Surprising this offering from RTB is light in feel from such a huge taste.

O: Overall a great beer from this to me a first from this Brewery from Ohio, good job guys!!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 06:17:50 | More by nukem5

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.2/5  rDev -14%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into large pilsener glass...

A- Pours a copper ruby color with a cm of light colored head that turns to nothing very quickly. Nothing great for the eyes here, just a bland looking beer...

S- A bit soapy with a warm spice from the cinnamon and even hints of pumpkin? There are some cherries and plums hanging around also. Sweet malt, maybe slightly nutty.

T/M- Again the cinnamon is very prominent, but it is smooth and subtle, unlike most spiced beers. The spices are actually very pleasing to me, as I normally find them to be the least desirable aspect of a winter beer. This is actually similar to the nose. The body is medium, almost light, with conservative carbonation.

O- Almost a lager like profile that I also got in the hop bomber from Rivertown. So far nothing great from them, but palatable and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 14:05:43 | More by TheGordianKnot

Jesse13713

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance - A transparent cherry-hued ale. Light red and a slight brown. No head or lacing in the glass.

Smell - Light malt and spice. Faint hints of light fruit.

Taste - Tastes very heavily like maraschino cherries. A bit medicinal in a way. This is a very dessert-like beer that actually tastes like I'm eating strawberry shortcake. It becomes a bit repetitive, but not bad overall. Lightly spiced.

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - Medium to heavy-bodied. Makes your mouth water. Well balanced, though it can taste a bit artificial and medicinal at times.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 01:33:32 | More by Jesse13713

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a very clear deep amber/light mahogany. Not much of a head here and dissipates quickly.

S - A bit of a nutty smell, some notes of caramel, apple, and molasses.

T - Quite a bit of cinnamon actually, definitely some molasses in there as well, some bite from the alcohol. Cloves and nutmeg also present here. Balance is a little spice-heavy though.

M - The cinnamon seems to dry the mouth quite a bit, as if you were eating some cinnamon. It's pretty thin actually for having been brewed with molasses.

Overall - It was only average. The balance seemed way off and heavy on cinnamon. I

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 16:28:21 | More by BeerBuckeye

movingtrain

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle sampled from a small snifter. Rivertown is a relatively new brewery in Cincinnati, and they are making some decent stuff. Not much information out there about them, though--no ABV listed on the bottle or on their website.

Pours an amber/brown color. The head is about one and a half fingers with an aggressive pour, but quickly dwindles to almost nothing. Carbonation looks steady.

The aroma is quite sweet. Actually smells lager-like. Strong malt presence backed by some mild hop bittering, cinnamon, hard candy, vanilla, light chocolate tones, clove, a bit of banana, and brown sugar.

The flavor here is interesting...the molasses hits you right off the bat, lending a syrupy sweet flavor across the tongue. Not sure what the ABV is here, but the beer is rather warming. Warm bread, cinnamon hard candy, plum, raisin, and brown sugar all come to mind. I think the addition of molasses here gives the flavor just enough complexity to make this an oddly balanced, but drinkable beer.

Overall, Rivertown's Winter Ale is, well, good for Winter. It works for the style, and even has a few surprises in the flavor. It is drinkable the night through.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 23:08:07 | More by movingtrain

stercomm

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle

A - Very hazy straw color, little to no head, no glass lacing at all.

S - Some citrus, a gingerebread like flavor, some earthiness.

T - Very refreshing, lemon zest, bready some spice. Clean finish.

M - Medium bodied, medium carbonation

D - Not a bad summer brew, very refreshing, good flavors

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 21:45:32 | More by stercomm

patpbr

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The first Winter Warmer I have ever Tried.
A brownish color without lacing. Lots of Cinnamon, it really takes over. The taste is Cinnamon, spice, apple, gingerbread. Lots of flavor, just a hint of malt, some syrup . Its more of a flavored beer then I care for. High ABV, Not one I would buy a six of.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 23:56:16 | More by patpbr

shanblur

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

No date markings on bottle. Poured from 12 oz bottle into a snifter.

A - Deep mahogany colored beer with red highlights. Minimal white head on the pour and sparse lacing.

S - Cinnamon comes through on the smell. Also a malt aroma.

T - Cinnamon again is the major player, with a gentle sweet malt and minor hops combination.

M - Medium bodied with a light carbonation.

A nice beer. Would probably not get again but glad I tried it. Nice integration of the cinnamon.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 21:41:20 | More by shanblur

ltjska04

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tonight we have Rivertown's aptly-named Winter Ale, a winter warmer-style ale brewed with molasses and cinnamon. As suggested by the bottle, I poured this into a snifter at roughly 45F. This beer is a hazy deep red/mahogany color with a tiny head that disappears as quickly as it appeared, leaving barely a ring of slow-rising bubbles around the outskirts of the glass. The appearance is not very impressive. My first whiff of the beer reveals cinnamon as expected. Unexpectedly, the smell follows up with tart cherries; very nice. As it warms this smells like cherry pie in a glass. The flavor reveals more of the cinnamon and cherry; sweet and tart flavors bounce off each other in a playful snowball fight. Oh yeah, we're getting metaphorical. The flavors come out more as the beer warms. The bottle claims a "big, bold, thick-bodied ale" that I won't necessarily disagree with, but while bigger-bodied than other Rivertown brews I've had I'd like to see this one really being fuller and more robust. The carbonation is low and it works for me. There is no indication of ABV but I'd guess it's around the 7-8% range... smooth going down with no burn but it starts to give you that warm holiday feeling towards the end. I could definitely associate this beer with the holidays and drink many of them. It hints at greatness and reminds me slightly of Troegs Mad Elf but unfortunately it doesn't quite measure up to it. Overall a good beer from Rivertown that has room for improvement.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 03:36:13 | More by ltjska04

bigbluebeerguy

Kentucky

3.18/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a mug. Deep amber in color, with more ruby highlights around the edges. 1 & 1/2 finger off white head that recedes quickly to a spotty layer and no lacing.

Nose is almost predominantly cinnamon, with touches of cooked apple and molasses.

Taste is very much following the nose, with the sugar & spice hitting the tongue first, along with some toasted bread. Unfortunately, there is a very off-putting tartness in the middle that seems out of place. Mildly drying on the finish.

Medium body and carbonation, finishing dry and a little sticky on the tongue.

Overall I'm not impressed. This is the 3rd or 4th offering I've had from this brewery and I've been underwhelmed by each of them. All seem to come out a little thin and bland. Too many good breweries out there for me to keep giving this one another shot. Sorry Rivertown.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 20:54:14 | More by bigbluebeerguy

BigDRS

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle (with no freshness date) into a mug. The bottle reads "What ales you? Winter ale: Ale brewed with molasses and cinnamon"

Appearance - Poured with very little head and produced no lace. The beer is dark copper/brown in color and looks fairly dull.

Smell - The nose has a very strong cinnamon smell with hints of molasses and cherry.

Taste - WOW CINNAMON - lots of it. The sweetness of the molasses definitely comes through, but plays a secondary role. Fits the bill of a winter warmer as it goes down the throat.

Mouthfeel - Has a slightly mid to light body. Carbonation level is good.

Drinkability - Don't think that I could have more than one in a sitting. This is a beer best paired with a large holiday meal.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 21:50:36 | More by BigDRS