Winter Woods - Cisco Brewers Inc.

Pahn

New York

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

750ml bottle into Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Careful pour yields a two inch, rocky offwhite head that dissipates steadily leaving a couple ridges of lacing. Pours a dark, hazy ruby and occasionally leaves thin, spread out lacing islands.

Smell: After loudly popping off the cork, I can smell notes of tangy Brettanomyces, red wine, and some mild acetic acid without any need to put my nose near the bottle. The smell is the same in the glass, but spicier and fruitier. Unfortunately, while the smell remains a beautiful mix of Brett, Pinot noir grapes, and mild spices, it gets overall a bit fainter with time.

Taste: Malty up front, slightly sour, with lots of Brett funk through the middle and into the smooth red wine and oak finish. Very nice. The spices from the smell are more slight accents here than prominent notes. Semi dry and puckering finish smooths out into a soft, vanilla cake-like French oak aftertaste (I have a real weakness for that flavor in a wild ale).

The somewhat smokey, chocolaty malt stays prominent throughout, and works really well with strong Brett and Pinot noir flavors. 9%ABV is on the high for a wild ale, but there's no solvent flavors getting in the way. In fact, as I get deeper into the bottle, the mild boozy influence in the finish serves only to augment the existing flavors.

The only factors really keeping this beer from a 5.0 are the bitterness that usually helps but occasionally detracts from the flavor, and the somewhat limited complexity. It doesn't want for being interesting or engaging, but it's not particularly complex; bold tangy funk, bold but not really multi-note Pinot noir grapes, decent sourness, solid malt backbone, light spiciness, great French oak influence. Good flavors that you don't get to experience together every day, but not that complex. Not much of a complaint, but there you go.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Dryish, somewhat sticky and puckering finish doesn't always work well with the bitterness of the beer. Pleasantly high carbonation.

Overall: I buy a beer like this because I'm interested in the results of ingenious experimentation with different ingredients and barrel aging. This is the kind of beer that affirms that practice. Braggot with Brett, Pinot noir grapes, and mulling spices? What? But the result is a beer as satisfyingly delicious as it is intriguing.

Cisco's Woods series is, in my opinion, one of the current high points in craft brewing in the northeast United States (where I happen to live). This particular beer hits notes that I happen to be especially fond of (Pinot noir, tangy but not dirty Brett, large French oak influence), but it's also an innovative, well-crafted beer. I hope Cisco makes more of it, and more beers like it.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 01:57:58 | More by Pahn

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-15-2013 14:17:54 | More by DrunkinYogi

THECPJ

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-01-2013 02:17:09 | More by THECPJ

Yabev15

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -21.7%

03-01-2013 03:01:12 | More by Yabev15

dwarvenstout

Idaho

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle at Bauer Wine & Spirits in Boston last time I was out there. Beer guy was great- pulled this beer from a personal box.

A: Cloudy red-brown. Hissed when opening the bottle, but very little head.

S: Oak, tart cherry, slight acetic sour notes along with tart fruit. Fair amount of brett funk after a year or more of aging. Some peppery smoke in the background.

T: Big sour up front takes a couple sips to get past. Smoky malt comes through without overwhelming. Tart stone fruit midpalate- cherries and plums. Some strawlike Brettish character. Slight brown sugar sweetness before a lingering oaky finish.

M: Puckering sourness fades into oaky tannins. Very light carbonation gives the beer just enough life to be palatable- would prefer a little more.

O: Not the best in the Woods series (I preferred Pechish, but haven't had the newest ones), but I liked this beer quite a bit. Expected more funk for a beer this long in the bottle, but what I got was more appropriate to the beer than my expectations. Sour and smoke is a hard combo to pull off, but this beer did a good job of it.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 05:24:43 | More by dwarvenstout

cfrobrew

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

02-14-2013 13:56:43 | More by cfrobrew

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

01-11-2013 20:49:09 | More by AlexFields

LiquorsInc

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +11%

01-02-2013 17:47:10 | More by LiquorsInc

ThaFATkid

California

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks again to Wobblymailman

Appearance- Real thick reddish white/tan head over 4 fingers that slowely recedes. Nice retetion with little lacing. Beer is a reddish brown with little to no light showing through.

Smell- Tart fruit/cherry scent up front with a vingery cider overtone with a slight alcohol undertone.

Taste- A crisp cherry vingery creamy taste similar to the smell with a pleasant tart bitterness alot of a wine like dryness and flavor to it possibly from the french oak wine barrels its aged in.

Mouthfeel- Medium to light smooth cream like mouthfeel with a lot of carbonation

Overall- Similar to a few others I have tried it didnt really stand out but it didnt disappoint. A good sour I will be happy to try again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 04:44:20 | More by ThaFATkid

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a dark reddish color ale with a relatively large foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma of tart notes with some oak and sour cherries notes also noticeable. Taste is close to most Flanders Red with some vinous notes with some oak and tart cherries with limited acidity level. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Well done and probably a good idea to add some honey to cut down on the acidity.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 19:36:48 | More by Phyl21ca

duceswild

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

09-06-2012 04:42:39 | More by duceswild

Cnorrisl

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

08-24-2012 17:45:10 | More by Cnorrisl

FullObs

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

08-20-2012 17:28:46 | More by FullObs

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a true pint, the beer is a vibrant, crystal clear, ruby coloring without a stitch of head. Aromas of fruit sweetness and tang, including cherry and raspberry, with some earthy notes and a wine-like quality. Flavors are more towards a Kriek, with bittersweet and rich cherry tartness. A sweet, somewhat floral aftertaste leads into a puckering, tart finish. Very interesting, and very flavorful. Tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 03:17:43 | More by GarthDanielson

Archemedies

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

07-15-2012 21:06:05 | More by Archemedies

mbs11

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%

06-25-2012 05:27:01 | More by mbs11

merc7186

New York

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

Id like to thank THEPORTERSORTER for sharing this bottle.

I had this beer poured from bomber into a tulip glass.

A: Reddish Hue, Passes Mild Light, White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Tart Red Plum, Tart Cherries, Mild Sour Mash

T: Tart Red Plum, Sour Mash, Sour Cherries

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Sour, Semi Bitter

Overall, a nice funky sour wild ale, better thsn the ratings say.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 20:59:27 | More by merc7186

ThePorterSorter

New York

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

The beer pours a deep, dark rust brown with a tan head. The head falls into a thin halo after a minute and there is a touch of fine sediment. The nose is very pepperminty with a slightly tart funk. The taste loses the peppermint bite, but keep its tart funkiness and sweet malt base. The fruit profile is reminiscent of tart cherries and unripened plumb making this a refreshing winter sipper. The mouthfeel is sweet upfront, but finishes modestly dry and tart. Very little bite from the alcohol.
There's not too much to complain about with this brew and I'm a little dumbfounded as to why it's so poorly reviewed. Overall I think it'll hit your craving for a tart sour while keeping the rich malt base of a winter ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 20:32:14 | More by ThePorterSorter

SalMineo

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

06-01-2012 07:40:32 | More by SalMineo

popery

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-04-2012 19:12:53 | More by popery

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed 4/28/12

Appearance: An interesting color, brown with shades of purple, orange around the edges - hazy, cloudy - bubbly off-white head, leaves little spots of lacing - eventually fades to nothing

Smell: So many things going on here - light fruits, oak, and some funk - lots of spices, with a ton of cinnamon - some typical Cisco Woods funk (reminds me of Chap Stick) - some dry sugar and some honey - some tartness - some pale and slightly caramel malts serve as a base

Taste: Perhaps even more complex than the aroma - not exactly a ton of depth, but a ton of different flavors here - slightly sour, tart, and a little juicy - light fruits with a touch of dark fruits - something akin to peaches, as well as some tart cherries and dark fruit skins (grapes?) - some sweetness, fruity and malty - some dry honey - decent malt base - French oak tastes more like straight-up oak to me, which is good

Mouthfeel: Medium to somewhat full body, sticky, adequately carbonated

Overall: Perhaps even more interesting than I expected

In general, Cisco Woods beers are great. This is no exception. Based on the beer's description, it's as if Cisco decided to just throw a bunch of ingredients into barrels to see what would happen. The result is a nice mix of sour, tart, honey, spices, and fruits.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 07:40:58 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to angrybabboon for the bottle.

Appearance: Deep clear ruby/brick red. Mahogany. No head. None. Pours nice and smooth with minimal carbonation.

Smell: Loads of raw honey. Earthy sweetness. Smoke and some cherry, tart. Typical winter spices. Some clove and allspice with a warmer almost cinnamon characteristic. Bright tartness mingles. Loads of depth. Oak adds a nice woody note. So much going on.

Taste: So much earthy sweetness. French oak is young and raw. The dying edges of a camp fire. Meady. Spices are more aggressive than the nose would indicate. Almost like a mulled wine. Cinnamon candy. Has that distinct Cisco Woods barrel aged flavor. Nicely tart with a big earthy note. Oak adds a nice touch. Nice depth. Honey adds a nice fullness, but is very raw.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Carbonation is high, but manages to work with the body and the flavor profile.

Overall: Definitely one of the more interesting Cisco Woods beers. The kitchen sink approach pays off and leaves a ton of flavor without being overbearing. A touch unbalanced in the long run due to the sheer volume of some flavors. A few years would do this beer wonders.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 07:30:38 | More by Goblinmunkey7

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to LarryG for sending me this one in a past trade! Shared during a recent tasting! Gusher!!! Served bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured ruby red with a three finger off-white head that subsided to half a finger slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wood, fruit, sweet alcohol, and earth. The flavor was of sweet malt, cherry, earth, wood, sweet alcohol, and funk. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly decent brew. The flavor on this one really let me down unfortunately. All of the right aspects were there, but they just didn’t have the right intensity level to make this one enjoyable. Really wish more of the cherry would have come through, but still decent though.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 10:38:30 | More by thagr81us

Winslow

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +30.5%

03-07-2012 15:39:52 | More by Winslow

marct

Nevada

4/5  rDev +4.4%

02-27-2012 05:32:35 | More by marct