Odell Isolation Ale - Odell Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy orange-brown, tawny to be exact. The head is orangish ecru in color and creamily sturdy in constitution. All the hallmarks of a quality cap are present: staying power, fine pits on a rocky surface and sticky lace. I've seen better winter warmers, but not too damn many.

The aroma is heavy on carmel malt, easily twice as evident as citrusy-earthy hops. It's a very nice nose for the style, I'm enjoying it quite a bit. Even without the knowledge provided by the label, I'm easily able to tell that no spices were used in the brewing.

Isolation Ale is good stuff. I like spices in my winter warmers and Christmas ales--if they're done right--but this beer doesn't seem to need them. The flavor is a carbon copy of the nose and I'm glad of it. Sweet, candied caramel provides the bass notes (perfect for the style) and hops add balance, depth and complexity. I love the taste of brown sugar-crusted grapefruit, lemon and orange peel that is on display in this beer.

Come to think of it, Isolation Ale tastes like a mulled, cider-based winter punch. That Odell managed to get it to taste like the holidays without the addition of spices is pretty impressive. The finish retains a good deal of sweetness and remains balanced throughout the long, lingering decrescendo. The body is full without being heavy and the mouthfeel is as smooth as the winter nights are long.

According to the date on the label, this particular bottle is approaching its second birthday and is none the worse for wear. I wish that I had come across a sixer instead of a single because I'd love to have plenty of this beer on hand throughout the winter. Every so often a good old-fashioned Midwestern blizzard comes howling across the plains. What better time could there possibly be to sip and savor an Odell Isolation Ale? This is beautiful beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2004 16:00:51 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

God this beer as an extra in a trade, and I had to be honest that I had never heard of it. Still I was excited as it looked like a solid beer for sure. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 03/18/2009.

The pour was very nice, classic for the style really with a nice light caramel color, good clarity here with a light carbonation bubbling up throughout the glass. A nice light head of white coming up and over the top settled down nicely into a thin film that covered the top. The aroma was rich caramel malts and a nice light sweetness, almost a nuttiness to it. Rich flavor, clean, crisp, clean. Nice light roasted caramel flavor with a light hop bitterness and a really nice and rounded out flavor. Smooth, easy drinking and very rich this was a very nice beer to sit down with at dinner and something that I would have no issue with having again.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2009 01:39:53 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 3/1/07

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a sudsy head that pancakes the liquid with lots of big bubbles; some lacing

Smell: Smells like the quintessential Winter Warmer; plenty of caramel malt, almost like a spice cake with hints of citrus also wafting through

Taste: Opens with a spice cake flavor that veers in an earthy hop direction by mid-palate (very English so far); there is also a mineral tone that adds to the Englishness; after the swallow, the malt and hop flavors balance nicely and provide a hint of a leathery tobacco finish; ultimately, the hoppy elements move in a more flavorful American direction

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Christmas in July; the aging on this bottle does it no harm

Thanks to Oxymoron (even though it took me a while to get around to it) and to googzoid10 and welosiped, so that I could taste a fresher, somewhat hoppier version

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2008 20:18:07 | More by brentk56

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: a deep copper color, with slight haze, under a fine chunk of creamy foam that too-soon gives way and deteriorates.
Aroma: intriquing...mysterious...that only begins to describe the olfactory investigation, dominated neither by malt or hop, suggesting no particular flavor, vegetable before bequeathing fruit, rich and squalid, languorous while luxuriant, a copious compendium of complexity and contradiction.
Taste: bitterness up front, a swift hoppy cameo, then supported by hearty malt, brimming with sweet, yet dark fruit, with some touches of tartness conquering the palate at times, like a lemon to match the peach. A mad mix this is, really, a curious winter warmer that complies to no particular style, and conforms to no ale I've yet to sip. That, though, makes it hard to judge, for though I admire it very much, I never quite got chummy with it.
...no, wait, that's what I thought 15 minutes ago...now, I'm starting to come around...yeah, I could do with more of this! Not a lot more, but a bit, at least...and give thanks to vitriola for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2004 07:30:46 | More by feloniousmonk

zeff80

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a light burgandy color with a white, foamy, one-finger head. It left small traces of lace.

S - It smelled of malt and grassy hops.

T - It tasted bittersweet with a nice hoppy and malty quality.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer.

D - A pretty good winter warmer. There are better, but this one will certainly do the trick.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2007 05:43:36 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best by Date February 12th, 2010; Sampled February 7th, 2010
An aggressive pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces almost four-fingers of lightly amber tinged, tan colored froth. The beer is a red-amber color that shows a lightly hazed, amber hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of fruity hops and toasty grain up front. There is a touch of bergamont, some light pine notes, some sweet-tea like crystal malt, big biscuit like malt character and a somewhat subtle, but somehow also distinct note of ripe berries.

A fullish body sticks to the palate with a caramelized grain sweetness that lingers long into the finish. Crystal malt and hops mix to form a berry like fruitiness that is lightly accented by citrus. The finish sees a biscuit driven maltiness play a big role, but the sweetness still is noticeable too. This definitely has a rich maltiness to it, perhaps a bit too crystal malt focused, but it certainly works as a winter seasonal. This is still quite quaffable, though it is certainly rich enough to be a hearty beer to drink a couple pints of in front of the fire.

Not bad, actually even enjoyable, this fits as a winter beer that definitely taken inspiration from imported, hoppy, English Winter ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 17:14:42 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

2006 vintage

Pours efferevescent copper/caramel with a 2.5 fingers offwhite head. Good lacing & head retention

S: Intense almost burnt caramel & malt & some alcohol

T: Smokey caramel & a little aclohol up front, then a hint of cherry& oak. Rich breadyness, vanilla & brown sugar follow as it warms. Finishes with dryness, a slight smokeyness & a praline sweetness

MF: sticky Rich body with excellent carbonation & balance

Drinks good, but 2 would be about my limit. Good winter warmer, would go good with ham or fruitcake

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2006 03:14:16 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

This beer poured out as a nice looking deep amber color with a foamed cream colored head on top. The lacing and retention are very good on this beer. The smell is malty, fairly sweet and warming. There is a subtle earthiness on the nose too. The taste of the beer is malty with a warming toasted caramel flavor with a very subtle spice note in the finish. The mouthfeel is smooth and very drinkable. Nice carbonation and body too. Overall it's a pretty solid brew but not as complex as I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:49:33 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes, consumed Dec. 23rd. BBD: 04/04/09

Deep orange with compact yet lasting eggshell foam layering on the surface. Part of it's staying power was a result of the stiff texture of the foam. Reddish tinge, sticky sheets of lacing. Toasted malt aroma, very clean and dry. Toffee and bready malt flavors, complex taste like a blend of rye and pumpernickel. Dry bitterness, not a sweet one thankfully. Medium bodied, good level of carbonation. Overall a nice Winter Warmer with a savory feel, easily drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2008 02:40:18 | More by emerge077

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear dark ruby with some head. Nose has syrup tones with heavy malt edges and a sweet edge. Flavor is robust. Hops present, but not powerfully there. Sweet edge is present and is slightly syrupy on the tongue after it dissipates. Feel is smooth with a touch of bubble. Extremely drinkable. An excellent winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 08:41:28 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a nice amber color with lots of highlights and a small white head. Nose is malty, earthy and very sweet. Taste is lots of malt, dark fruits and poerhaps some nutmeg. Mouthfeel is warming, thought the ABV was bigger than it was. tasted bigger and fuller.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2009 16:17:01 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to Bitterbill for this brew.

Pours a nice slight hazy golden amber color, nice tiny fizzy off-white head, nice carbonation, not much sticky lacing to follow. The nose is malty, some nutmeg, spices, and caramel. The taste is malty, slight spice, nutmeg, and caramel. There is a nice bitterness to this brew. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a very tasty winter warmer, recommended. Thanks Bill, I've been wanting to try this one for quite awhile.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2008 02:54:46 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Presentation: 12 oz brown long neck bottle with a bottling date in the bottom left hand corner of the label. Label has a blurb about the beer and showing that this beer was brewed for the 2000-2001 season.

Appearance: Mild chill haze, slightly reddish hued amber. Pours to form a with a thick rocky head that takes forever to dissipate.

Smell: Hints of buttery diacetyl and earthy hops, cookie like malt aroma and suggestions of chocolate and toasted biscuits.

Taste: Medium body with a crisp and smooth mouth feel and an unobtrusive carbonation. Hop bitterness is clean and leaves a semi sharp bitterness all the way through the beer, an oily flavour hits middle to end. A sweet brew, lots of cake-like malt flavour with caramel and toasted grain flavours to boot. Great finish, some residual sweetness a mild herbal hop taste.

Notes: Well balanced and a more than decent “Winter Warmer” style brew, aiming more for a “I’ll have another one” winter seasonal brew rather than a monster of a beer that weighs you down after one. I’d happily drink this one all through a cold blustery night.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2001 22:33:30 | More by Jason

Zorro

California

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled due to beerhandy and Blue Max BIF.

This beer is a slightly chill hazed copper colored ale with not too much head formation.

Smell is very spicy. Strong aroma of clove and cinnamon with vanilla and a trace of lemon. There is some cake scent in the malt of this but this is a beer very much dominated by spices.

Taste is sweet and a bit bitter at the beginning with the aftertaste of tobacco. Sharp hop component keeps the sweetness firmly in check here. There is a solid sourness to this that seems to come from some sort of citrus probably lemon. The aftertaste here quickly becomes woody. Spice doesn't show up in the taste nearly as strongly as the scent and this is mostly just a good ale. This is almost as if the beer was dry hopped with spices.

Mouthfeel is good.

Tasty and not an overly spiced and sweetened winter ale. This is a rather superior winter ale for those who prefer bitter and woody to sweet and spicy.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2006 05:38:45 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear deep coppery amber, with a tight finger of smooth off-white head. Very rich retention (especially when swirled) which leaves back a strong looking smattering of creamy lace. The aroma is floral up front, with a tea-like herbal nature to it. Plenty of spice is also present, as is a buttery bread element that gives this an almost butterscotch vibe to the sweetness in the nose that is present.

Hops control the taste much more than I would have intiailly thought, with a earthy herbal citric character and some notes of pine and spice. A slick feeling backing of toasted grains adds some sweetness to the profile but the hops return in the finish with plenty of gritty earth and spicy dryness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied overall but this has a bit of thinness to it that seems to come from that hoppy, tea-like flavor in the profile. Very mellow and creamy in the mouth but that thin nature does detract a bit.

This was pretty good. Lots of festive feeling sweetness and spiciness, while the hop profile added some balance and slickness to the body, helping keep the drinkibility up for the most part. Plus there was just enough warmth to the body to help keep the chill off. This was my second Odell beer and I've still liking what they have to offer.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 12:01:18 | More by Kegatron

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 11-27-02.

Nice looking scarlet red. Thin creamy beige head. Excellent retention and lacing. Sweet malts and hearty hops are joined in by a leathery quality on the nose. Unique tasting winter brew here. I like it. A dry, dusty woody quality begs my attention first. That is followed by a Belgian yeast like breadiness. Abundant hop nuances add a clean, dry, subdued bitterness. Seems to be well fortified by alcohol without being overbearing. Mellow tasting. Almost like it has been cold conditioned for a while. Nice changeup to my winter beer lineup.

Bighuge thanx to Senior Shit and Jerry for isolating me with this Isolation Ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2003 19:42:22 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brown pour, almost no head on it, maybe in the 1/4" range and it was on the downlow. Aroma seemed like it would have come from a stronger beer. Aside from the alcohol, it was earthy, toffee, imperial tea.

Taste, definitely has the warming side of this style down. More burnt toffee, still the earthy filling quality. Moderate hop crispness when fresh, yet the beer doesn't really pickup in sweetness when you age it if you wanted to do that with this beer, I've pretty much drank 3 saved 3 when I bought this beer on two different six pack occasions. Bitterness is about the same as well.

Tastes like an old ale, winter warmers are usually more sessionable for me, and this just seemed like a bigger beer than a 6% winter warmer should be. I guess that's why I age half of 'em, seeing if they grow into their big boy pants.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 06:33:08 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Gusler

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On the pour a somewhat beclouded copper color with the head is middling in size and light tan in color and the texture frothy, the resultant lace a fine covering sheet upon the glass. Nose is quite sweet, over ripe fruit, toasted grains, light hints of caramel, start is richly malted, sweet, top is moderate in its feel to the palate. Finish is light to medium in carbonation with the hops mild and pleasant and the aftertaste very dry, overall a decent drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2004 22:52:43 | More by Gusler

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a finger of beige head. Fades to a ring. Color is a amber copper.

Aroma: Mainly all malts. Very English forward. Bready malts. Caramel. Some biscuit. A little toffee and some spice.

Taste: Much like the nose, except there is a little grassy hop profile. There is some orange peel mixed in with the sugar. Some molasses and brown sugar flavor. All the same malt flavors mixed in.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends a little roasty and dry.

Overall, a decent winter warmer. Nothing crazy spectacular, but I have gotten through a few of these this winter.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 00:23:23 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to prAna for this seasonal. I'm not sure if I would want to be isolated in a snow-covered log cabin for any great length of time with only this beer, but it's not too bad. Pours a standard amber color with a medium light tan head. Thin but sticky lacing. Aroma is spicy and sweet, with faint hops. Flavor contains malt and spices, but neither in good quantity. Sweet finish but it falls flat toward the end. I think a boost to the ABV would help this beer a bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2003 07:26:12 | More by Dogbrick

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz picked up today at the COOP ... This is my 3rd or 4th of this one. I am pretty excited as it is not a traditional "winter warmer" at all.. instead a nice pale ale with a good nod toward England.

Great 2 finger off white head.... tons of lace and good retention.. clear orange amber..

Nose seems pretty mild... probably needs to really warm up.. toasted bread and lite caramel malt.. hops are there but light and seem to lean toward the earthy varieties..

Flavor mirrors the nose perfectly ... toasted malts ... bits of dry caramel .... and a lite estery fruitiness that plays great ... dry biscuity maltiness.. there seems to be some background citrus hoppiness that makes me think of lemon essence, but it is waaaay in the background.. very crisp and drinkable.

All 4's.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 04:52:35 | More by JohnGalt1

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks goes out to jmkratt for sending me a bottle of this as an extra in a past trade! Served from bottle into a Stone nonic. Poured red-orange with a two finger bone white head that subsided to one finger slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, nutmeg, coriander, and clove. The flavor was of sweet malt, coriander, nutmeg, and enise. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew, but was far from awe-inspiring. It was actually decent for a winter warmer but just not very memorable. The flavor was pretty heavy on the spices as one would expect, but it just didn't have any sweetness to really balance it out to the degree of the spices. Pretty much the same story for the aroma as well. Worth trying but that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 19:39:37 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

2.68/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The beer is copper hued with a half inch of off white head. Teeming with effervescence. The aroma offers malt, grain, a hint of fruit, subtle sweetness and spice. Rather mild scent overall. The flavor is bready and sweet. Odd finish. A bit harsh and getting worse with every drink. Ut oh. Not really what comes to mind when I think of a winter warmer. Bland, unexciting, and forgetful. C'mon man.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 07:38:17 | More by Huhzubendah

ZAP

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Auburn colored...minimal head..-Nice nutty, toasty malt character....sticky caramel and a light dusting of cocoa as well...earthy hops....don't care for the deep finish as it is a bit sourish feel without being very sour if that makes sense.

A nice winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 04:07:33 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Cloudy Dark amber w/ beige and tan 2 finger head
S - Slight woodiness, nutty malt aroma and minute hoppiness
T - Tinge of nutty amber malt, herbal bitterness and more toasted notes
M - full soft and adequete, moderated carbonation with average finish
D - a quaffable nutty and smooth winter ale

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2007 18:43:44 | More by Slatetank