Sweetwater Festive Ale - SweetWater Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #35 (Dec 2009):

Happy to see more beefed-up versions of the Winter Warmer style? Do you want a mouthful of pie spices, or do you want to drink a beer?

The beer wants to be black, but in the light, it shows its true color. Good lacing on top. Aromas of chocolate, dried plum and molasses with a hint of cinnamon. Thick and slick full body, carbonation is on the lighter side, which brings a smoothness to the table. Fruity with a heavy rounding of chocolate, nougat, nuttiness, mild spicing and bread crust. Hops are mild, yet push the sweetness down a notch. Alcohol is warming. Hint of burnt sugar and more nutty undertones in the semi-dry finish.

Damn tasty, this Winter Warmer is serious, with a festive back end.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 15:42:55 | More by BeerAdvocate

Todd

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2004 vintage. 12oz bottle. No freshness date. Pours a very deep garnet, near opaque. Foam is a snapping tan with large bubbles that bust down to a quarter inch lace that has some decent retention.

Ripened fruits and baking spices in the aroma, and a hint of sour sherry. Estery. Alcohols in the background.

Crisp, snapping carbonation the palate lends way to a creamy mouthfeel. Sharp, fruity character of sweet and sour berries, dark ripe fruits of plum, fig and raisin, followed by a sweet malty flavor with notes of caramel and granola cereal, along with ash and some smoke. Bag of mixed holiday-type spices. Alcohol is well-hidden. Very mild oxidation character in the form of cardboard, which lingers in the finish with a slight metallic note and overall drying character with chalk backing.

Aged quite well. Not bad, and a nice winter brew enjoyed in the summer. Screw seasonal stereotypes.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2005 19:24:30 | More by Todd

kjmass

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-18-2013 22:52:51 | More by kjmass

beernads

Florida

3/5  rDev -22.1%

05-17-2013 07:43:40 | More by beernads

brudz2134

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-04-2013 04:47:43 | More by brudz2134

NCbeerpirate

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

04-30-2013 23:25:00 | More by NCbeerpirate

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

04-29-2013 18:55:40 | More by FliryVorru

wehttam

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

04-16-2013 12:20:37 | More by wehttam

HiWire

Florida

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-29-2013 02:42:58 | More by HiWire

Andrew4321

Georgia

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-24-2013 04:08:46 | More by Andrew4321

BGsWo22

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-23-2013 18:58:37 | More by BGsWo22

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-23-2013 01:40:37 | More by waiting4lunch

LightsOut3000

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

03-15-2013 14:43:35 | More by LightsOut3000

michaeljstraub

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

03-15-2013 11:38:21 | More by michaeljstraub

wmobley

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

03-14-2013 19:46:20 | More by wmobley

JohnBender

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

03-09-2013 23:51:40 | More by JohnBender

Riggsy

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

03-09-2013 22:12:19 | More by Riggsy

TwoForty

Florida

5/5  rDev +29.9%

03-04-2013 22:27:53 | More by TwoForty

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-28-2013 05:10:05 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

ressling

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-28-2013 04:12:42 | More by ressling

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-26-2013 02:16:19 | More by t0rin0

zrab11

Indiana

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-26-2013 01:57:11 | More by zrab11

jerefreakinmiah

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

02-24-2013 16:56:44 | More by jerefreakinmiah

Mojo

Alabama

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 ounce bottle -> World Market tulip glass

This beer pours up a deep brown, almost black. There is a one finger light brown head, no retention to speak of and quite a bit of lacing at first, but it fades away quickly. The nose is spicy with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Taste is rather sweet at first sip with some notes of cola and molasses. The finish has a mild bitterness with some spiciness, but the sweetness upfront overshadows it. The alcohol is well hidden. Mouthfeel is pleasing with a syrupy texture. Not mad overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:36:18 | More by Mojo

Dope

Massachusetts

3.84/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

2012 batch.

A: Pours a nice dark mahogany. Big fluffy light brown head. Lacing doesn't seem to stick as the head fades away. Just a splotch here and there. Decent retention though.

S: Lots of holiday spaces. Nutmeg and cinnamon primarily it seems. Some others that I can't quite place. Get a bit of dark bread in there too but it's mainly the spices.

T: Again, lots of spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg up front. Kind of a thick, molasses breadiness to the malt, for lack of a better description. More spices in the finish, almost like black pepper here. Cinnamon lingers between sips.

M: Nice medium bodied, pretty standard.

O: A fairly simple and spicy winter warmer. Fairly mellow with decent balance. Easy drinking but somewhat plain.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 04:27:34 | More by Dope