St. Peter's Winter Ale - St. Peter's Brewery Co Ltd

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the LCBO, part of the winter release. 500ml into a balloon tulip.

Poured a dark burgundy, bordering on black. A finger of tan head fades to some big bubbles, and retains a collar of head with minimal lace. Nose of dark fruits, milk chocolate, plum, figs, bit of roastiness and some warm winter spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) which aren't prominent, but are interwoven amongst the others. Taste has more of the dark fruits and chocolate battling for supremacy on the palate, with some roastiness in there for good measure. Good smooth mouthfeel, with a quick hint of the alcohol in the finish. Solid drinkability, a winner.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 14:35:05 | More by liamt07

dacrza1

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4.25

Date Rated: April 5, 2013...
Glassware: Victory Hop Devil nonick...
Occasion: The Hobbit on DVD--this will be a good pairing...
Appearance: cold black body (not quite a necromancer) with gray, dirty-snow-colored head that sinks swiftly into a thin halo...
Aroma: malty and robust--a roasted ale more in line with a porter than a special ale...
Palate: medium-bodied and porterly, almost soda-like in its slickness--more a Gamgee than a Baggins; not a fan of the consistency, admittedly...
Taste: wine-like astringency finishes what becomes a softly warming, fruity/grape flavor--late hints of vanilla suggest complexity...
Overall: an earnest strong ale that gave me a heightened, mellow ripple trough the body as it finished--like besting Gollum in a game of riddles...

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 01:57:16 | More by dacrza1

pin

Australia

2.5/5  rDev -35.9%

05-21-2013 17:47:23 | More by pin

SimonTja

Sweden

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

05-11-2013 19:19:33 | More by SimonTja

srgj88

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-11-2013 19:16:17 | More by srgj88

civicm87

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

04-17-2013 01:22:22 | More by civicm87

zenithberwyn

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%

04-16-2013 05:07:23 | More by zenithberwyn

Pillowburn

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-03-2013 03:24:02 | More by Pillowburn

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

03-29-2013 01:58:06 | More by JMS1512

kojevergas

California

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

1 pint .9 fl oz brown glass bottle acquired for cheap at Total Wine Redondo Beach; I think the price was between $1 and $2. Label is red. I dig the strangely shaped bottle. Pressure cap is branded. Expectations are average.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a light tan colour head of gorgeous cream, very good thickness, and quite good (6+ minute) retention for the above average ABV. Body colour is a very dark caramel-brown; nontransparent and opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Very light thin lacing as the head recedes. Not horribly vibrant, but then again it's nontransparent...

Sm: Sweet malts. Fruit - fig, bright sugarplum, dates. Caramel and toffee. Brewer's chocolate. Surprisingly Belgian in malt character, with a nice dose of biscuit. Raisin. Light herbal notes. A bit of spice - anise? A subtle, diverse aroma of moderate to fairly high strength. Little yeast character is detectable. I don't get any alcohol.

T: Caramel, toffee, heavy date fruit, biscuit malt, fig, malty sweetness, and light candi sugar. Complex and enjoyable. Pleasant to drink. Balanced if imperfect. Not horribly subtle. A bit too sweet, but still enjoyable. I do get some candi sugar. Balance is okay. Could use more complexity and subtlety. It's a bit wanting. I do like it. A bit of toasted character. Sugary.

Mf: A bit undercarbonated. Smooth. Wet. Good presence on the palate. Depth of flavour is above average.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. A surprisingly tasty winter ale. Well priced. I'd get it again. Not exemplary, but a solid seasonal. I wouldn't want to have more than a bottle a night; it's just so sweet and sugary. But it's a good offering. Hides its above average ABV well.

High C+

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 07:48:26 | More by kojevergas

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-05-2013 01:44:32 | More by Molson2000

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Two and half fingers of light tan head on a just-short-of-black body.
The aroma is roasted malt, black licorice and caramel. Great depth here.
The taste is strong on the black licorice, backed up by the roasted malt. There’s a mild bitterness to balance out the malt sweetness.
This has a heavy body with low carbonation. The texture is oily.
A wonderful ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:14:41 | More by Fatehunter

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

(3.75) A: Shows an attractive clear pomegranate red colour with a bubbly dirty beige head that quickly scatters to form a ring. Healthy lacing with some streaking down the glass.

(4.25) S: Dark bakers chocolate, black licorice, winter spices (nutmeg and cloves), and dark fruits (raisins and dates). An underlying herbal aroma to this that is quite subtle and adds a nice layer. Slightly boozy but more of a raisin soaked booze vibe. Very good.

(4.25) T: Roasted malt traits notably a dry dark chocolate, herbal-like hop elements, spices, restrained darker fruits (raisins and cherries), and toffee. There’s almost an earthy peat taste in the finish that is intriguing. I want to describe each flavour as subtle, so instead I will say this is very smooth and well balanced. Delicious.

(4.25) M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Oily and dry with a slight chalky texture, but in a good way.

(4.25) D: This is a very well balanced and smooth winter ale (possibly more porter-like) with complexity and an assortment of flavour. Definitely worth a try, if not for the medicine bottle shape.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 02:27:49 | More by Digimaika2

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

01-26-2013 14:17:04 | More by polloenfuego

Chrily

Norway

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

01-14-2013 11:41:08 | More by Chrily

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-14-2013 04:21:24 | More by spycow

HATS4BATS

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Complex and layered. Powerful nose of coffee and chocolate in balance. Flavour leads with smack of toffee with enduring notes of burnt coffee, salted chocolate and malt. At times struggles to conceal ample alcohol content. Feel of a traditional ale with pleasant after-taste that holds complexity in balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:44:17 | More by HATS4BATS

larrynevins

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

12-23-2012 21:49:13 | More by larrynevins

jaz58

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A decent winter ale.

Poured into a pint glass, when held up to the light, the colour is ruby red.

The nose is warm with good hints of malt and a little chocolate.

Very thin creamy head which dissipated quickly.

Taste features toffee and butterscotch with a good bitters to finish.

Mouthfeel is round and good.

Overall a good ale to warm you up on a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 23:39:22 | More by jaz58

kristiekatk

Massachusetts

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

I love the fat little bottle this beer comes in. Makes me think that I’m drinking an olde timey home remedy for something. Let’s say gout.

St. Peter’s pours a deep ruby, almost black, with a head that fades into a thin and bubbly ring. The aroma is all malted milk balls and roasted malts, very porter-ish. There’s also a good tinge of leafy hops, molasses and burnt caramel.

Vanilla, fruit, and English hops dominate the front end of this beer, resting on a roasted malt base. A lot of char notes mixed with the hops provide for a great balance between sweet and bitter. The mouthfeel is slick and well-rounded, though it feels a lot lighter than what I would like it to be.

Overall, I’m not exactly sure what is overly winter-y about this beer, but I did enjoy it and think it would taste great paired with a warm winter meal.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:26:26 | More by kristiekatk

BlurryVisi0n

New York

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

Served in pint glass (Sam Adams signature glass).

Appearance: Cloudy brown, with an obvious amber tint to it. You see many and I do mean many tiny bubbles when placed to the light.

Smell: Light nutmeg barley feel, It is a scent that you can definitely not hate.

Taste: Nice sweet and bitter. Malty feel and lightly spicy feels like nutmeg.

Mouth: Medium and very sticking. I am placed the glass down and still minutes still feeling it. This beer comes off slightly a little like fruit bread but toastier.

Overall: For about four bucks, this beer was a blessing. When i go back I will pick up two more while the season is kicking. Drink up and enjoy, Salud!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 04:59:01 | More by BlurryVisi0n

KevinSP

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.6%

12-06-2012 01:42:37 | More by KevinSP

Vyronian

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

11-25-2012 04:40:54 | More by Vyronian

aztraz

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

11-24-2012 19:52:29 | More by aztraz

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -23.1%

11-22-2012 01:48:34 | More by cfalovo97