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

armock

New York

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

A - Poured a very dark brown color with a tan head that leaves lacing

S - Is of roasted malt with caramel scents

T - Is good roasted malt with a caramel taste a little smoky taste as well

M - Fairly light carbonation and pretty smooth

D - This is an easy to drink brew has a good taste and smooth make this a beer thats worth drinking sometime

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 23:30:02 | More by armock

Jason

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The head retention on this beer is pretty amazing, some of the thickest lacing I have seen in a while. There must be a small percent of torrified wheat in this brew. Dark coffee brown color with some ruby highlights. Toffee, some salt water taffy and a ghost like anise in the nose. Very smooth and creamy in a medium body. Sweet caramel and toffee flavors, burnt raisins in the back with a mild char note. Little bit of toasted malt and fruitiness middle to end. Big woody hop flavor has a modest bitterness. Mineral and a tad salty in the drying finish.

Yeah, this is one kick ass winter warmer. Comes in silent and then drops this complex malt bomb on the palate. This one is for the traditionalist.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 03:57:34 | More by Jason

Tim2000

Quebec (Canada)

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

500 mL brown bottle, can't make out manufacturing date.

Pours a dark brown with a thin tan head that sticks to the sides of the glass.

Roasted, nutty aroma with some caramel notes.

Starts off sweet with lots of honey and molasses. Hints of hazelnut and chocolate towards the middle with a nice bitterness building up until the end. Long, lingering aftertaste that combines caramel and bitter black tea. Alcohol is present and gives a bit of bite to the beer. Quite full-bodied with low carbonation.

Well balanced and packed with flavour. Definitely a winner.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 00:56:35 | More by Tim2000

GimmeAles

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Served at cellar temp. A cool, high-shouldered St. Peter’s bottle, sadly it seems they’ve done away with the cool, oval-flask style bottle in favor of a similar (but not as unique), round one. A simply, classy salmon shield, ringed in Gold with the distinctive script announces a special seasonal on the label.
Pours a brooding sable into the snifter with only the faintest ruby edges coming through in the light. Lovely. Subdued, mildly active carbonation never managed to cap the beer, even with firm pour. Light ring of beige foam stays to the end though.

Wafts of caramel and toasted grain first greet the nose. Closer inspection reveals a hint of smoke, and subdued, vinuous fruit, skunk, vanilla, and hazelnuts. A soft, subtle, but very complex nose.

Flavours are of toasted husk, caramel and gently smoked wood. Biscuity and nutty with leather and tobacco also present (maybe a good cigar-beer here). Just enough hop bitterness to balance the malts, though no distinct hops character really comes through.

Light and smooth mouthfeel for a ‘strong’ English beer. Finishes fairly dry but with a pleasant lingering caramel sweetness. A fine ale indeed – done in the subtle, classy way that all St. Peter’s brews are. Warming me nicely on this cold, wet January evening.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2008 05:31:55 | More by GimmeAles

grub

Ontario (Canada)

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

500ml bottle with a note attached explaining why it's not in the typical st peter's oval bottle. these are ok, but not nearly as neat as the regular ones. sampled jan 9/08.

pours deep brown and nearly opaque with a small dense cream coloured head. the head drops slowly and leaves tons of lace.

aroma is good. nice roast. big dark chocolate. coffee and espresso. touch of smoke. light alcohol. big biscuit malt base. light bready character too. light caramel sweetness. great fruity esters.

taste is good. tastes more like an english porter than a more generic "winter warmer". solid roasty character. toasted white bread. big bready malt. touch of caramel sweetness. light caramel sweetness. low bitterness level, more bittersweet chocolate than hops. bit of floral hops. light fruit.

mouthfeel is good. medium-low carbonation level. medium body.

drinkability is good. well balanced. alcohol is hidden very well. i'm going to have to stock up on this one before it leaves the lcbo.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2008 02:16:28 | More by grub

baggio

Sweden

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Intended to drink this on x-mas eve but kind of forgot it....

A: Blackness with a finger thick & creamy head.

S: Liquorice, Roasted malts, Pepper, Ripe dark fruit, cafe latte.

T: Espresso, roasted malts, dark chocolate, fruits a plenty.

M: Very drinkable with a nice aftertouch of roasted malt and bitter hops. Medium carbonation.

A very drinkable brew indeed. Lacks some spices to be a christmas-beer but it's a very good stout/porter-clone. Goes down way easily. Give it a go!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2008 20:29:15 | More by baggio

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A fine offering with a balance of malt, alcohol, and spiciness. The malts are complex, but difficult to put a handle on; caught somewhere between a Brown Ale and a Bock in flavor, but with a lighter body expected from either. Alcohols keep the beer thinned, but compliment with a sweet powerful dryness. Hopped for mostly balance, while offering a hint of pine and grassy notes. A standard brown hue with near clarity. Any other spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, or allspice) remain muted and compliment the esters and phenols well. Medium maltiness and bitterness that linger into the aftertaste with a hint of nuttiness, cocoa, coffee, and spices that carry into the next sip. Not a bad offering, but nothing tangible to celebrate either. There is a fine line between 'complex' and 'hodge-podge'.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2008 18:07:03 | More by BEERchitect

stephendr

California

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

one pint .9 oz. glass bottle- color of deep amber, with a medium tan colored head - nose of roasted malts, slight coco, and mild hops – taste of roasted malts, dark roast coffee, some toffee, and mild hops - body is medium, and round , and with medium low carbonation – aftertaste of sweet malts, coffee, dry, and lingering

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 19:37:51 | More by stephendr

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

Pours quite dark, nearly black with some tinge of red. Decent head at first that fades relatively quickly. Aromas of gingerbread and bitters and lots of bready malt. Taste is similar- not sweet at all, in fact there is a bitter current throughout and a savory spiciness. Quite bready, almost crackery. Very smooth and easy to drink, though there is some alcohol warmth as well. A pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 04:45:27 | More by Georgiabeer

Halcyondays

California

2.93/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

16.9 oz. British bottle,

A: Pours black, with a full tan head, nice retention, some lacing left in the glass.

S: Roasted malt, burnt sugar, molasses, and maybe a bit of licorice and pine needles.

T: On the first sip, I wasn't too impressed with it, it had mainly a burnt sugar taste, with this "dark" bitterness that seemed out of place and caught me off-guard. After a while I got more into it. Overall, it's got a nice mix of flavours, burnt molasses and hops mostly, though there is a spice character to this beer hinting of nutmeg or cinnamon, a bitter quality, though I don't know if this beer is spiced or not.

M: Quite light on the tongue for a 6.3% beer, kind of thin as well, I mean this is a beer you could guzzle if you wanted to, oily as well, some resin.

D: A fair beer from St. Peter's, I've had better beers from them before, an OK offering, not just up to par with some of the better Winter beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 18:50:57 | More by Halcyondays

drinkininthewood

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Let me start off by saying that this is no winter ale. But it is an excellent Dark ale.

Served from a 500ml brown bottle into a pint glass. Some odd code on the back which I cant understand.

A- Pours dark brown almost black, with a brown head which only appears if you pour aggressively. Head diminishes quickly leaving a layer of big bubbles and some lace spots on the glass.

S- Is generally of roasted malts with some hops, and dark chocolate.

T- Is of the same, mainly nice roasty malts with hints of coffee and dark chocolate, dark fruits ( mostly plums ) mid-way, and grassy hops make up fairly good balance in the end.

M- very nice texture, smooth and oily on the tongue and nicely carbonated. Somewhat chalky as well.

D- Very drinkable, sessionable even.

Overall why the hell isn't this available year round? Drop the winter ale thing and just call it St. Peters Dark Ale....This is their best offering and should be their flagship brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2007 23:49:11 | More by drinkininthewood

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Kind of boring looking really. Really dark, burnt caramel. Next to no head, ditto for the lacings.

Burnt caramel on the nose with some fairly strong dark fruit notes, blackcurrants. Some spiciness but it comes accross rather unpleasantly, maybe the alcohol isn't hidden well enough for my taste.

Tates better than it smells. Nice nutty taste, roasted chestnuts along with the blackcurrants I mentioned above. Very tasty malt, buttery and pretty complex, hovering between a nice English ale and a good stout. Some wintery spices, bit of a fruitcake taste. Unfortunate medicinal finish.

Really like the mouthfeel. Nice and creamy in the mouth but it goes down really well. I think I could drink a couple of these. Not bad stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2007 00:44:18 | More by CanuckRover

Zorro

California

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A clear deeply brown colored beer with a good long lasting light brown head. Lots of ruby red color when held up to the light.

Smell is quite buttery to the nose with a mild amount of spice in it. Malt and molasses form the next level of scent along with some Fuggles hop. Fair amount of ginger and cinnamon in the scent but it doesn't really remind me of anything else except really muted spice drop candy.

The taste begins sweet and malty with a Fuggles hop aftertaste. Bit of chocolate and coffee in the taste and I would call this a coffee beer. Spice flavor here is quite mild and really isn't that significant a factor.

Mouthfeel is thick.

Certainly easy to drink but for its high price it could be better. Mild ale needs stronger flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2007 05:10:14 | More by Zorro

GClarkage

California

3.55/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12/13/07- Purchased at Whole Foods in San Mateo, CA.

Presentation- 16.9oz bottle with no freshness info. Lovely antique style bottle. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Coca Cola color, not quite black. I guess super deep caramel color would be a good way to describe it...or burnt caramel. About a 1/2 inch head which fades quickly and leaves minor lace streaks behind.

Smell- The nose that really sticks out is anise and a Dr. Pepper-like scent. Peppery I gues you would say.

Taste- About like the color. A burnt caramel background which is lightly hopped. As you work through the beer you get some traditional holiday flavors of clove and spruce tree like flavors. Even in deeper I got a good chunk of anise and a eucalyptus menthol like flavor. Odd, but interesting for sure.

Mouthfeel- Pretty smooth with a lower than average carbonation level. Light hopped aftertaste, more woodsy time flavor if anything.

Drinkability- Seems like an OSA type flavor. Pretty good with flavors all over the place. Not sure I could pound more than one of these in a day though. More of a once a season treat beer. I did like it though.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2007 17:16:22 | More by GClarkage

plaztikjezuz

Michigan

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

st. peters has changed there bottles to a completely round one, thought that was interesting, pours a deep dark mahogany with a slight tan head.
the aroma is rich malty, dark fruits like raisins, a little spice.
the flavor is rich mad malty with a nice toffee flaovr with a hint of caramel, some burnt dark fruits with a hint of smoke, with a slight lingering grassiness.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2007 05:44:12 | More by plaztikjezuz

kmo1030

Massachusetts

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

deep dark brown with a thin light tan head that laces a little.
it's got a burnt carmamel and toffee malt aroma, with dark fruitiness, mostly plum and prune type smells. i'm not grabbing any hops out of here.
the taste contains bitterweet burnt chocolate, with the same plum and prune from the aroma. the burnt bitterness is actually a balancing influence. it's got some smoke that actually almost borders on a peat-y character. molasses comes out with warmth playing of of the already present caramel charactrer.
the mouth feel is a little light, but ends up lending a little bit to drinkability actually.
decent drinkability, but the burnt bitterness wears on you somewhat, not enough to significantly detract though. my only critique is that this beer is sort of loosely constituted, that is to say that the flavors don't seem to gel well, and don't work as a cohesive unit. well worth a try though, especially since it's a pretty cheap one and done beer purchase.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2007 02:02:37 | More by kmo1030

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a very dark mahogany body with a full, foamy light beige head.

Smell: Fruity, caramel malt aroma with a pinch of roast and spice.

Taste: A somewhat tart, berrylike fruitiness pairs with a malty sweetness and a taste of brown sugar atop burnt toast. Hard to place spiciness. Faintly floral hop flavor with a moderate bitterness. There's a pinch from the alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation.

Drinkability: I can't say I really cared for it. I just wasn't the carnival of wintertime smiles I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2007 03:56:25 | More by ChainGangGuy

largadeer

California

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Dark brown, almost black - looks rather stoutish. Pours with a sizable head with decent lacing but fairly weak retention.

Smell - Sweet and malty; notes of caramel and coffee.

Taste - Very toasty, a bit burnt even; notes of roasted nuts with a caramel sweetness. A long coffee finish with sharp bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with mild carbonation. Very coating and slightly oily.

Notes - Good if somewhat unexceptional. Not a beer I would seek out often, but it's good for the season and I definitely enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2007 00:49:37 | More by largadeer

BeerBelcher

Ohio

2.8/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

This beer was OK (but hardly remarkable), but had an oddly tangy aftertaste that would keep me from recommending it.

This beer poured a red-brown translucent color with a minimal head. Aroma was a mild malted-milk ball aroma. Flavor was malty with an unusual spiciness that had a tanginess that reminded me more of aftershave or bug repellent than it did of the holidays. Mouthfeel was OK, but didn't really stand out in my mind.

I wasn't thrilled with this beer, and there other winter beers I would much prefer to this one. Also, the green packaging of this beer baffles me and has led to me avoiding it altogether up to now.

I'd weakly counsel you to avoid this beer. I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2007 20:44:42 | More by BeerBelcher

flowerysong

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Opaque black with a serviceable brown head.

Smell: Huge malt nose. Very sweet, mainly roasted malts with a hint of fruit.

Taste: Smooth and nutty, with a touch of caramel on the front and coffee-like bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, mild carbonation. A bit of alcohol.

Drinkability: Quite high. It's not mindblowing, but it's definitely tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2007 05:38:34 | More by flowerysong

Brad007

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown/black color with a thin head. Aroma is somewhat roasted with hints of chocolate and coffee in the nose. Taste is smooth, roasty and very nice. Chocolate hints at the back of the throat and only a slight spiciness. Goes down very well. This has to be a porter or milk stout of sorts. Very roasty, smooth and better than I thought it would be. I would definitely buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2007 02:08:07 | More by Brad007

ralree

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep nearly opaque brown with a 2-finger tan head. Great retention, and decent lacing. A good looking beer to say the least.

S: Lots of roasted chocolate malt. This one should be very good. Hops undetectable - just sweetness almost like a chocolate stout.

T: Oh man - chocolate, coffee, and over-roasted malt overwhelm the first flavors, creating a great bittersweet and almost smoky atmosphere (I like burnt malt). Sweet flowering hops are detectable. Very satisfying

M: Pretty astringent - puckering lingers with you for a bit. Very creamy texture, medium-heavy bodied. Perfect carbonation. Pretty chewy. Slightly wet finish.

D: Very drinkable - would be enjoyable in front of a nice warm fireplace. I don't think it would go well with a meal, but that's more personal preference.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2007 23:52:54 | More by ralree

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a dark brown color and had a nice thick off white fluffy head to it. The smell was of roasted malts. It tasted of roasted malts with a nice slight hoppy finish. The mouthfeel was heavy with low carbonation. Overall drinkability was decent. Nice to drink when it is cold out.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2007 03:40:06 | More by Beerbuddha

cjgator3

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

16.9oz green flask-like bottle. Pours a dark brown color with a light tan head. The smell is roasted malt with touches of caramel and chocolate. The taste much like the aroma is dark roasted malts with a nice dose of hops in the finish. Overall, this is a very nice winter seasonal that I would not mind having again. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2007 04:52:39 | More by cjgator3

blakesell

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 16.9oz? bottle into a Belgian cereal bowl.

Appearance- Black with reddish hues around the edges. Carbonation is even and fills the glass just enough. Lacing clings to the glass and leaves lacing clinging dry to the glass for the full ride.

Smell- Smells like a porter. Roasty with malt, a little more hop than expected, and what seems like a hint of spice.

Taste- A lot like a porter but it has some other characteristics as well. The hops and spices are very evenly balanced, they taste nearly the same, but the spices shine out with hints of cinnamon. Almost a soapy cleanliness on the finish.

Mouthfeel- Creamy and well carbonated, hoppy but not astringent, and full-bodied. This is one great beer on the mouth.

Drinkability- I had to ramp up the drinkability on this one. It tastes delicious and is not over the top with alcohol. I could drink a lot of these all in one sitting. I'll be picking up another of these before the season is over.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2007 20:43:37 | More by blakesell