Cabin Fever Ale - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

ToasterChef

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from my notes. Served in a pint glass at the Portsmouth Brewery (this beer was the guest tap when I visited).

A: Clear red/orange liquid. A finger's worth of off-white foam, but not much carbonation rising within. Very good coating.

S: Pale malts and crystal sugars. A little bit of hop bitterness.

T: Caramel malts, some sugars (it tastes a tad syrupy). Something about the flavor reminds me of apple juice--it is slightly cidery. I don't necessarily find this beer warming, but it is enjoyable.

M: Full body, medium carbonation. Tiny bubbles. Not sticky, but does coat well. The coat has more fruit juice flavors and a cider kick.

D: This beer is enjoyable, but one is enough for me. I find it to be a filling beer (although I am enjoying it over a meal). On it's own, I can see myself drinking a full 22 oz bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2011 17:23:48 | More by ToasterChef

mattjv

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The bottle reads "brewed to sustain you over the long New England winter." It's 14 degrees outside in CT as I type this, so the occasion is perfect. Poured from a bomber with clearly stamped "best by" date, is it really so hard for everyone else to do this?

Pours a dark amber/copper color with creamy white head that is slow to dissipate, hazy from bottle conditioning. something about the look of an unfiltered beer is so pleasing, anyways...

Aroma is malt forward, toasted and caramel malts up front. Some orange citrus, also hints of banana. mild solvent alcohol presence adds an edge to the aroma.

Tastes much like it smells, surprise? Rich toasted malt dominates the palate upfront, followed by prominent spice flavor reminiscent of a dark Belgian. Slight citrus flavor on the aroma as well. Mild alcohol presence warms the throat on the finish. Surprising for just 6.3 but quite welcome considering the "winter warmer" feel this brew is going for. Medium body with robust carbonation that nicely balances the malt.

Overall: a nice brew, definitely one I could have a few of in a night. This beer satisfies in the biting winter cold without having high ABV or super full body.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 06:47:22 | More by mattjv

harsley

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I loved this beer. I knew nothing about it expect figured it would good for a cold Winter night, which is was. Not warming alcohol or anything really, but nice and malty.

It poured a hazy light brown with plenty of lacing and foam. The smell is all malt with some caramel aroma. The taste is filled with malt, caramel, and some earthiness, probably from the yeast (I'm guessing English). It's not sweet though, they do a great job balancing it all even though it's malt heavy. I really plowed through this 22oz bottle and enjoyed every sip. I will defintely have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 19:09:32 | More by harsley

Aggie69143

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

nice solid winter warmer,bought a log of this in nov almost finished with it,easy drinking sweet malt,slight hop finish,nice head with good retention.this beer was alot better when first tapped,but still holds up 3 months later.
nice beer to enjoy a few on a cold winters eve.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2011 17:46:56 | More by Aggie69143

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.03/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Honestly, I really dont know what to make of this ale. There was nothing really negative about it yet I have a hard time coming up with some positives.

The pour, the smell, the mouthful were ok, but what I did not like was the aftertaste. I always like a beer (or wine) that starts off and finishes the same way. To me, the drink ability was
not what I would hope for

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 05:29:34 | More by rdilauro

Vierenner

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed while on a trip to Boston -- great opportunity to drink a local brew! A nicely-balanced ale with a spicy and fruity hop finish. Also carries a nutty flavor. Copper-amber in color, but mildy cloudy. I gave a little ding to appearance because of cloudiness -- a clear beer is an important attribute to me. A quality beer at an affordable price.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 02:58:59 | More by Vierenner

Duhast500

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the 22oz. bottle into a Gritty's pint glass.

The color is a slightly hazy dark orange/amber with finger and a half of foamy off-white head and some thick lacing left on the glass.

The smell has a it caramel malt aroma. There is a somewhat sweetness that blends into a mellow bitterness

The taste is sweet with a creamy malt flavor. Some bread flavor is there with a touch of a slight buttery flavor. There is a touch of spice and again a mellow bitterness toward the end that finishes things off.

The feel of this beer is medium bodied. This is good, drinkable beer that goes down well and has just a small aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 04:58:16 | More by Duhast500

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tap at texas bbq in Northborough.

Semi clear golden amber peach color with creamy head w lacing.

Nose has some malts, creamy, caramel and light molasses like malts and syrups, light malts, bit of earthy malt aroma.

Taste light creamy malts, earthy gritty malts, caramel, red malts, little earthy hop, light molasses and bready malt like taste. Finishes with a bit of sweetness and some very light spices like taste, and malts.

Mouth is medium bodied with good carbonation.

Drink is decent, no real booze taste for a winter beer, light malts, a bit of sweetness and sticky finish.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2011 02:58:55 | More by jlindros

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had this in my fridge for a while, there's over a foot of snow outside, what better night to review Cabin Fever Ale?

Pours a hazy copper/red, really nice color. Big off-white head retains easily at a finger really caking on the lacing.

Caramel+nutty malts in the scent, slight spice and fruit as it warms. Strong at first but gets weaker over time.

Taste is pretty malt-centric (toasty and nutty mostly) but there is also a nice spicy/herbal hop presence, enough to get some hop burps going quickly. Bread and fruit in the finish, reminds me of fruitcake at times. Pulls off that 'English ale' feel pretty well.

Mouthfeel feels barely carbonated at first but gets more bubbly after a few minutes and is fine.

As usual, a solid offering from Berkshire. Enough complexities and flavor to keep you sipping.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 00:40:01 | More by Chico1985

cbutova

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pretty sure I have had this one, nice to review local stuff.

A- Pours brown with a large, frothy head that has pretty damn good retention. Pretty nice spots of lace coat the glass.

S- Mostly a malt based aroma with a lot of deep caramel and some darker sugar like molasses. Floral hops open up as it warms. A bit spicy.

T- Caramel malt, toffee with slight toast tones. Some dark fruit. Certainly a spice to it but it feels from the hops as does a citrus zest and floral flavor. Some nutty malt/nutmeg. Yeast lends bready hints. The caramel and nutmeg really build a lot as I drink more.

MF- Creamy light body with smooth high-end carbonation. Somewhat bitter.

DB- Pretty good, better than the winter seasonals I am used to. Instead of going over the top with spice it is just a nice regular ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 03:52:49 | More by cbutova

begforme4484

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark reddish brown amber. Finger and a half of white/off-white head that has spotty lacing on the glass.

Smells of winter spices, nutmeg etc, and lots of malts. Hard to detect a hop profile, but I'm sure some of the spiciness is due in part to hops.

Has a nice sharp bit to begin with. Now you can taste the hops.. they weren't really present in the nose. Nice spicy and earthy hop flavors. Lots of spicy and the malts are very smooth. More sweet than doughy. Spices do an alright amount of warming, but there's not enough alcohol kick to compliment it.

Medium bodied and slightly lingering in the taste. Moderate carbonation.

It's local, it's cheap, and it's good. It's overall a good beer and worth trying for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 03:56:36 | More by begforme4484

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Received an amber glass with a cream colored thin head that surprisingly left some decent lace. Nice clarity.

This one was served too cold. Initial aromas were toasted malt, some sweet fruit. As it warmed, I got a touch of spice and toffee-like notes, with a little zing of pine.

Bitter-sweet brew with a nice toasted malt and fruit balance. Not overdone in either category, with the bitter notes of dark toasted bread and some hints of hop bitterness melding with some fruit and toffee sweetness. Nice malty grain finish with some lingering bitterness. Tasty.

Fuller bodied and appropriately carbonated.

Easy to drink. Might even do with a bit more booze in it. Smooth but lacks the punch I wanted. Nothing super distinctive, but a winner just the same. Very worth the try.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 23:48:50 | More by OtherShoe2

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into NB Globe Glass

Pours 1 finger of head that settles down. Leaves some splattered lace. Color is am amber hued mahogany.

Aroma: Very malty. Caramel with a lot of toffee. Some spices. Kind of reminds me of a young warm ale. Has some grassy hops showing. It also has some fruit flavors.

Taste: Very similar to the nose, but it has more hops showing. Still pretty malty. Caramel, toffee, and dark fruits. Some raisins and spice. Not bad.

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

Overall, not a bad winter warmer. Reminded me a lot of a young old ale, still pretty hoppy. It was rather quick drinking. Above average, but nothing I would actively seek out.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 20:32:44 | More by mothman

uustal

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours deep reddish brown. Not much of a head and subpar lacing as well. Sweet malt and fruity aroma. Begins with a nice caramelized sugar malt. Malt gives way to a good kick of fruity flavor, almost fruit punch like. Winter and grassy spices finish the beer out, especially as it warms. Tasty, sweet combination.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2010 03:41:50 | More by uustal

alleykatking

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bottle.

A- Pours a orange brown color. Two finger white head that shows medium retention. Light streaky lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- Malts that are super sweet in the front of the beer. Caramel malts and something else I can't figure out. Light fruits in the backing and well nothing really else. Once it warms a little bit of spice.

T- Light caramel malts with a touch of toffee notes here and there. There is some light spicing in the middle of the beer with the ending being more of a spicey hop flavor. As this warmed up though the bready malts came through more.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation was a little on the weak side. Malts and more malts are left on the palate. Some light alcohol and spicing left in the aftertaste. This beer was more malt forward and not totally balanced. Light drying on the palate from the alcohol. Crisp flavors overall.

D- This beer was drinkable. Not my favorite from Berkshire from what I have had but hey you can't win all the time now can you?

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 04:02:07 | More by alleykatking

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a translucent mahogany brown with a big pinkish tan head that recedes slowly but steadily and laces well.

grainy and herbal aroma with some caramel. not much spice compared to what can be found in other winter warmers. herbal tea comes to mind.

herbs come first with plenty of grain following. caramel and corn syrup sweetness come next and it finishes a bit tart and fruity. not quite what I was expecting in a winter warmer, but it isnt bad. almost like a domestic octoberfest crossed with a winter warmer.

light to medium bodied with heavy carbonation. it finishes watery with some lingering sweetness, but not much in terms of aftertaste.

drinks ok. nothing special, but nothing terrible either. really reminds me of an octoberfest with winter spices added.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 04:53:38 | More by silentjay

SirSketch

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Pillowy head that stays around for some time. Ranges in color from orange to blood red. Just a little murky.

S - At first sniff, it reminds me of a home brew straight out of the fermenter. Very sweet malt aroma, like that of sweet wort. Fusel alcohol aroma you would get from a freshly/still fermenting beer, not necessarily due to high alcohol content (not that this beer is actually still fermenting, it just gives off that flavor). Hops are subtle and somewhat spicy.

T - Fairly straightforward malt taste with a distinct cereal or grainy flavor. A bit of banana-like fruitiness and enough bitterness to keep the whole thing from being cloying.

M/D - Ends dry. Light to medium body. Not too complex, but pretty enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 04:53:37 | More by SirSketch

zimmerbloke

Wisconsin

2.3/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

From Blind Bomber BIF (Thanks to Hophead101!):

A: Pours a nice, bright white head that fades rather quickly. The beer itself is a fairly light reddish cedar color, though not at all transluscent. Appears fairly carbonated.

S: Sweet malt at first, with a brighter note. Some light caramel and faint fruitiness. Hop aromas aren't partiularly evident.

T: Umm... not quite right. The two most prominent flavors are sweeter malt and an ill-paired tartness. Some caramelized sugar, but it's mostly light malt dominated by an offputting sour flavor. I would assume this bottle has turned. No real hop flavor, just fades to bitterness.

M: Not consistant with the taste. Presumably, this is not supposed to be sour, but either way... too heavy for sour, too light for anything with the stronger caramel flavors.

D: In this state, extremely low.

Curious to try this one fresh, or at least unturned. Other reviews seem interesting, but I guess reviewing something blind... drinking the beer is all you have to go on.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 21:04:23 | More by zimmerbloke

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle split with hobbie100. Thanks Richard!

A: Orange-brown hue with a medium-sized head that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass.

S: Fruits, spices, malt.

T: This was my favorite of the five Berkshire Brewing beers I had the opportunity to try recently. It was the most complex and interesting, and of course had the best flavor. Spices are integrated nicely into the overall flavor of the beer, with no artificial tasting fake flavors. I have had many winter warmer beers that I found less than pleasant. This was a pleasant surprise.

M: Medium body, good feel.

D: A solid beer. I'd definitely drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 01:50:36 | More by Huhzubendah

maximum12

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to gn0sis for sending this over as an extra in an early spring trade; the last surviving bottle. It's been resting comfortably in the beer fridge ever since, the lack of an identifiable POV keeping it undrunk. Winter warmer? Who knew? Split with my wife.

Pour is vigorous, resulting in a deep russet brew that one can only see shadows through. Smells remarkably like beer. Nothing more, nothing less.

I got Cabin Fever on my own couch! The spicing in this is subtle & complements the beer, which I hugely appreciate - massively spiced beers are an affront to nature. I'm not cool enough to pick out individual spices, but they are multiple & tasty. There's also a bouquet of fruit too, including ripe pears, green apples, & others. Sprite & snappy on the palate, & light enough to be appealing on a warm summer evening.

Winter warmer? Bah! Dial it down a notch or two & BBC would have a nice, easy-drinkin' summer beer for the porch. I am pleasantly surprised, very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2010 01:41:03 | More by maximum12

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another new one for me, we brought a bunch over to the fourth of July cookout. Served cold and poured
into a nice tasting glass, this one was consumed on 07/04/2010.

Was not really sure what to make of this one as the light caramel color came out of the bottle and
into the glass. Very thin looking without much of a head to speak of at all.

Aroma is caramel, bitter hops, a touch of some off malts. Not really getting the warm and fuzzy from
this one right now. As it comes up to temperature it leaves hints of bready tones, brown sugar,
touches of light candied notes and a burnt coffee finish. Not really sure where that one came from.

Overall I will pass. It was not terrible by any means, just not what I had in mind.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2010 23:23:37 | More by mikesgroove

billab914

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Stone imperial pint glass. Poured copper in color with a thick, frothy half inch white head. The head had some pretty nice retention to it along with a decent amount of lacing on the glass.

The aroma has a malty sweet flavor to it with some notes of caramel and spice. The spice is fairly mild compared to a lot of winter spiced beers, which I appreciate. It has more of an earthy, hoppy, spice to it then any other spice really.

The taste has a lot of the malty, bready and caramel notes that the nose suggested. The spices are even milder in the taste which I also like. Like the aroma the spice seems more of a hoppy spice in the finish then actual spices.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good, it had some nice malty flavors to it and the spices weren't overdone. Pretty enjoyable brew that would fit nicely with a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 01:37:09 | More by billab914

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Flatbread pizza company in Canton CT. Shaker pint glass.

Pours reddish brown with a wisp of white foam at the top. Some stickiness around the top.

Malty sweet smell, not prominent.

Taste is a malty blend with a nutty background. There are some subtle hops buried in the background. Light sweetness. Well balanced carbonation.

This is a tasty beer, no doubt. Good balance, nice nuttyness that pokes through.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2010 00:28:45 | More by KTCamm

TtheGrey

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Reddish brown, a bit cloudy. When I poured from the bottle to the glass a large head was evident and had staying power.

S - A yeasty smell is present.

T - Quite tasty and not an over=abundance of hops. I am still new to this beer exploring world, but know that I generally don't like really hoppy beers (like IPAs).

M - Nice mouthfeel, rich and lasting.

D - Though full with flavor I could see quite a few of these going down, though the 6.3% ABV could come up to surprise me.

Overall I would say this is a high quality beer, and I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2010 01:53:06 | More by TtheGrey

CavePainter

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy, deep reddish copper with a thick off-white head that fades to a thin, lingering lacing.

Smell: Honey-like malt with floral a floral bouquet.

Taste: A malt heavy beer. Sweet, rich, honey-like malt, with spicy, floral hop bitterness desperately trying to balance out the malt, but just falling short.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied. Finishes malt heavy, just on the verge of being cloying.

Drinkability: Goes down slow and easy - smooth malt - a slightly warm alcohol strength that hangs in the background, creeping up on you as you drink - This beer is designed to sooth the disgruntled sole. No bells, no whistles. No frills. Just a wonderful mix of malt, and hops trying desperately to keep up. Great as a single, but perhaps a tad too heavy to have more than one.

A great seasonal single. You could learn a lot about winter in Western Mass from the character of this beer. It is rich, warm, sweet and soothing.You stretch it out, curled up on a couch. It comforts - it mellows. Suddenly, you don't want to eat your housemates - you're too full of malt! And that snowdrift that ate your car...eh, you'll get it tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 01:10:09 | More by CavePainter