Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

circus_cat

Virginia

4.48/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark brown body with ruby red hues. Soapy off-white to khaki head that quickly dissipates to a ring. Minimal lacing. Beautiful color on it.

S: Smells like a pretty standard winter warmer. Very malty. Chocolate with caramel and toffee in the background with spicy notes. Cinnamon is most prominent. Just a hint of orange rind.

T: Very nice! Very well-balanced. I'm greeted with spices and orange peel followed by rich coffee and dark chocolate. Excellent tasting beer. I'm impressed with the sweet-spicy balance they achieve.

M: Full-bodied and a little sticky on the finish. It's a pretty big beer (not alcohol-wise necessarily--I think it's about 6%--but the body is just noticeably thick, in my opinion a good thing).

O: I really enjoy this beer--one of the best winter warmers I've had. I also really like the idea behind incorporating such a festive Dickens character :).

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 19:31:22 | More by circus_cat

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes from earlier in the day. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint glass from a Sam Adams seasonal pack bought for the family.

Appearance: Dark red/brown/amber color with a steady tan head.

Smell: Malts first, than a plethora of nice holiday spices and fruit accents.

Taste: Not a "true" winter warmer, but I tend to like these lighter winter ales a lot. Decent malt body with a nice range of holiday flavors. Cinnnamon is what comes to mind first, maybe some gingerbread cookie elements, and it wraps up with figginess.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy medium to light body with medium carbonation levels. As per most Sam Adams beer, there is more carbonation than the style usually sees.

This is my favorite Sam Adams seasonal, and I would buy a case of this if I could get a hold of one.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 04:06:40 | More by ColdWaffles

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale has a very thick, creamy, off-white head, lots of lacing left on the glass, and a clear, reddish-brown appearance, with essentially no streaming bubbles. The aroma is of subdued spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) and a bit of citrus. Taste is a blend of brown bread, underlying spices, and a mild hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium and slick, and Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale finishes wet, mellow, and highly drinkable. I liked the way they didn’t overdo it with the spices.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 18:37:45 | More by RonaldTheriot

kshizzle101

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into 8oz taster

A - A dark reddish brown ale with minimal head which dissipates quickly. No lacing.

S - roasted malts. some sweetness - orange. smells spicy. smell of plums as well

T - malts come through strongest with good blend of spiciness and sweetness from the orange.

M - Medium bodied, perhaps a little over carbonated.

Overall - Not a bad winter warmer but a little on the light side in my opinion. The flavors are there, but they aren't as assertive as I would expect.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 05:01:09 | More by kshizzle101

jjamadorphd

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Old Fezziwig Ale I've been told is supposedly a great beer - well, I find it pretty good, but not at the high-level others have...

The beer smell wasn't anything I would consider any better or worse from other ales. Mostly hops and malt, and although appealing, nothing to consider outstanding. Mouthfeel was average at best - a beer with high carbonation, which I find distracts from its overall taste. The taste was good for an ale, even way above average, just not at an exceptional level, I least that's what I thought. Overall, a better than average beer, but nothing that I would consider good enough to rate any higher than some others I've tried. For a seasonal beer/ale - go and get some and enjoy - but don't set the bar high - just enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:11:33 | More by jjamadorphd

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Old Fezziwig has a deep and sleek mahogany wood tone that definitely evokes a wintery aura. It looks as though it belongs in a class of all things expensive and opulent; an appearance every bit as suitable to the armchair by the fireplace as a snifter of brandy. Even without any head it looks great.

Cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel provide a more perfumed essence to toasty caramel notes; the zestful vibrancy of these spices is an innate pairing for the nutty sweetness. This aroma leaves little to complain about except that I'd like it to be stronger - there's no confusing this with the potpourri.

Roasted nuts and toffee are permanent fixtures on the palate, but trace fruity esters are found too. Although cinnamon and ginger are certainly perceived, the spice is far from racy and there's really only a light dusting of citrus. It is enough, mind you, to make this a cozy, cold-weather warmer.

Despite the savory-spice and sweet elements, Old Fezziwig drinks with enough of a laid-back style so as to still be considered sociable; it's no sipper. The spiciness doesn't resonate as much as the toffee notes (though neither makes a terribly lasting impression). A bit of diacetyl is no harm to this mildly succulent maltiness.

In Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', Fezziwig says: "It’s not just for money alone that one spends a lifetime building up a business… It’s to preserve a way of life that one knew and loved." Indeed, while the Samuel Adams brand has achieved enormous financial success, I have to believe they brew good beers such as this because they too enjoy drinking them. If I'm ever visited by three ghosts I hope they bring beer as good as this.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 05:38:31 | More by biegaman

punky796

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Semi-transparent dark brown with about a finger of light tan head, medium lacing but it disappears fast.

S - Some spice like cinnamon and ginger...reminds you of a Christmas-type cookie.

T - Ginger, cinnamon, a little bit of citrus, malt and alcohol, especially at the end.

M - A bit too carbonated for my taste in this type of beer, and a little heavy on the alcohol taste. Not a terrible aftertaste, though.

O - My past memories of this beer are better than the experience this time. The spices were stronger and that telltale alcohol taste wasn't as strong. The Christmas cookie sensation was much more prominent. But still not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 23:15:59 | More by punky796

thlayli87

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Served in pint glass.

A - Translucent dark brown that appears reddish when held up to the light. Very tiny head that dissipates quickly. No lacing on the glass.

S - Caramel malt with spicy notes of cinnamon and ginger.

T - Grainy malt with hints of the aforementioned spices. Not overdone.

M - Sticky mouthfeel. Needs a little more carbonation.

O - Pretty average, but the taste does improve as the beer warms. I expected to like this more than I did.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 23:29:16 | More by thlayli87

lwillitz

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12-oz bottle into Samuel Smith "Tulip" pint glass

A - transparent orange/brown body under 2 fingers of light tan head, small amount of carbonation bubbles rising

S - grainy malts, spice (cinnamon?), hint of citrus

T - caramel sweetness, cinnamon, hint of ginger, dark fruit, citrus peel, chocolate notes, coffee; finishes with a malty blend of spices and alcohol

M - smooth medium body, medium/high carbonation

O - Delightfully smooth in feel and complex in flavor, Old Fezziwig is an excellent winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 20:39:23 | More by lwillitz

TownDunkel

Texas

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I picked up the Sam Adams christmas sampler and here was the first I pulled out

Appearance - Ruby red to beautiful medium brown. Head comes out slightly tan

Smell - Not much there... A bit of spice but it is almost to weak to smell

Taste - I really really like the mix of flavors and spices on this one. Nutmeg, orange, chocolate and maybe some cherry notes here and there

Moutfeel - A sad lack of carbonation to keep the flavor around, also not much head after several seconds

Overall - I enjoyed the awesome mix of flavors for this beer, maybe I just got a bad bottle with a lack of carbonation

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 01:57:11 | More by TownDunkel

deebo

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A fresh Fezziwig from the Winter variety pack with a BB of May. I've enjoyed this one in the past.

A-Poured into a pint glass this beer has close to two fingers of off-white tight foam with minimal lacing. Clear with a reddish brown color.

S-Smells delicious, notes of chocolate, nutmeg and cinnamon are evident.

T-Similar to the aroma. Just a hint of bitterness (chocolate and some hops I presume) in the aftertaste.

M-Very smooth almost creamy in body. Soft tasting with just the right amount of carbonation.

O-Chocolately with hints of warm holiday spices. Nothing overly complex here this is just a nice easy drinking beer for a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:22:35 | More by deebo

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a brown color ale with a relatively large foamy head with OK retention and some light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt with light toffee and nutmeg notes is pretty enticing. Taste is a good mix between some solid caramel malt with light notes of nutmeg and balanced residual sugar in the aftertaste. Body is about average with good carbonation. Easily drinkable while retaining some good complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 20:18:37 | More by Phyl21ca

DavidS88

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Here we go, this is what I was waiting for for a winter beer. This is one of my favorites out of the Samuel Adams winter multi-pack. Old Fezziwig pours a dark brown with a decent white head on top. It smells like a brilliant combination of Christmas trees, Christmas cookies, coffee malts and some spices like cinnamon. Despite the variation of the smell, the taste seemed much more one-dimentional, though that certainly isn't a knock on the beer because Old Fezziwig still tastes wonderful. It is hearty and malty with good amounts of spices in the aftertaste. The only drawback I detected in the beer was that it felt a little thick and slightly over-carbonated for me, but those are minor drawbacks considering the smell and taste of the beer are great. Another fantastic offering from Samuel Adams.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 18:37:38 | More by DavidS88

BenjaminBlondbeard

New York

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

Pours a deep mahogany with some gold, and ruby, highlights. There is a massive head well over an inch of very thick, in a very light tan color. There is steady carbonation feeding the solid soft pillow of foam, and as I drink there is thick lacing around the glass.

I smell a potent aroma before I even put my nose over the glass, and when I do There is some dark fruits, chocolate and brown sugar malts, and a slight orange citrus zest.

The taste imparts chocolate notes, as well as plum and raisin. There is an orange citrus spice and lively carbonation with this medium bodied brew, and a clean aftertaste. Flavors like cinnamon, orange citrus, slightly bitter sweets (perhaps the ginger), as well as toffee, and sweet bread like malts linger on the pallet.

Overall this is a very good winter warmer style brew. It is a nice holiday treat, and I enjoy having it each year with the Samuel Adams Winter variety pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 04:10:22 | More by BenjaminBlondbeard

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance –Poured a mahogany colored brew with a three finger cream colored head. The head has large carbonation bubbles that pop over time , with the head fading to give a medium level of lacing.

Smell-The aroma is largest of caramel and some fruit aromas of prune and plum. Mixed with these is a good dose of roasted malt and chocolate as well as a spicy aroma of cinnamon and ginger.

Taste – The flavor starts out heavily of some caramel and roasted malt flavors. A chocolate and light plum flavor then come to the tongue. Up to this point the brew is very malty and sweet. The cinnamon and ginger flavors that were hinted at in the nose, come to the taste at the end though, where they mingle with the sweet and malty flavors , taming them to some extent, and in the end leaving a nice aftertaste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the slightly creamier side with a carbonation level that is just below average. Both are nice for the malty and sweet flavors of the brew as well as allow the lighter spice flavors that come to the tongue at the end to be fully appreciated.

Overall- A tasty winter warmer. Good roasted and sweet flavors mixed with a light but very pleasant spice. Another good one from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 02:08:16 | More by Darkmagus82

beyah

Maine

3.4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Dark red/brown color tan head, that hangs around a while and leaves very little lacing..

Smel l- Smell the caramel and dark malts, with a hint of cinnamon

Taste - First sip I was noticing the cinnamon right away. Sweet, estery flavors. Chocolate and caramel malts are very up front. I can tell there are earthy hops but they are very subdued. Ginger at the end just before the alcohol taste shows up.

Mouthfeel - Smooth full mouthfeel, light carbonation. Some alcohol bite at the end.

Overall - Sweet and spicy, more like a desert wine.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 00:46:47 | More by beyah

brewsadedotcom

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours with about a half inch of heads that disappears quickly. Has had reddish brown color.

S: Aroma is a mixture of clove, cinnamon and orange peel. Very pleasant.

T: Clove and cinnamon are the most prominent flavors. Balanced hop finish

M: Low to moderate carbonation. A little more watery than i expected.

O: This is one of my favorites out of the Sam holiday pack. An enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 22:30:41 | More by brewsadedotcom

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a mug at cellar temperature.

L – Brown color with a 2-finger tan bubbly head. Decent retention that fades into a ring that persists at the edge of the glass but not much lacing. Clear with good carbonation.

S – Rich toasted and caramel malts, molasses, and the spices that are listed on the bottle – cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest – with maybe the ginger or the cinnamon being most apparent.

T – Sweet nearly all the way through with caramel malts, molasses, a little bit of chocolate, and orange zest. Toasted malt shows up mid-taste, and spicy cinnamon and ginger appear towards the finish.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a smooth and creamy mouthfeel, and a sweet, spicy, and dry finish. Cinnamon spice and ginger dryness linger on the palate nicely.

O – This is a good winter warmer. It has a solid amount of malt and seasonal spices, everything you would want in a tasty winter brew. It’s hard to really fault anything here, but the malt profile seems somewhat one-dimensional, particularly in the aroma. Still, this is a very tasty and drinkable beer that is well-suited for the season.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 00:53:50 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.15/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Sam Adam's glass.

Appearance: Dark deep amber color, a thin beige head and no lacing on the glass.

Smell: Cinnamon, carmel, sugars, chocolate, coffee, and hops.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Full bodied, smooth yet thick. Taste of coffee, some cinnamon and roasted malts for the most part. Some roasted carmel and hops in the background.

Overall: Good winter time brew, very enjoyable on snowy days with a fire going and a glazed ham dinner. At least that's what I like.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 17:58:44 | More by Cavanaghty

Seekerpilgrim

Washington

3.18/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This brown ale does indeed pour a semi-clear golden brown, while notes of molasses and orange zest let one know they are in for a spicy treat. Among the ingredients are cinnamon and ginger, so I was surprised how smooth this brew was on the tongue. A slight hop bite at first with the tiniest hint of ginger tang, the cinnamon and orange bring a sweet second act to the experience, which trails off to a nutty heaviness, completing this flavor trilogy.

All in all a good beer, one to have occasionally, but while the complexity is interesting in the end I didn't love it. Something to bring out for a bit of variety, especially if someone hasn't tried a Brown Ale before, but not what I'd call a session beer. Probably good with a Bratwurst, especially if you add sauerkraut (as you should). Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 01:43:08 | More by Seekerpilgrim

BikingDutchman

Iowa

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Reddish brown colored with a half inch tan head. The head dissipated rather quickly.

S - Sweet bready malt smell supports a larger spicy (cinnamon?) aroma.

T - Very spicy flavor that overwhelms the bready toasty malt flavors. They spices blend well with each other, but there is just too much of them for my liking. I can tell that the underlying malt is good, but the spices just cover it up too much.

M - Thick mouthfeel. A medium to full bodied beer. Almost creamy.

O - The mouthfeel is the best part in my opinion. The spices are too dominant in the flavor and cover up what would otherwise be a nice malt flavor. I suppose if it were snowing out, the spices might seem more fitting. I could see this beer working well alongside a nice Christmas dinner.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 04:51:46 | More by BikingDutchman

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a tulip glass. Best before March 2013.

A: Very dark, ruddy brown. Clear and ruby in the light. Moderate, off-white head.

S: Sweet, malty, and lagerish. Candied dark fruits (plums) and a nutty hint of something that might be roast.

T: Good, but not as good as I remember. Round, sweet, and fruity. Sweet caramel malt is the main compenent of the taste. Rich spice and orange peel. The aftertaste is moderately malty and slighted roasted, with a bitter spice twang.

M: Substantial and engaging.

O: One of my favoured Sam Adams beers, and an excellent winter warmer. Drinkable and recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:52:18 | More by AgentMunky

mashedpotatoes

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +25%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Holy smokes! Now we're talking. I have to say after trying most of Sam Adams winter collection I didn't have high hopes for this one especially considering the silly name. Boy was I in for a shock. Pours a beautiful caramel amber color. This chewy, creamy, bready, sweet, and flavorful beer just knocks it out of the park. This could very well be my favorite winter style beer that I've had so far this year. This year I'm thankful for Old Fezziwig! Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:11:38 | More by mashedpotatoes

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

not my favorite winter warmer, but a unique one. it pours a mostly impenetrable brown color with a real small tanish head. the smell is quite spices, cinnamon, citrus peel, and brown sugar. flavor is pretty moderate on the malts, some caramel and english wintery feeling grains, but i taste all spice in the middle, and all brown sugar or molassas in the finish, its not s sweet as that, but the flavor is the same. its almost mapley too, and as such might lend itself well to some time on wood. big mouthfeel, lots of body and some really bold flavors, vanilla tinge too, and the carbonation is fine. its a good winter beer i guess, but its not a drinker, its a slow sipper and one was plenty for me. it was honestly one of my least favorite beers in this years winter pack though, and i will likely let someone else drink the other couple of them.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 00:53:22 | More by StonedTrippin

jamisonspitzer

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I poured it fairly aggressively into a pint glass resulting in about an inch of head and let it sit for a bit. After a few minutes the head settled into about a finger of foam and stayed. This is when my wife grabbed it, smelled it, tasted it, wrinkled her face in disgust and set it back on the counter--she's not a beer person.

A--A dark, nearly opaque cherry syrup color. After a few more minutes and some warming up, the head has subsided to a very thin froth that's leaving some fairly durable lacing on the glass.

S--Not much to speak of here. It's a caramel-y malt smell. The spices of the beer are not very apparent in the smell.

T--This is a pretty tasty beer. For me, the strongest flavor is really that of the roasted malts. As with the smell, I don't really get the spices and citrus individually, but the blending of it all has a nice effect. I'll drink this beer again for sure. The mouth feel is pretty nice. There's plenty of fullness without yielding any creaminess.

Overall I liked this beer. Hearty without being heavy and with a great flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 23:23:46 | More by jamisonspitzer