Winter Skål - Capital Brewery

paco1029384756

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a golden orange color with a small white head.

Scent of caramel, sugars, light spice, a hint of hops, and some citrus. A bit weak, but not bad.

Taste of sugars, caramel and some spices. It has a rather simple taste, though it is not really one dimensional. A solid beer, suitable for sessioning.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with a nice big bite of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2009 00:55:35 | More by paco1029384756

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.09/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz twist-off bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
5.8% ABV, no date.

A - A tall but quiet pour brings out a small, one-finger, slightly off-white head. Moderate retention leaves some fingers of lacing above the clear and beautiful warm honey golden orange-colored beer.

S - The nose begins with a honey-drizzled biscuit malty sweetness with husky pale notes and a touch of caramel sweetness. A well balanced hop aroma is complimentary, offering up a noble nose of floral and light citrus hints.

T - The flavor mirrors the nose to a T. Malty flavors start first with an overarching honey and caramel sweetness and move right along into a floral and lightly spicy noble hop nose with a faint white grape finish. Husky pale malt provides a good base while keeping it from being too sweet.

M - Hard and crisp, sprtizy carbonation dances on the tongue but the beer is quite smooth feeling. The finish becomes dry though the sweetness is very well balanced.

O - Winter Skål is a fairly straight-forward malty amber lager with subtle floral hop nuances that provide good balance for an easy drinking and smooth winter lager.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 00:44:34 | More by BeerFMAndy

jsh420

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours clear bright amber orange with a 1+ finger white head that left some lacing

smells well spiced with carmel/bready malts in the background

taste is solid - again spice hits you up front but the spice is not some gimmicky holiday atrificial flavor - it blends well with the bready malts

mouthfeel is light crisp some bite to it

drinkability is good - if you want a easy drinking holiday lager this will fit the bill

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2009 01:53:25 | More by jsh420

gmfessen

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a pilsner glass, beer is a rusty/copper color with a pillowy tan head. The nose is rather weak and non-distinct. A bit of stale grain is all that is discernable. The taste retains some caramel and biscuity flavors with a touch of hop bitterness and flavor, there is also a slight citrus sourness at the end. The mouthfeel is light in body and has a smooth, velvety carbonation. Overall a drinkable beer, it would be interesting to try this beer when it was actually in season.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2009 01:39:56 | More by gmfessen

roadhouse

Florida

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

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

Appears an amber orange color with a three-quarter inch off-white head that falls to a skim and leaves a few rings of lace.

Aroma is quite mild but there's some caramel and toasty notes.

Taste has a sweet caramel flavor up front, a bit of toastiness, and a slightly fruity/spicy character then comes out in the finish.

Mouthfeel is light bodied, somewhat crisp. An easy one to drink.

Pretty good beer I must say, I hope to try more from this brewery in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2009 03:53:22 | More by roadhouse

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a perfectly clear amber with a decent crème head that fell fast. Mild fruity malts and mild hops on the nose. Flavor is slight salty with a touch of citric bite. Not abrasive by any means. Smooth and not trying to be showy. Feel is smooth in liquid. Carbonation bites a bit. Easy to drink. I'm going to peg this as a pale ale. Not too shabby.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 18:16:13 | More by RblWthACoz

abents

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a pretty nice orange-red with a white head that fades quickly into the beer. Light caramel malt nose, not much too it. Taste is a mix of spices, caramel malt, and slight hoppy bitterness to it. Very well balanced interesting amber lager, much spicier than riverwest stein, but very nice. Warming sweetness in the finish makes this a wonderful candidate for a cold night. Pretty heavy carbonation adds to the drinkability of this beer. Makes it much more refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2009 05:44:30 | More by abents

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle.

Poured a medium and slightly hazy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of caramel and toasted malts (toasted caramel). Tastes of toffee, toasted malts, some nuttiness, and some breadiness.

Notes from and tasted on: 01/11/06.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2009 01:38:37 | More by hopdog

CHSLBrew

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A-Orange-amber beer is pristine and attractive. A light-tan head on top retained poorly.

S-Minimal aroma was crisp, with a distinct spiciness and a slight bread.

T-Some dank hoppy character comes into play, then spicy nuances move in. The spices are remniscent of the holiday norms (also with a hint of rye-type spiciness?), especially on the finish. Some bready malts mingle.

M-Medium-high carbonation with an uninteresting medium-light body.

D-Decent brew. Nothing too exciting as far as flavor and complexity, but it's still a tasty and easy-to-drink brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2009 21:59:14 | More by CHSLBrew

mwilbur

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12 oz bottle into shaker pint glass.
A: Pours a very clear light amber with 1/2 inch white head that quickly dissipates.
S: Citrus hops and a hint of spice in the background. Faint light caramel and toffee.
T: Fairly bland. Some banana and clove. Caramel malt and citrus hops are way in the background.
M: Heavier and more oily than I was expecting. Distracts from the rest of the beer.
D: All-around average. Not bad, but nothing special. Not a true winter warmer.
Thanks to my bro for this one...beer for Christmas!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2009 05:14:19 | More by mwilbur

robbyc1

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A decent look of pale malt looking, little head.

Not much on the nose, taste has the pale malt and mild hops, a decent session type taste but not much more.

Easy to drink, but not really satisfying, looking for more depth after one, ok in a pinch.

They should call this a nice session beer, not much to satisfy your winter needs.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 21:34:32 | More by robbyc1

Soneast

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a light copper color, a 2 finger cream colored head that dissipates quickly leaving a watery skim on top of the beer. Not much lace visible.

A predominate sweet malted aroma, with a hint of yeasty biscuit.

A lightly toasted malt flavor, backed up by a spiciness, leaving a mildly sweet flavor on the palate.

This light bodied well carbonated beer is a "wet" beer, no dryness or bittering hops evident, just the mild sweet malt with a hint of spice. I wasn't overly impressed by this.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 23:31:43 | More by Soneast

Gehrig

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear burnt orange body with two fingers of off-white head atop it, leaving decent lacing. Shy nose, with lightly toasted malt and some caramel. The nose and taste are rather understated and, while this isn't classified as a Winter Warmer, I had hoped that it would provide some Warmer spice and bold malt flavor. Not so much. The malt isn't bad--caramel, again, easily on the radar--but this certainly lacks spice. It comes across as a pretty good macro lager. Smooth and amply carbonated, the mouthfeel helps to make up for the smell and taste.

Not bad overall, but nothing to blow the socks off. Worth giving a shot.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 04:00:07 | More by Gehrig

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a gorgeous burnt-copper color with a thin, beige head that leaves slight tracings of lace. Visible carbonation.

S: Complex nose: caramel, floral hops, pumpkin, acorn squash and other assorted vegetal matter. An unexpected hit of soap.

T: Toasted malt with a subtle spiced hopping. Flashes of grain around the edges. Well-balanced and about as smooth as it gets: doesn't finish particularly dry or bitter. Me likey.

M: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated. Creamy texture on the palate.

D: Very good winter seasonal. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 16:22:27 | More by CaptainIPA

BeerCheese

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured crystal clear, light amber, big pillowy tan head. Great looking beer! Nice fresh smell with a hint of spice and citrus. Very malty taste typical of the style. Very light carbonation went nicely with the taste. Also noted a little warming as it went down, but no real noticeable taste of alcohol, which was also nice. Medium/light mouthfeel. VERY drinkable beer that I will enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 03:21:03 | More by BeerCheese

spointon

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this one on tap at the Capital Brewery Bier Stube on 11/28/2008.

A= This beer poured a clear, light amber color with a 1/2" off-white head. The head dropped to a cap and maintained throughout. Not much lacing beyond a few spots.

S= This beer smelled of nutty grains, bakery malt sweetness, and a very faint spice note. Excellent aromas for a lager!

T= I found flavors of caramel malt, bread, and light but unrelenting hops. Though this lager was of the maltier variety, those hops gave it just the right twist. There was also a very faint spice in there that I couldn't quite identify. Possibly some form of winter warmer spice??? The finish dried just a bit but remained bready and fairly sweet.

MF=- Light side of medium bodied, with a medium or higher carbonation level.

D= A very drinkable and very enjoyable beer. I could easily drink a bunch of these and not regret it! Very sessionable!

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2008 08:25:21 | More by spointon

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a straight up clear amber, with a one finger head after the pour that diminishes to next to nothing pretty quick. Little to no bubbling. Somewhat sweet, toasted caramel and crystal malt aroma. Faintly citrus, bitter caramel is the aroma. Starts with a bittersweet, malty, melba toast malt. Then some well placed hop citrus hits the middle, allthe way through to the finish and linger of this beer's taste. A little spicey in the hoppy mouthfeel of this beer. Only the spicey finish and linger of this beers flavor and palate makes me think of winter. Other than that, a blind taste test would convince my tastebuds that this was a west coast amber ale. Not a Wisconsin Winter seasnal brew. VERY sessionable though. Should consider producing all year round.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 06:24:46 | More by scruffwhor

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.45/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Presentation:12 oz. brown bottle with a twist-off cap.

Appearance: This beer pours a brillant bright orange/amber hue with strong carbonation and a thick ivory head that fades to a thick, sticky film with good retention and decent lacing.

Smell: Not what I was expecting from an "amber lager." It's sweet, spicy, and fruity, with bready/biscuity caramel malt, fruit, and spices...almost like a cross between a Belgian amber and a Wit...interesting, and not at all unpleasant.

Taste: Sadly, doesn't hold up to what the aroma suggests. This is a decent amber lager, with a medium-bodied caramel malt presence, crisp graininess, and mild hops, but there's none of the complexity, depth, or mystery hinted at in the nose. That being said, it IS a decent amber lager, much better than say a Mich. Amber Bock, Killian's, etc.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium bodied and crisp.

Drinkability: Pretty high.

Conclusion: Nothing's necessarily "wrong" with this beer, it's a decent amber lager in the American style...and for what it is, it's tasty and deft. a cut above some of its competitors. However, it's nothing special...perhaps a good beer to really introduce the BMC crowd into "real" beer?

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 05:33:53 | More by BedetheVenerable

jwinship83

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- hazy amber color body with a small yellow tinted head.

S- caramel malt and a slight bit of hops

T- lots of caramel malt, and some piny hops at the end.

M- medium body with ample carbonation

D- easy enough to knock back a few in a sitting. not so strong so it wouldnt be a bad idea either.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 03:56:02 | More by jwinship83

redpuck

Wisconsin

2.68/5  rDev -28%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

In my usual hit or miss experience with beer from Capital Brewery, this one is a miss. While a crisp beer, the taste really left a lot to be desired.... as in there wasn't any taste. Of course the benefit of that is no lingering bad aftertaste though. All that being said it is a seasonal beer and who knows maybe it's just a bad recipe this year. Personally I'm waiting for Redhook's WinterHook as that consistently delivers year in and year out.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 03:06:52 | More by redpuck

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium honey with a slight, quickly receding head. Active bubbles rise to the top of the glass.

Aroma is of roasted malts, crystal or perhaps pales roasted with a sweet grainy, bready chewy backing.

Flavor is deeply caramel malt with a sweet bready ride, nutty with a nice honey finish. Sweetness is nicely done and the nutty, grainy flavors punch up as the beer warms. Nice hop after hit that doesn't compete with the star here which is the malt. The roasted nutty flavor bounces to an almost burnt candy sugar flavor, like someone forgot the caramel on the stove. Cracker Jacks and Honey roasted nuts.

Mouthfeel is medium and dry.

Very nice offering from Capitol, well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2008 22:42:39 | More by wheatyweiss

malcontent

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Crystal clear, vibrant amber body with a thin but even head.

It's a simple style, but this beer just exudes malt. Sweet apples and honey with a little buttered bread to boot.

Ends up drinking like a good amber lager; squeaky-clean (almost too clean) amber malt body, a definite noble hop presence on board for a long, bready finish.

Clean and crisp with just enough body. Actually a really nice lager. I'd be happy to drink this for an evening.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2008 19:13:28 | More by malcontent

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Sharp orange body with a quarter inch of pale tan head that fades fast. The receding head leaves a swirl of white at the surface and a bunch of tiny rising bubbles.

S - Raspberry, molasses, wheat and malt all mixed together. This is a tasty aroma.

T - Consistent malt flavor with a bit of spice. There is a barely recognizable hint of hops. This brew needs something...but not much.

M - Smooth texture but it really doesn't do much for the flavor. It's soft and almost too thick.

~ I was pleasantly surprised with this Capital brew. I don't think I'd pay for a six pack but I would partake in another should it cross my path down the road.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 03:06:50 | More by cdkrenz

nsmartell

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I enjoyed this beer from the comfort of my own living room. From bottle to a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a nice clear amber with a thick foamy head.

Smell: Very nice malt aroma and sweet hoppiness.

Taste: Sweet malt and a little hoppy.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and smooth.

Drinkability: Pretty decent beer as the flavors improved as it warmed slightly.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2008 01:59:21 | More by nsmartell

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark amber body with a small, bubby white head.

Smell: Pale malt aroma with a few candy crumbs hiding in there as well as a touch of breadiness and a floral, spicy hop component.

Taste: Pale malts with a slight breadiness. Mildly sweet. A firm, spice-driven bitterness battles the sweet and ultimately wins a lightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: It's alright beer. If you have a problem with that, why don't you go cry into your pillow?

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2008 23:36:48 | More by ChainGangGuy