Old Man (Winter Ale) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

gustogasmic

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank in a Duvel tulip 3/9/12--- bottled 11/2/11... OK!

A lovely tan cloudlike 2" head grows. Color is a dark reddy brown, caramel. Sticky lacing. Many fast bubbles comes from all over the glass and bounce around unpredictably.

Smells like spicy hops and dark fruits, especially plum.

The hops have mellowed big-time, but still leave a nice resinous, semi-bitter aftertaste. I can taste both red and white grapes... not what was expected! Very drinkable for the style- not sweet, only a little sticky. It's too juicy; leaves me wanting characteristics of wood, DRIED grapes, alcohol warmth, etc... the stuff that makes me love the old ale style. It's wintery in the spiciness, sure, but could pass for an IPA, esp. fresh, in its lack of malt backbone or character. The malts are certainly detectable in the feel of the beer, despite being largely absent from the taste. I'd be happy to encounter a fresh one, just for comparison's sake.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 16:28:30 | More by gustogasmic

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

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

Yeah, I know that Spring has already passed March by but I wanted to give this a shot since it was available via the single bottle up in Totowa. Thankfully, this wasn't skunked and was a very good example of the style from top to bottom, especially given how well the alcohol was hidden.

Nice pour to this, with a light almond hue, frothy head, and good carbonation. The lacing wasn't really present but I liked both the nose and the mouthfeel to this. The balance was good and this had a good warming aspect to this to accompany a moderate amount of piney hops and a decent amount of spicy fruit, molasses, and floral undertones. There's a smooth earthiness in the back that everything fades into but nothing was too overpowering and the balance is about as good as could be here!

Given how strong this was, the alcohol wasn't that detectable and there was only a slight warming sensation as I worked my way through the bottle. This was an extremely accessible beer and for anyone unaccustomed to this style, this would be a great choice to start out with. Even in this freakish heat, I would have certainly popped open another had I had a second bottle with me.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 21:05:33 | More by JerzDevl2000

beer2day

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mahogany color with 1-finger white head. Light retention and thin lace all around the glass.

Dry fruit and toasted malt come out in the nose. Cherries and plums get things started, then the toasted malt with a hint of biscuit comes through. No hint of the abv.

Flavor is warm malt, fruity spice, and a bitter-to-tart sour finish. Toasted caramel malt and more spice than fruit. Sweetness of the fruit gives way to a light sour finish. Some earthy hop bitters in there too, but are buried pretty deep. Again, no hint of the abv.

Rich feel, just a touch cloying.

Overall, a nice winter drinker.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 02:55:15 | More by beer2day

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle - Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. DOB 11/07/11.

Appearance: Pours out a clear, very light brown body with a small, slimming, whitish head.

Smell: Lightly smelling notes of biscuit tops, toasted sugars, everyday fruit, spice, and old citrus peels.

Taste: Biscuit-toned malts with some nutty, sweetish toffee hints present. Light touches of charred bread crust and of cereal. Moderate fruitiness. Herbal, spicy hops with a medium amount of bitterness. Drying finish with a little citrus peel showing and some of the hop spiciness trailing into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Overall: Had it two years ago and thought it was fine. Two years later, it's still fine. I'd say I wouldn't revisit it, but, here I am, two years later.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 05:19:26 | More by ChainGangGuy

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a 14 oz. "pint" glass. Pours a dark copper color with a smaller white head with good retention. Smells of dark malt and not much else. Tastes of caramelized malt and slight floral hop, pretty tasty. Is a lighter body than expected, but is made pretty well with it holding its own and having good carbonation. Overall, an above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 03:30:15 | More by cyclonece09

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.43/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle.Pint glass.Enjoyed on nov´11.Light amber in color. Close,dense white color head.Good retention.Piney & slightly tosted malt aromas.Dry hop upfront. Sweet toasted malt. Flavorful body, malty tendency.Correct carbonation. Not bothering ABV. Smooth astringent finish.Fruity & resiny wood aftertaste.Nice drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 15:27:12 | More by GONZALOYANNA

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled 11/28/2011. Pours crystal clear red orange color with a nice 2 finger off white head with great retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Some spotty lacing on the glass, with a bit of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big biscuit, caramel, herbal hops, pine, molasses, holiday spice, ginger, and a touch of alcohol. Nice aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of big caramel, biscuit, pine, herbal, cinnamon, spices, toasted malt, and a bit of dark fruits. Good amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, biscuit, pine, and spices on the finish for a bit. Nice overall balance of flavors. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and sticky mouthfeel. Alcohol is pretty well hidden with only a warming on the finish noticed. Nice smooth drinking for the level of alcohol. Overall this is a very nice and enjoyable Old Ale style. Nice balance of flavor with smooth drinking for the level of alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 05:08:47 | More by superspak

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: 1.5 finger frothy head with nice lacing on a deep amber mildly hazy body.

S: nice sweet caramel malt aroma, gingerbread notes.

T: a little spicey with mild musty, dry hop notes. Touch of lemon.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: A nice drinkable beer, a little dry in the finish. Nothing special but an easy to enjoy beer

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 06:36:18 | More by kylehay2004

dorianmarley

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is translucent copper with a thin head and some lacing.

Nose is hops with some tangerine and caramel.

Taste is dense. The hops give off a tartness, with some solid malt running behind. The alcohol is apparent.

Mouthfeel is OK. The forwardness of the alcohol makes this a sipper. There is plenty of carbonation, which is refreshing.

Overall, this beer seems to accomplish what it wanted. It is hardy, warm, and appropriate for winter.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 03:23:10 | More by dorianmarley

maxk

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip from an undated bottle.

Clear copper liquid, sudsy/foamy head. Strong trail of lace gets left down the glass.

Pine and grass with a bunch of sweet, pale malt scents.

Hops flavors are subdued, probably due to the fact that this beer is a couple months old. There is a nice malt bill as a strong background to the grass and pine flavors. It's got decent body for a beer of its style.

It's an interesting cross between an Old Ale and a Pale Ale, malty but hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 03:14:46 | More by maxk

RickS95

Indiana

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

Pours a clear golden coppery brown. Not much to look at with almost no head and zero retention, but at least it's darker than Bud.

Smells better than it looks. Very malty on the nose, a bit of pecan, and some dark, ripe fruits.

Taste is malty as well, but there's some earthy pine and biscuit.

Has a bitter bite at the end, resembling an American pale ale. Medium bodied, the alcohol is well-hidden.

Overall, it's a decent beer. There's nothing to write home about, but it goes down relatively easily.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 05:19:28 | More by RickS95

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received this from maxk, 12oz bottle into a Fuller's Nonic.

A: Excellent clarity, nice new penny copper in color with an eggshell white head that foams up to almost an inch and slowly fades to a thin cap, as it recedes there are excellent rings of lacing left behind.

S: Malty and fairly sweet, slightly minerally, and a bit of an earthy hop profile. Caramel malts, and a slight yeasty ester. Slight amount of toasted bread.

T: Follows the nose nicely, not overly sweet like some old ales/winter ales can be. Nice malt profile, grainy with some caramel. Decent hop profile, resinous and earthy with a very pronounced bitterness to round things out. Pretty darn tasty stuff.

M: Medium body, fairly slick in the mouth finishes right in the middle, not sweet or dry. Slight warmth on the finish. Really nice.

O: Really flavorful winter beer, I would love to have regular access to this in the winter. Very nice beer, glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 01:13:45 | More by pokesbeerdude

JohnnyMc

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a very easy to drink winter seasonal ale. The taste is not bold, but subtle. The bottle says it is brewed with 3 kinds of hops and 2 kinds of malts, but overall the malt, smoky taste comes through over the hops.

There is a slight bitter aftertaste, but there are hints of fruit too. For the decent abv, there is not event he slightest hint of alcohol in the aroma or taste and that's a big plus.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 04:15:59 | More by JohnnyMc

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clean yellow to orange-ish color with a light tan head. In the aroma, a small caramel and gingerbread like smell. In the taste, coriander and cinnamon spices, and a malty gingerbread like flavor underneath it. A small bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry cinnamon to clean aftertaste. Spicy and malty, with a nice spice blend.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 15:10:19 | More by OWSLEY069

dexterk1

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From bottle to pint glass it looks pretty good. Color is a dark amber/reddish. Head is thick and lingers.
Odor is floral, citrus, malt and a little sweet.
Taste is strong in malt early and goes to more floral at the end. Some coffee present as well.
Mouth feel is relativity sturdy. Lingers a little at the end.
Overall a good winter beer that will keep you warm.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 01:20:26 | More by dexterk1

HopNelius

New York

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served out of 12oz bottle into American Pint glass.
Appearance - dark amber, medium carbonation.
Smell- dark fruit, spice, cinnamon, Ginger.floral hops.
Taste-notes of dark fruit, cinnamon, notes of floral and citrus hops, well balanced.
Mouthfeel- pleasant spices and hops
Overall- solid very drinkable winter brew, complex flavors but nit overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 03:40:00 | More by HopNelius

CloudStrife

New York

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Solo 12 oz bottle on sale and poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a golden amber color, mostly clear with a hint of haze. Thin white head with miniature bubbles. Have had other draft and bottled servings of this with a more pronounced head

Aroma: Malty aroma with hints of skunky hops. Reminds me of Great Divide Hibernation.

Taste: Initial wave of hops upon sipping. Strong malt backbone attempts to balance this out. Leaves a piney hop flavor in your mouth. Classic lingering leather taste most old ales share.

Mouth: Light with an oily feel. Slight alcohol burn, understandable at 7.7%.

Overall: A beer I find myself drinking every winter. Solid brew from a great brewery. Can't argue when its flying solo at $1.65

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 22:57:37 | More by CloudStrife

challenja

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured On Tap 4oz pour at the Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan DC.

A: A nice blood orange. Heavy carbonation frothy two finger head.

S: Nice citrus rind, hearty apple, subtle nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon.

T: Heavy spice upfront, long lingering Bavarian hops. A mellow middle. Long all spice and cinnamon finish. One long lingering black better bite.

M: Heavy carbonation, mellowing middle, nice spice and lingering bite.

O: A really descent winter ale. Nice and spicy. Fire crackling good. This is one slow long traveler like the Mad Elf.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 21:14:36 | More by challenja

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.61/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Into a pint glass:

A: amber/brown colored body with a white lumpy head that dissipates within seconds, what there is of the lacing slides down the glass

S: some roasted nuts, light clove, hops and alcohol

T: spicey through the clove and the roasted nuts come back to mix in with the hops for a good balance.

M: about medium with the alcohol felt

O: this is good for the style and for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 18:23:23 | More by kangarooAdam59

jedtheavenger

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A--pours a crystal clear amber brown with a finger-thick off white head. A nice little film of foam hangs out quite comfortably for the rest of the glass.

S--Nothing really jumps out at me right away. There's a bit of a grassy odor from the hops, and the alcohol makes an appearance along with raisins. Perhaps it could be that I'm a bit congested right now, so I might need to come back for a re-review.

T--First impression of clove and sweet potato gets cut through by a little burst of hops. Aftertaste is alcoholic and vaguely bitter--it doesn't linger nearly as much as I would have hoped.

M--In my opinion, the best part about this beer. It's got a nice creamy head that hits my tongue without seeming thick or cloying, followed by just enough bubbles to keep it from being dull.

Overall--There's not much excitement to this beer. I paired it with some abergele cheese, which gave it a little more purpose. I would strongly recommend drinking this beer with some sort of food. It doesn't have enough character as a standalone, but the flavors really popped when contrasted with the cheese.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 03:44:01 | More by jedtheavenger

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

tap

Pours a deep caramel amber color, basically clear, low head lacing.

Smells of piney hop resin and some brown sugar malts.

Taste is hoppy, floral and piney, decently bitter, along with some spiced caramel and molasses malts, rich but not overbearing.

Feels fuller and syrupy with a stinging carbonation.

Pretty darn tasty, the hoppiness and maltiness are balanced quite well. Definitely a good cold weather ale, maybe just a bit too heavy to drink a lot of, strength notwithstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2012 00:00:25 | More by Cylinsier

cps98

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this from a buddy, I told him I wasn’t a fan of the winter/holiday beers with spices and such. He said this wasn’t the typical over-spiced winter/Holiday Ale I am used too.

A – Poured a really nice super clear sunset orange, with a healthy 2 finger head that lasted for quit a while. I noticed really nice lacing as I drank this beer.

S – Really fresh hop aroma, some citrus notes

T – Lots of hops, some citrus and a little pine.

M – Really nice bitterness, with equally good CO2 bite. Light to medium bodied with lots of active carbonation. The hops played nicely with the malt and everything melted together.

O – I would drink this winter brew anytime, really nice and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 18:40:48 | More by cps98

sweemzander

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a nonic.

(A)- Pours a clear caramel colored amber. Not much head; some lacing though.

(S)- A subtle rich caramel malt sweetness. Bits of a fruit cake/ raisin bread background.

(T)- A nice caramel malt sweetness with bits of fig and honey. More of that bread in the finish.

(M)- A nice smooth carbonation level and a good balance. Sweet and malty but not overpowering either.

(D)- Not bad; a straightforward old ale. And a very approachable one for the style. A nice little winter styled ale for the season.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 16:31:55 | More by sweemzander

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a clear medium red-orange amber. Half finger fine white head dissipates slowly, leaving lacing. Mild aroma of fresh light fruit and slight hops. Flavor is fairly subtle, dominated by roasted and bready malt, light citrus. Finishes rather dry with a bit of a phenolic flavor that may be contributed by the spicing and hops. Medium bodied. The main flavor is nice but the finish taste combination doesn't work for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 04:43:09 | More by LiquidAmber

cbless97

New Jersey

2.63/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- Transparent amber color. Finger width of fluffy head.

S- clean, crisp, grapefruit

T- light citrus flavor, sparingly hopped.

M- A bit rusty taste, significant staying power on the tongue.

O- I was duped a bit into thinking Old Man Winter would be a darker more stout like beer. Very light for what I had been expecting. A decent beer, though if I knew it were going to be so light I would want some heavier hop to it. I would drink it again if I see it on top, but I would not buy a six pack again.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 00:55:52 | More by cbless97