-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Snow Cap
Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
- From:
- Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.51 | pDev: 14.25%
- Reviews:
- 514
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 18, 2023
- Added:
- Nov 11, 2001
- Wants:
- 25
- Gots:
- 57
Deep mahogany in color, our full-bodied winter warmer is brewed in the spirit of British winter ales. Crafted with a flurry of roasted chocolate and caramel malts, and generously hopped, it delivers a smooth finish that makes this beer the perfect cold weather companion.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RoyalT:
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan
4/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Appearance No kidding, this was one of the most beautiful heads that I have ever seen. I controlled it at the pour, but it foamed up a good inch. The head was tan and substantial, pitting like molten lava. The lacing didnt cover the glass; it left more of a complicated lattice design. This was gorgeous.
Oh, and the body was dark ruby brown, too thin to give the rating a perfect 5.0.
Smell Musty, liquor-soaked malt, almost like whiskey with a woody character, complimented with man-made sugars and dark, ripened fruits. This smells like a mesh of browned bananas, overripe apricots, raisins, dark Bing cherries, and tons of raw sugar.
Taste Its a bit light at the tongue, wimping out from the nose, but good nevertheless. The big sweets and alcohol-soaked malts are there as well. Just about everything from the aroma makes it to the taste, but just lighter.
Mouthfeel I thought that this was the ales weak point. The body is thin, not even medium, with a watery consistency.
Drinkability This was a unique experience for such a mainstream brewery. Its the first prolific ale that has even come close to the style, IMO.
Update: For 2004 they hopped this baby up with some stiff pine resin. It smells and tastes a whole lot hoppier. The mouthfeel though is still too light for the big flavors theyre packing into this beer.
Nov 08, 2003Oh, and the body was dark ruby brown, too thin to give the rating a perfect 5.0.
Smell Musty, liquor-soaked malt, almost like whiskey with a woody character, complimented with man-made sugars and dark, ripened fruits. This smells like a mesh of browned bananas, overripe apricots, raisins, dark Bing cherries, and tons of raw sugar.
Taste Its a bit light at the tongue, wimping out from the nose, but good nevertheless. The big sweets and alcohol-soaked malts are there as well. Just about everything from the aroma makes it to the taste, but just lighter.
Mouthfeel I thought that this was the ales weak point. The body is thin, not even medium, with a watery consistency.
Drinkability This was a unique experience for such a mainstream brewery. Its the first prolific ale that has even come close to the style, IMO.
Update: For 2004 they hopped this baby up with some stiff pine resin. It smells and tastes a whole lot hoppier. The mouthfeel though is still too light for the big flavors theyre packing into this beer.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by RedBalloon from Washington
3.73/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle dated 10/21/20 poured into a Teku on 11/28/20.
Pours a thin, less than .5" light tan head. Dark amber, mostly opaque with translucent edges.
Malty aromas reminiscent of a scotch ale: dried cherry, cola, and caramel.
Sweet cola, dried cherry, and slightly boozy flavors. Slightly leathery and metallic.
Sticky and thin mouthfeel. Not very effervescent, but not flat either. Light-bodied.
Not bad. The flavors and aromas are good, but nothing exceptional. A scotch ale would be a better choice, but it's worth trying.
Dec 13, 2020Pours a thin, less than .5" light tan head. Dark amber, mostly opaque with translucent edges.
Malty aromas reminiscent of a scotch ale: dried cherry, cola, and caramel.
Sweet cola, dried cherry, and slightly boozy flavors. Slightly leathery and metallic.
Sticky and thin mouthfeel. Not very effervescent, but not flat either. Light-bodied.
Not bad. The flavors and aromas are good, but nothing exceptional. A scotch ale would be a better choice, but it's worth trying.
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon
3.87/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark brown but ruby-red when held to light with a frothy off-white head that holds well and slowly recedes, leaving sticky lacing on the glass
Aroma: Freshly baked brown bread, toffee, dried dark fruit – prunes and raisins, some nutmeg, and earthy and spicy hop notes as well
Taste: Toffee, spices, and dried dark fruit up front and quickly joined by a huge bready malt presence. Earthy and spicy hops weave in and out of the picture as well and finally closes out with dark fruit and bread – almost a fruitcake-like taste
Mouthfeel: Full, fairly smooth outside of the hop notes, medium-high carbonation, and a little dryness on the finish
Overall: I dig it. A great tasting and balanced malty winter warmer that really hits the spot on a cold night (or day, we BA-ers don’t judge). I’ve been drinking this for years and it continues to be good and is always welcome in the beer fridge during its release. Malty, a little hoppy, and delicious
Dec 05, 2020Aroma: Freshly baked brown bread, toffee, dried dark fruit – prunes and raisins, some nutmeg, and earthy and spicy hop notes as well
Taste: Toffee, spices, and dried dark fruit up front and quickly joined by a huge bready malt presence. Earthy and spicy hops weave in and out of the picture as well and finally closes out with dark fruit and bread – almost a fruitcake-like taste
Mouthfeel: Full, fairly smooth outside of the hop notes, medium-high carbonation, and a little dryness on the finish
Overall: I dig it. A great tasting and balanced malty winter warmer that really hits the spot on a cold night (or day, we BA-ers don’t judge). I’ve been drinking this for years and it continues to be good and is always welcome in the beer fridge during its release. Malty, a little hoppy, and delicious
Rated by SushiSakeBeer from Oregon
3.83/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Incomplete
Jul 24, 2020Reviewed by ghasting from Washington
3.59/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pleasant reddish brown color. Drinks fairly smoothly, slthough the finish does give an abrupt change to the hops flavor - this beer has a wide spread in the reviews this may be the reason. The malt flavor is a little sweet, to be expected with a dark malt. Definite chocolate overtones which were pleasant. ABV at 7.0% is a little high for me, but it is intended to be a "warmer."
All in all a good effort. Recommended.
Dec 24, 2019All in all a good effort. Recommended.
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah
3.41/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
[Original rating 2012-11-03] Pours clear dark red with a tall tan head. Aroma is malty, cherry. Taste is pretty much hthe same with a little sweetness, some spicy hops in the finish. Palate is a little thin for the style.
Oct 03, 2018Rated by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.49/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
1001
Dec 23, 2017
Snow Cap from Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
882 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!