Snowstorm 2011 - August Schell Brewing Company

brycelarson

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.8%

01-10-2012 15:57:20 | More by brycelarson

RaijinQ

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +25.7%

11-21-2012 23:44:04 | More by RaijinQ

Tilley4

Tennessee

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not sure who I got this bottle from but I pulled it out of the fridge tonight...

Sweet caramel malts dominate the nose along with small hints of dark fruit and a little smokiness... fairly straightforward...

Sweet maltiness with caramel leading the way... not sure this is deep or rich enough for a Wee Heavy... pleasant tasting for sure but not sure it fits the bill...

A good easy drinking brew but nothing to write home about... its got a year on it and any outstanding characteristics have obviously faded...

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 03:39:34 | More by Tilley4

TIMMA87698

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +19%

10-26-2012 02:04:51 | More by TIMMA87698

Will96

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -20.6%

09-01-2012 11:19:49 | More by Will96

Doyle

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

08-05-2012 03:15:59 | More by Doyle

MN_Beerticker

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

07-13-2012 03:33:57 | More by MN_Beerticker

jcjerabek

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

06-12-2012 19:06:24 | More by jcjerabek

GringoKid

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

06-02-2012 22:56:43 | More by GringoKid

Duff27

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-28-2012 04:21:03 | More by Duff27

pisomojado8

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-21-2012 00:41:22 | More by pisomojado8

kgeijer

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-07-2012 03:34:58 | More by kgeijer

deanis30

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

04-01-2012 18:46:14 | More by deanis30

TCbrewz

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very deep red, pretty clear. Tan head < 1finger, mostly gone after a minute or two. No real big aromas, some hints of carmel, dried fruit, and spice. Flavor starts out sweet with carmel and molasses notes before earthy hops bitterness and alcohol predominate. Taste is quite good, very long interesting finish. The mouthfeel suits the taste well, carbonation level is great, doesn't seem too thin to me. Overall I really enjoyed this beer. Probably my favorite SnowStorm of the past three or four years. I wouldn't mind if this brew found it's way into Shell's year round lineup.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 02:04:14 | More by TCbrewz

BarrelAgedBarry

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +19%

02-29-2012 00:26:35 | More by BarrelAgedBarry

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

2.95/5  rDev -22%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass at a restaurant, the ale appeared a dark brown with a moderate head. The aroma was very straight forward, giving impressions of wheat and alcohol. For a flavorful beer style, this was fairly mild. The initial was a wheat flavor with a caramel backbone. The flavors were clouded slightly by an alcohol taste. It almost seemed as though alcohol was added later. The initial was followed by a mild sour scotch aftertaste. In the overall experience, the mouthfeel was too thin for this style. The extra thickness that goes with a scotch was not present. Between being too mild and too thin, this beer would qualify as being below average.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 23:53:46 | More by JohnnyHopps

doucmehu

Wisconsin

2.93/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewing my 10th bottle of a 12-pack.

A: Pours a clear, deeply mineral stained reddish copper with an average light tan head. Lacing and retention are minimal.

S: Initial notes of slightly sweet caramel and molasses, followed by some grainy baked bread and burnt sugar.

T: Slightly grainy malts give more baked whole grain bread, molasses and a hint of bitterness in the finish. Esters are also more present as it warms, but you really have to look for the flavors in this one.

M: Body is about average for the style, carbonation is substantial, there is some graininess and bitterness in the finish. A bit dryer than expected in the aftertaste, and lacking any richness.

O: This really reminds me more of a Marzen than a Scotch Ale. A drinkable, but forgettable beer that should be a quantity more than quality choice. Overall, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 04:55:17 | More by doucmehu

beerbrute

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

02-14-2012 22:15:56 | More by beerbrute

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This beer looked good enough and everything. The aroma was even a little promising. The taste was a little bitter for me, but not too bad. There were hints of a little malty caramel flavorings, but it was a little weak and thin for my personal taste.

I find it goes well with some solo bass works by the German improvisor Peter Kowald. Listen to his live recordings of Was Da Ist.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 03:12:41 | More by frankiepop

zeledonia

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.8%

02-04-2012 05:39:42 | More by zeledonia

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Poured out a deep garnet color with some clarity and a nice two fingered off-white head with no lacing but some decent retention. I only pick up on a faint sort of caramel and toffee malt with some earthy hop tones in the nose...but the flavor is a much amplified version of everything I smelled plus a definite raisin character towards the mid-sip and a peppery sort of quasi-clove flavor at the dry finish. Body is medium thick, but VERY creamy and smooth, low carbonation. An excellent scotch ale, only thing I'd add if it were my personal project beer would be maybe a garnishment of smokey peat... but that's just my personal taste speaking.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 06:41:27 | More by WastingFreetime

bjohn84

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark syrupy molasses with a fairly moderate transparency to it. Pour with 2 fingers of fluffy off white head

S - Grainy with a lightly toasted characteristic. Similar to a euro lager

T - Bread and toast with a touch of sweetness and a hint of spice

M - Very drinkable and definitely doesn't taste like 7.0% ABV. Very creamy mouthfeel

O - Nothing overly special here other than a very drinkable beer but still with enough flavor to make me want to have more than one

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 03:04:36 | More by bjohn84

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Glowing, bubbly molasses color. Good sized, foamy, bubbly, thin, whispy, white head. Decent retention, although it disappears a little fast. Settles into a thin patchy lace.

S - Fairly faint aroma. Sweet caramel and toffee malt with slightly burnt molasses and brown sugar. Dark fruits, especially raisin. A bit of a grainy aroma underlies this. Hints of a spice characteristic but nothing jumps out. Decent but too weak and a little on the sweet side.

T - Starts with a sweet, spiced brown sugar/molasses sweetness. Some caramel and a touch of toffee. Underlying this is a nice spiced characteristic with some faint earthy tobacco (it comes out stronger mid sip). A nice dark fruit (again mostly raisin) sweetness mid sip that persists to the finish. A slight grainy taste. Finishes with a mix of sweet, spice, and a slight alcohol burn.

M - Medium to light body with average carbonation. Slightly dry on the finish and a bit of a bubbly and alcohol tingle.

D - Overal it all works together. It grew on me the more I drank. Sweet and spicy without being overpowering. A little too sweet and heavy to want many in a night, but 1-2 would be a nice nightcap.

Notes: A nice Scotch Ale that really grew on me as I drank it. Nice balance especially with the brown sugar/molasses, dark fruit, and spice. A little sweet and heavy but not cloying. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 04:03:27 | More by FreshHawk

PeroxideCoffee

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +19%

01-19-2012 15:01:16 | More by PeroxideCoffee

budgood1

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours out a very dark burnt amber/mahoghany clour with a thin tan head. shows off a bit of lacing. aroma throws out some candied fruit aromas...mixing in some peat and smoke with a healthy dose of dark chocolate and caramel. the nose isn't overwhelming, but very inviting. flavour profile has some depth to it...a balanced combination of smoked, dark roasted and base-type sticky malts. a touch of floral hoppiness adds another layer to the taste profile and provides a kiss of bitterness. alcohol notes blend well with the subtle red ripe fruit nuances, providing an all around tasty and warming scotch/wee heavy type of ale. the body and mouthfeel on this i find odd, though; although smooth, sticky and slick, with an easy going feel to it...this also has a carbonated, watery, light body/texture to it. a bit enigmatic. almost bock like. but...that all makes this dangerously drinkable.

overall, this years snowstorm is incredibly approachable and makes for a great seasonal drinker. on the other hand a bit more overall character along the lines of the Burton ale would be welcome IMO. either way this is another winner in the Snowstorm series for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 23:59:36 | More by budgood1