Schell's Snowstorm 2012 - August Schell Brewing Company

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep copper amber orange with a lot of rising bubbles. Big four finger off white head with good retention. Leaves a lot of lacing sticking to the glass.

Smell: A malty, yeasty, fruity, and spicy aroma. Lively French yeast and toasted malt with hints of banana, clove, and pepper. Bready biscuit, caramel, toffee, and cracker. Hints of apple and dark cherry along with some citrus lemon. Light hints of earthy and herbal hops that linger in the background. Kind of smells like a Belgian ale. A very solid aroma.

Taste: Like the aroma hints, a spicy, yeast driven and fruity taste. Good mix of malts and French yeast that give a taste of bananas and apple along with some clove and white pepper spicing. Malt notes of bready biscuit, wheat grains, cracker, caramel, and toffee. Also a subtle taste of dark cherry and lemon zest. Mild taste of hops with some earthy herbal hops in the background. A really nice taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, and pretty smooth.

Overall: A really solid Belgian like beer. Solid mix of spices and fruity esters. Kind of like Surly's Cynic Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 07:04:05 | More by MattyG85

t2thebro

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

05-20-2013 03:25:46 | More by t2thebro

EROCK75

Illinois

2/5  rDev -47.6%

05-17-2013 17:02:08 | More by EROCK75

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +4.7%

05-13-2013 22:55:48 | More by AmandaSchaefer

Foam

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

got a single bottle at my local bottle shop.
never been a big Schell guy but the bottle-shop has most of the 2012 Winter Brews on sale for about $1.50 or so a bottle. Hard to pass up.
i had a big indulgent easter meal of salty ham and cheese grits and wanted some carbonated beverage to purge the air from my stomach and aid digestion.

appears as a dark amber lager-y brew with banana/spice/clove/candy nose appeals.
taste is along same lines as banana spicy but dry-er than seems usual for this type of beer. it's a bit restrained in that way. i'd prefer it to be a bit sweeter. a little bit moreso, anyway.
as another reviewer noted - it's a beer that I would only want 1 of at a time ... it's a bit much for session-ing as are most winter beers... more suited for pairing with holiday foods ...

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 22:03:00 | More by Foam

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This was one of the more unique offerings from Schells that I have had.

Color is a clear amber brown with a little bit of white head. No lace noted.

Aroma: A lot of cloves, bananas, spice, and caramel. Some bready malt flavors. Somewhat fruity with some toffee notes. A bit of earthy hops.

Mouthfeel is kind of dry and sweet. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation.

Overall, an enjoyable brew. I could only have one at a time though. I guess I have had talls at the bars, but only one. Nice beer for the season.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 01:59:35 | More by mothman

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.09/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Schell's Snowstorm 2012 Biere de Noel Beer, August Schell Brewing Company, New Ulm, MN.

Clear, auburn/crimson hue, small, soon-gone white head.

Aroma: Malty and distinctly lovely. Belgian sweetness and Belgian funk. Flowery, fruity, and utterly delightful.

Taste: On the lips and tongue, a repeat of the nose. Sweetness hits, with a small, almost indiscernible dose of hops, with lush malt carrying the character. Belgian yeast delivers plenty of flavor.

I've never heard of the style "biere de noel", but if they are referring to a Belgian Christmas Ale, which is a rather loose style, this one delivers, though it also feels like a biere de garde. A bit more flavorful, spicier version?

Medium body, long, malty/spicy finish, forever flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 06:46:13 | More by feloniousmonk

bismarksays

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

02-25-2013 09:35:54 | More by bismarksays

bigpoppa67

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-20-2013 04:20:27 | More by bigpoppa67

darky

South Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

02-20-2013 02:45:29 | More by darky

dunix

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

02-14-2013 20:16:11 | More by dunix

zzurn

4/5  rDev +4.7%

02-08-2013 07:24:43 | More by zzurn

scot_chale

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Clear copper body with 1 finger of a white creamy head that subsides rather quickly. Very little apparent carbonation activity.

S- Faint. I get a bit of caramel malt and maybe a banana type smell. You have to really stick your nose in to get it though.

T- Delicious. It's got an alcohol burn, it's sweet, it's slightly bitter, it's just a really nice beer. It's got a sourness that's really appealing too. It's a complex flavor that had me going for a second taste very quickly.

M- A little heavy on the carbonation. It's dry. I'd like a softer mouth feel with a little more flavor to linger over. The alcohol burn on the back of the throat is a nice touch though.

O- My first Biere de Garde. This wasn't my favorite snow store of all time, but it's a nice offering. I feel like this gave me a base upon which i can judge further brewery's offerings. I would buy six to share with my home brewing friends, but leave it alone at that. If i were in a dinner situation, i'd order it for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 07:17:38 | More by scot_chale

Eric908

South Dakota

4/5  rDev +4.7%

01-31-2013 02:25:04 | More by Eric908

davek72

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

01-26-2013 21:25:24 | More by davek72

Ish1

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

01-20-2013 23:44:36 | More by Ish1

DukeX13

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

01-20-2013 21:38:50 | More by DukeX13

budgood1

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours out a hazed auburn colour with a foamy off white head, a half inch thick reducing down rather nicely to some thinnish lace. first thing on the nose is a champagne inspired grape skin fruitiness, some dark fruity and funky maltiness, and a tertiary nut and pine base aroma. smells unique for sure. the flavour profile is belgian like...funk infused yeastiness intertwined with dry cocoa and nougat maltiness. a mid tongue fruit sweetness throws down a hint of currant and berry notes. a slight boozy/brandy alcohol warmth appears, followed by a nut and fig finish complimented by a slight spicy hop bitterness which lingers ever so longingly. there is definitely some welcome layers of complexity to this ale. tastes very nice. the mouthfeel is lightly prickly from the carbonation, otherwise about appropriate for what this offering is supposed to be. body is rock solid...mostly dry and well attentuated. drinkability is quite pleasant and maybe even a bit too easy for an ale of this style.

overall i'm impressed by this years snowstorm from Schell's. a belgian inspired brew from a strongly german/lager brewer. and they mostly nailed it in my humble opinion. winter season appropriate, and a great treat on a bitterly cold northern Minnesota eve soaking in hockey day in Minnesota and the return of the NHL. nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:17:07 | More by budgood1

MonicaC

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -34.6%

01-17-2013 14:15:57 | More by MonicaC

doucmehu

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

01-17-2013 02:01:11 | More by doucmehu

Beerislivingproof

Iowa

4/5  rDev +4.7%

01-17-2013 01:25:15 | More by Beerislivingproof

sgttibbs

Kansas

4/5  rDev +4.7%

01-13-2013 03:18:42 | More by sgttibbs

Pacioli1445

South Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

01-11-2013 01:25:00 | More by Pacioli1445

Cramerican

North Dakota

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

01-07-2013 05:51:50 | More by Cramerican

NodakEric

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.7%

01-07-2013 02:58:21 | More by NodakEric