The First Snow Ale - RJ Rockers Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Sonny's in Spartanburg tonight. Poured a pale amber with a decent head. The smell was full of spices and grain, as was the taste. No real hops to it. Very earthy grainy flavor, almost gritty. Had some suprising fruit undertomes to it. Went down very easy and could easily see myself drinking more of these. This was my first offering from RJ Rockers but I will be trying more

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2007 00:48:30 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16 oz. pint - $4.75 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Clear, coppery body with a small, white head and some meager lacing.

Smell: Aroma of pale malts with a very light hint of grain. Big pop of spices in the nose. As it warms a bit, some dried orange peel joins the scene.

Taste: Pale maltiness with a mild, crystal malt-type sweetness present. Plenty spicy, with distinct tastes of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves. R.J. Rockers must have a hook-up with an online specialty spice retailer. Just like the aroma, the orange peel really only joins the party upon warming. This is all appropriately matched with some spicy hops and a medium bitterness. Drying finish with a lingering orange peel flavor, maybe even some perceived ginger, too.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Nice array of spices set against a lighter, more drinkable pale ale. Did R.J. Rockers brew up a pleasant winter beer? Yes, yes, they did.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2008 18:59:54 | More by ChainGangGuy

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First Snow pours a hazy amber body with golden highlights beneath a short-lived head of creamy white.

Cinnamon is apparent in the nose, but there are other spices there as well, and a bit of caramel-laced malt too.

The flavor is just as spicy as the aroma, and it's easily on par with a pumpkin ale (cinnamon, nutmeg, all-spice, ...?). The spicing is a little bit different though, and it's a bit softer. I taste ginger in the finish, although I'm not sure if that's where it's coming from, it could be a combination of spices; perhaps some citrus zest as well. The malt is pretty basic, appearing bready with some medium caramel notes. It supports the spicing really well, but doesn't stand out on its own. Some mild grassy hops are also present, making themselves known across the middle, and then within the background during the finish. Surprisingly, the spices fade rather quickly given the strength that they show up front.

Overall, it's a pretty nice spiced ale that displays good balance. It could be a bit more rounded, but at the same time I kind of enjoy the slap of spice upfront, and then a soft finish. In fact, that's probably actually better than having everything a little bit more integrated throughout.

Worth trying, but I disagree with the label that suggests you "chill the mug" (or glass) before drinking - this was best after it warmed a touch and the malt was able to balance the spices a little bit more.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2009 11:17:56 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Pours a rich, somewhat hazy pale amber, with barely half a finger of white head that disappears to the edges quickly. The nose teems with sweet spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, clove. An undercurrent of hoppy bananas is also detectable. It's as though a pale ale were crossed with a rich apple cider (in a good way, believe me). The taste doesn't quite follow this formula, though, with the spices taking a distinct back seat to the hoppy, pale ale flavors, though they are still there. The banana is forced into a sideshow, something only appearing (and seemingly appealing) only to those looking for such a thrill. Luckily, the body is quite moderate, allowing this warmer to maintain the drinkability established by its nose.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 05:59:38 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is very hazy golden yellow in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense and creamy off white head that has good retention properties and consistently left a thin head covering the surface and lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of yeast and spices in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of spices (cinnamon and nutmeg stand out in particular) and pale malts along with some hints of honey.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is quite easy to drink compared to others in the styles. Although it doesn’t have enough alcohol to produce warming sensations in your mouth, the body is strong enough to keep you warm on a chilly fall night.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 00:28:01 | More by metter98

Jason

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz brown bottle, no freshness date.

Hazed amber with a healthy looking off white lace. Toasted grain and spicing in nose. Smooth and semi-slick medium body. First sip the taste buds get pushed around by the spicing and hop bitterness. After that settles more of an orange rind and dry toasted malt take over. A little fruity with a faint warming alcohol ester in the back. Maltiness mingles with the nutty yeast which both linger with some fading spiciness in the semi-dry finish.

Good balance for this spiced Winter Warmer, a little rough around the edges but I dig that. I find with spiced beers if they are too clean the spicing immediately takes over, not the case here. Give this one a go.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 02:21:27 | More by Jason

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy golden with a fair head that settles to a ring. Smells quite sweet and somewhat spicy, with nutmeg, mace, and cinammon, as well as perhaps a bit of clove and orange peel. The taste is still a little sweet, but not as much so as the nose would have you believe it is going to be. There is a nuttiness and a creaminess here as well that goes pretty well with the sweetness and the spice. Pretty clean and a little light, not thick or heavy at all, and thus fairly easy to drink for the style. Not bad at all- a lighter interpretation of a winter-spiced beer, with a nice nuttiness that almost reminds me of pralines.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2009 04:06:06 | More by Georgiabeer

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Served from tap into a Dogfish Head shaker. Poured golden yellow with a one and a half finger bone white head. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout. The aroma was comprised of malt, cinnamon, corriander, cloves, and candy cane. Yes, candy cane... The flavor was of malt, cloves, corriander, cinnamon, and a slight banana note. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was quite a nice brew. Given that it was a winter brew and I had it in the early fall really says something about this one. I am still in shock even after the next day that I got candy cane on the nose... This is definitely a nice and smooth drinking beer with no harsh flavors anywhere in sight. I will definitely be drinking more of this in the coming winter months for sure. This is a definite must try on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2010 12:05:20 | More by thagr81us

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Comes out of the tap a clear, darkish amber with an average head. Aroma is strong and spicy as well as somewhat malty; spice is mainly cinnamon and cloves. Flavor is fairly strong and malty, and the spicy component is mainly cloves and cinnamon. There is also just a hint of hops. Texture is fairly smooth and tingly, and nips at the tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2009 01:13:36 | More by Cyberkedi

avalon07

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an amber color and a hazy texture. There was a big, foamy, long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A big, enticing aroma of malt and a lot of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.).

T: Tasted of malt, light hops, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The taste doesn't quite live up to expectations built by the aroma. A little on the thin side.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: While this beer is drinkable, it is wildly uneven. It has some good qualities and some mediocre ones.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 14:23:51 | More by avalon07

kylehay2004

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: very large head on a clear golden with amber hues. nice lacing.

S: spices, gingerbread, hint of cinnamon. very much the seasonal spices heavy.

T: again heavily spiced. The base beer is hard to work out with this one. more gingerbread, lightly sweet and hints of peppermint

M: high carbonation and light to medium body.

Overall: definitely a nice beer for the season. This one tasted decent even after 9 months of storage. The base beer cant really be commented on.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 02:41:15 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with a huge, overcarbonated head of off white foam on top of a clear, cooler body. The head settles slowly and leaves good lace.

S - A spicy aroma of nutmeg, caramel, and allspice.

T - Sweet toasty malt and caramel up front. Some clove and nutmeg in the middle. Finishes with sweet toast, allspice, and moderate bitterness.

M - Medium body, high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Not bad. After seeing the ridiculous level of carbonation I was afraid that it was infected, but it turned out to be clean. The spices are relatively well done, but it isn't anything special.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 02:46:23 | More by nickfl

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.55/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Best part was the smell. Poured with a small to medium sized, fine, off white that settled down to a ring after a bit and no lace. Color is a hazy pumpkin pie amber (which is a nice coincidence the same spices used to brew with) with some bubble trails. Aroma is mainly those spices, beer, and later a little funk. Flavor is likewise, but without much malt to balance, which also proly leads to my view that the body is a bit light too although good carbonation. Finish is like flavor and of average length for a spice beer. I'm not finishing mine. Wish I had some cheese or something to neutralize my mouth.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 00:12:29 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

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

A - dark orangish amber with a thin lacing of off white head that has little retention

S - pie spice, bread, nutmeg, cinnamon

T - nutmeg, cinnamon, bread, pie crust, all spice

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is a decent brew. If there was a hint of pumpkin here it would make an excellent beer. There pie spices and crust-like bready notes are pretty damn good. I really liked this beer for it's drinkability and it's spice character. A few of these will definitely warm you up in the late autumn.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 01:14:34 | More by tdm168

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Holly crap did I let this one age! Purchased from my second order at Halftime beverage about 2 months ago.

A - My guess fresh it would have been a nice clear yellow but about 8 months in I got sediment yeast floaties and a minimal amount of head but nice lacing.

S - My god does that smell good. Rich spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander along side of pale malts and mild hops.

T - Taste is a nice balance of spice with chalky yeast and mild bite in the finish from the hops. Mostly sweet and enjoyable.

M - Light to medium good for a pale winter warmer.

Overall a very interesting spin on your typical dark thick bodied winter warmer. Would love to try this again fresh to see if the spices are more pronounced in the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 22:38:45 | More by DrDemento456

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

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

The beer arrived on the table clear amber golden with a white low and persistent head which laced the glass.

The aroma was spicy phenolics with cinnamon, clove, ginger and allspice. Also present was a light bit of caramel and some citrus.

The flavor was light caramel with a moderate level of spice, again cinnamon, clove and ginger with a slight sweetness on the palate and a nice bit of grassy bittering to balance.

The finish was dry with a lasting bit of muted spice into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a moderate level of carbonation. A nice beer with a subtle spice character.

Pint at CW's in Columbia, SC.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2006 22:41:30 | More by GCBrewingCo

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer is a golden liquid, slightly hazy, with notable yeast 'floaties'. Slim white head. It's not an brilliantly attractive beer...average. The aroma is nice: spice is the first thing that's noticeable. Cinnamon. There's a little nutmeg, pale malt, and earthy hops. It's a Christmas smell for a winter brew; appropriate. The taste is middle-of-the-road. There's a decent balance...semi-sweet. The spice is notable in the taste, and gives a peppery sensation on the tongue. Hops have a mid-taste bite that give a counterbalance to the malt. Not bad. Firm in body, but not quite as hefty as the beer needed. All in all, this is drinkable and good, but not very interesting, and really rather ordinary for the season.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 20:41:14 | More by Suds

argock

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into an overssized wine glass. No freshness date. Single purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $1.60.

A: Pleasing slightly hazy amber with persistent 1-2 fingers of creamy, off-white head which leaves a nice band of lace.

S: Nutmeg and cinnamon with orange are the strongest aroma components. The mid-range malt base is a little flat and cardboardy.

T: The flavor is a subtle mix of a light bodied ale with mild winter spicing and a medium malt presence. The spices are most evident up front and mainly include ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg with orange zest. This equates to citrus-tinged gingerbread cookies. The malt sweetness passes quickly and falls flat like in the flavor leaving a cardboard aftertaste.

M: The mouthfeel blends spice tingle with a light, creamy mouthfeel that is really pleasurable to drink.

D: Usually I don't like spiced beer much and wouldn't have bought this had I read the label closer, but in the end I'm glad I did as this brew kept the spice in check and matched this subtler spice profile with a light bodied ale. A little more attention to the malt bill, and this brew could be a real winter staple.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 03:05:23 | More by argock

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Out of a bottle this beer was a murky amber color with one finger of eggshell-white head. The retention of the thin collar was not bad and the lacing in broken streaks. The aroma had a strong note of cloves along with sweetbreads, caramel malt, nutmeg and a little cinnamon. The flavors were very similar to the aroma with an emphasis on the cloves and caramel malt plus the addition of a bitter, slightly woody finish. The mouthfeel was creamy and slick, the body medium and the carbonation a bit prickly. A nice example of a Winter Warmer and definitely worth a try if you are the type who enjoys spiced beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 14:05:04 | More by thekevlarkid

alleykatking

Indiana

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz bottle. Thanks to VinnieVanGogh for the bottle.

A- Pours a coppery amber color. One and a half finger white head shows poor retention. Specks of lace left on the glass as the streaks tended to fall back into the glass.

S- Light toasted malts aroma mixes with nutmeg, cinnamon, and hints of clove in the front of the aroma. Very spice forward. Light darker fruit seem to be in here...nothing else is really in here. Just a lot of spice forwardness to the nose. Alcohol really doesn't show at all.

T- Toasted malts with a hint of darker fruit in the front end. The toasted malts dominate over the darker fruit which lets the cinnamon come out as the first spice. Middle of the beer shows a light caramel malt with clove and nutmeg. The ending of the beer shows the trio of spicing with a light alcohol hint in the ending.

M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Spicing is mostly all that is left on the palate. Aftertaste is mostly light alcohol and spicing. Flavors are spice forward which is kind of what I expected. No off flavors were present in this beer. Light alcohol drying on the palate.

O- This beer was nothing special but a nice one time beer. The ABV doesn't show at all which I liked. A little spiced forward which I thought could be tones down a little. Overall I would try again but wouldn't go out of my way to buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 04:14:31 | More by alleykatking

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

Poured from 12 oz bottle into dimpled mug. Pours cloudy amber and short bubbly white head that gathers around the edges on the glass. Aroma is very spicy! Lots of cinnamon, ginger, and clove along with caramel and sweet malts. Taste is gingerbread cookies, caramel, cinnamon toast, and sweet malts. Bit of nuttiness and dried fruit notes coming through as well. Body is medium with moderate carbonation. Finishes with more strong spices - cinnamon and ginger, mostly - caramel, light nutty flavors, and sweet malts. Dried dark fruit as well. Very good winter beer. A sleeper out of the bunch I was evaluating for my winter/christmas beer review.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 21:38:32 | More by CuriousMonk

Proteus93

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The second of three leftover brews from their tasting at Beer Run.

A: Fairly blonde, a fizzly head with notes of creaminess.... retention is okay, but nothing much for lacing going on.

S + T: Both the flavour and the aroma are very much like gingerbread. A sweet ginger and nutmeg. The nose has a little more of the warm scent. Flavour is notable, but rather mild... from the little experience I've had with the brewery, that seems to be their M.O.

M + D: A little light... I'd like some more body, but it's not too bad at all. Drinks smooth and easy. A nice seasonal offering, and something I'd be interested in trying again.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2009 01:52:13 | More by Proteus93

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

RJ Rockers brews this each year. Although the name implies the first snow, the first snow in SC is once a year.

Sampled this brew at Terry's in Spartanburg. Nice pale color with an unsubstantial head that dissipates rather quickly.

Nice hoppiness. Great balance with the malt. Very nice hop aroma. Smells cascadish. Fruity. Great aroma.

Fairly bitter. Well balanced. Very good body. A nice beer and a perfect accompaniment for the First Snow in SC (which may be three years from now).

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2005 01:40:15 | More by SaCkErZ9

hosehead83

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Murky orange/gold in color, with a decent head of off-white foam.
Aroma-Spicy orange note
Taste-Coriander, orange, honey, faint cinnamon and nutmeg as it warms. Refreshing and easy-drinking for a winter warmer. Would go nicely on a mild South Carolina winter day. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 16:02:28 | More by hosehead83

jsprain1

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Slightly hazy oranged tan with a cream colored head. Retains head well. Some lacing.
S- Smells very much of spice. Cinnamon, some clove. Actually a bit like a pumpkin ale.
T- In terms purely of taste, this may be the best Winter Warmer I've had. A bit of pumpkin, there some cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg, and then there is just a nice citrus flow to it. Well balanced. Splendid.
M- Creamy, full bodied, just a touch undercarbed is the only complaint I have.
D- Top to bottom, this may be the Winter Warmer I've had to date. A really splendid beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 04:02:51 | More by jsprain1