Brooklyn Winter Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

HossMcGraw

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glad I finally gave this one a shot. Pours dark brown/amber with no noticeable head (might be the glass), and no lacing. The aroma is malty with some milk chocolate and dark fruit. Not very prominent, but what's there is good.

The flavor is initially rich malt. Reminds me of Newcastle (a good thing), but this has more pronounced caramel and dark fruit characteristics. A bit of hops provide a bone dry finish that aids drinkability.

The mouthfeel is smooth, but enough carbonation is present to keep things from getting boring. Drinkability is pretty high, but I don't think I could drink more than three of these in a sitting. Just a bit too substantial for a sesher.

This Winter Ale is a wonderful departure from the overspiced, overalcoholic monstrosities many brewers churn out come winter time. Its beauty lies in its simplicity. Highly reccomended.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2007 05:46:39 | More by HossMcGraw

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-15-2013 14:01:30 | More by Slatetank

Bustersuess

New York

2.75/5  rDev -24.2%

05-14-2013 19:06:33 | More by Bustersuess

Mullinger1980

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-11-2013 11:05:57 | More by Mullinger1980

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

05-10-2013 16:00:37 | More by twenty5

JakeDebus

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-09-2013 19:34:26 | More by JakeDebus

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-05-2013 15:52:17 | More by ZEB89

schaffer9252

New York

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-04-2013 14:40:09 | More by schaffer9252

amcaleh

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-02-2013 13:33:45 | More by amcaleh

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

04-25-2013 02:27:44 | More by SmellsofMahagony

trotnixon

Maine

3/5  rDev -17.4%

04-24-2013 11:13:52 | More by trotnixon

mcewesr

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -17.4%

04-16-2013 18:28:21 | More by mcewesr

Chinaskifan1

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

04-13-2013 20:19:55 | More by Chinaskifan1

Hophead420

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

04-11-2013 15:29:24 | More by Hophead420

SeanDolan

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

04-07-2013 03:21:17 | More by SeanDolan

DES8888

Ohio

4/5  rDev +10.2%

04-05-2013 00:23:08 | More by DES8888

Cvescalante

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

04-02-2013 19:20:39 | More by Cvescalante

tubeyes

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

04-02-2013 03:49:28 | More by tubeyes

tnflyguy

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +10.2%

03-28-2013 18:20:57 | More by tnflyguy

CesarLopes

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

03-27-2013 02:46:19 | More by CesarLopes

slay

Delaware

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

03-24-2013 23:25:00 | More by slay

BGsWo22

New York

2.5/5  rDev -31.1%

03-20-2013 23:07:54 | More by BGsWo22

rev_jimmy

New York

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

03-20-2013 02:22:30 | More by rev_jimmy

scootercrabb

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

03-17-2013 17:08:01 | More by scootercrabb

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I recently was back up to Highland Pizzeria, this time with my Uncle Steve, and this was part of a mixed sixer that I brought home. For those that may be wondering, a Place Review will be forthcoming once they complete their planned expansion, sometime in late-Spring/early-Summer.

From the bottle: "We brew Brooklyn Winter Ale from heirloom Maris Otter malts to create a beer with roots in blustery Scotland. Brooklyn Winter Ale is richly malty, aromatic, full-bodied and perfect with stews, roasts and holiday dishes."

Today is totally appropriate for this beer as a) we still have four days left of Winter and b) it has been flurrying for the last hour! Grr. Die, already, Old Man Winter!

Nothing like an aggro pour to develop a nice cascading action, leading up to two-plus fingers of dense, deep-tan head with good retention. Color was a deep-brown with garnet highlights among the NE-quality clarity. A second pour released some lees hiding at the bottom of the bottle and while I did not mind, it may be something for others to be mindful of. Best Before Date read "4123117080220" but it was indecipherable even to my cryptographic mind. Nose smelled medicinal, like a combination of molasses and anise. Mouthfeel was medium, approaching, but not achieving creaminess. The taste was primarily of molasses, but it was nowhere near as sharp as it was on the nose. Finish was semi-dry, as though the fermentable sugars had been mostly converted, but it was still too sweet for my taste. It kind of reminded me of the finish of a traditional English barleywine. Overall, not bad, but just not my cuppa joe.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 15:11:46 | More by woodychandler