Big Shot - Fort Collins Brewing

beergoot

Colorado

3.71/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dark amber body with a thin yet sticky white head. Rich sweet malt smell; almost smokey in character; slightly charred aroma. Taste mirrors the aroma overall with the addition of a robust bitterness coming through at the finish and lingering afterwards on the taste buds; somewhat nutty. Medium-bodied.

Strong on the malt character and no over-dominating alcohol notes present. A pretty decent winter ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 23:43:59 | More by beergoot

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.18/5  rDev -36.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured into a snifter.

3.5 A: Nearly clear deep amber color. Two and a half fingers of beige, creamy/frothy head. Retention is average with moderate amounts of irregular lacing.

2.0 S: Light caramel with a strong toastiness. Not really anything in terms of spices.

2.0 T: Same deal but with a touch of spice. Really surprising how bland this is.

3.0 M: Medium body. Perhaps a touch too much carbonation. Not particularly creamy.

2.0 D: Easily the most boring winter warmer I've ever had. I'm a big fan of the style, but this doesn't do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 00:26:21 | More by DavoleBomb

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

kinda weak for a winter seasonal, but not a bad beer. pours a nice looking red/brown color with a nice white head. smells malty and thin, watery a bit, nothing inspiring here. flavor is decent, a little sweetness in the malt and some burnt caramel. mouthfeel is thin thin for a winter seasonal, but its drinkable. fair carbonation and a good aftertaste, but im not moved by this.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 01:44:54 | More by StonedTrippin

kojevergas

California

2.65/5  rDev -23%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served on draught into a 3 oz taster glass at Fort Collins Brewing's tasting room. Reviewed from notes. This is a Winter Warmer (right now it's listed as a brown ale).

A: Pours a half finger head of slight cream and fair thickness. Retention is downright bad. Colour is a semitransparent copper.

Sm: Caramel, light amber hops, and light spices. Toasted malt. A mild strength aroma.

T: The foundation is primarily toasted malt, with a surprisingly bitter finish. Lots of well handled caramel. Not as much spice as I'd want from a winter warmer. Not real balanced on account of the finish. Pretty simply built.

Mf: Pretty coarse but still fortunately wet.

Dr: Decently drinkable but I won't have it again on account of its lackluster quality. It's pretty disappointing for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 20:55:13 | More by kojevergas

chugalug06

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Nice off-white head, lots of foam. Brew is clear dk. brown. Nice lacing, and the brew is thick.

S - Very nutty. Lots of dark syrup. Basic.

T - Very nutty. Good brew. No heat, higher ABV. Smooth.

M - Awesome bitterness rises out from this one... Decent carbonation too.

O - This is about the only brew i'll buy from FCB... Never dissapoints, always consistent. Nice job.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 01:10:54 | More by chugalug06

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours out as a deep red color that nearly looks brown. The head is almost not even there. The smell of the beer has a good amount of Christmas berries and spices. The taste also has the spiciness but doesn't really have the best balance I don't think. The mouthfeel is a little heavy which is good for the winter brews. Overall I've had no real desire to try this one again. I suppose it the mood struck me I'd give it another shot.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 05:39:33 | More by Knapp85

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a dark red-brown color with an off white head and not too much lacing. The nose is sweet malts, a bit of spice, light fruits, and some caramel. A bit of light chocolate. The taste is pretty bland with a bit of caramel and some very light fruit. Pretty normal body without much going on. Nothing terribly off with this one, it just ends up being a pretty plain beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 13:48:28 | More by Thorpe429

scruffwhor

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a rusty, ruby red with copper highlights. Nice light tan and bone white head that hangs around to a nice foam. A littlw too red to be a brown ale in my opinion. The aroma has tased malts and spicey hops. The malts are a little difficult to pick up on in the nose. The taste Is spicey hops up front taht make me think of ginger and musty, wet grass. The malts are a little on the powdered side, but offset the spicey hops a bit. I like a bit of roasted malts, maybe some nutty flavors in my brown ale. But this example is lacking. This beer was nice to try, but not all to sessionable to me. This was a little oppressive to my palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 20:41:57 | More by scruffwhor

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Skiing and drinkin' beer. That snowman on the label looks like he's having a great time!

A - This one is a deep garnet that shows cranberry highlights when held to the winter sun reflecting off the snow outside of my house. A one finger beige head shows only average retention and leaves a nice, but small, amount of lace on the glass.

S - Holy malt bomb Batman! I smell oatmeal cookies, brown bread, hazelnuts, bourbon, buckwheat, peanut brittle, warm whole grain muffins, and a small hint of dark chocolate way off in the distance. Smells hearty and good, like winter wheat.

T - I smelled very little hop presence in the nose, but hops make themselves known in the flavor profile of this beer. This is a bitter brew that combines a "autumn leaf" hop note with unsweetened hearty toasted grains and a hint of black coffee.

M - Thinner than it should be. This one actually comes off as a bit anemic. Initially very grainy, the finish is pretty hoppy and bitter.

D - I love the nose, but there is something about combination of the thin-ish body and bitter finish that I don't like. Still, it ain't bad... I just wish it would have kept the momentum of the super-malty and bakery-fresh nose.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 18:31:44 | More by pmcadamis

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a dark coppery amber with a decent, if not too thick, light beige head. Aroma is not strong but still appealing, mainly malty with hints of spice and miso. Flavor is malty and woody with a spicy undertone, OK if not spectacular. Texture is fairly smooth, fizzy and tingly.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 01:10:15 | More by Cyberkedi

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bomber - $5.49 at Hop City in Atlanta, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a remarkably clear, garnet-hued body with a frothy, downright sudsy, ivory-colored head.

Smell: Simple aroma of toasted nuts with small, meager, not particularly inspiring notes of cocoa, fruit, and earthiness. Well, the snowboarding snowman on the label seems to be having fun. At least somebody is, I suppose.

Taste: Robust nuttiness with a teeny hint of toast and cocoa. Thin drizzle of sweet dark syrup. There's a hint of earthy spiciness from English hops and no more than a low degree of imparted bitterness. Light touch of golden raisin fruitiness. Earthy, dry maltiness on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. If nothing else, it's at least got a nice, smooth mouthfeel.

Drinkability: For awhile, I was politely excusing these less-than-festive, dubiously titled winter releases in the spirit of giving during the holidays. But now, I'm starting to just become annoyed and disappointed with them. Big Shot is a fine, standard brown ale, but doesn't invoke any thoughts of the season beyond it's label and name.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 22:05:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

GarrisWH

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a clear, reddish amber with a thin, white head. Even though the head is minimal, it sticks around and leaves a bit of lacing.

S - Earthy, roasted malt aroma with a hint of nuttiness.

T - Toasty, bready, roasted malt flavors up front with a slight sweetness and a nutty quality. Earthy hops bring a bit of dryness to the finish. Pretty simple flavors, but tasty nonetheless.

M - Medium body with a lighter carbonation that lends a smooth feel.

D - A decent enough brown ale with pretty nice flavors, although lacking a bit in complexity. This could perhaps be better marketed as a sessionable, year round brown ale as opposed to a winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 03:09:40 | More by GarrisWH

bruachan

Rhode Island

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

looks a little light for a brown ale--sorta like an amber. a touch hazy. minimal head

sweet smelling and a little roasty. the aroma is weak and the lame head is, i am sure, partly to blame.

tastes like a sweet brown ale with a touch of kilned astringency and hop character. the malt depth is not particularly impressive, however. tasty but nothing to write home about. hop bitterness mounts with time

it's worth $5 but not significantly more. what makes this a winter warmer or seasonal beer of any kind?

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2009 03:54:20 | More by bruachan

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 22 ounce bomber bottle poured into a nonic pint glass. The ale appears a deep amber copper color with about a finger of off white foam. Nose and flavor - quite nutty, hazelnuts, caramel, brown sugar, a tad buttery, light spices. Thin bodied with ample carbonation. I probably would pass this one by next time I saw it.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 22:24:57 | More by ClockworkOrange

beer2day

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours deep amber with a strong orange tint. Very thin head, but it sticks around. Faint lacing and very fine carbonation.

Nose is all about caramel malt and butterscotch. Good, but not great.

Hits sweet with the caramel and butterscotch from the nose, but no diacetyl here. Finishes bitter, almost burnt with a very slight hint of roast.

Last of the winter warmers in my fridge. Probably would have tasted better in Feb than late May, so I went a little easy on the scoring.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 00:49:32 | More by beer2day

oberon

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Although the weather right now here in NC is definently "NOT" winter-like the winter warmers are out in full force.This poured into an impy nonic more of a mix of amber/bronze with a very thin quick to fade slight off white head.Light but pleasant aromas mainly of roasted nuts with a hint of brown sugar,mouthfeel is very light and near watery in my mind.Flavors are on the lighter side,slightly roasty with notes of earth and nut.Eh its not horrible, but its nothing to seek out thats for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2009 19:49:10 | More by oberon

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pretty much the reddest brown ale I've seen, somewhere between summer sunset and rust. Definitely not a true brown, that's for sure, but I like the color anyway. Big pillowy off-white head lasts a few minutes before settling to a longer-lasting skim.

Aroma offers strong malt presence, not unexpected of course, but it's very nice, and usually my favorite aspect of brown ales. Lots of hazelnut--so much that I was thinking "flavor shots?", but without really knowing I'll give Fort Collins the benefit of the doubt and hope it's "all natural" and not "natural flavors." (Although, geez, look at the name...should I be concerned?) What else does it bring the nose? Well, more nuttiness for one, some pumpernickel bread, caramel and a trace of vanilla.

Flavor is probably what Leinenkugel's was going for--and failed at--with their Fireside Nut Brown. Huge creamy hazelnut flavor again makes me mildly suspicious of the methods they used to achieve it, but whatever, it's undeniably tasty. Flashes of root beer, huge caramel, and a finish that leaves you with unsalted mixed nuts on the palate. Definitely some hops happening here too, evident mostly in the finish but also with warming. They help offset the sweetness and add a layer of depth to the beer.

Nice creamy texture, round, slick, buttery, lightly sticky. Appropriate for what's going on in the flavor.

Picked this up on a whim, largely due to the fun/different label suckering me in like a kid in the candy aisle. Glad I did. The depth of flavor satisfies the part of me that loves super-malty beers (bocks, doppelbocks, etc.). Reminds of Lagunitas' Lumpy Gravy, too, so if you liked that, check this out.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2009 23:27:59 | More by Metalmonk

caddybuyer

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Medium red brown amber with marked clarity, a light tan head that settles quickly, but a very attractive brew.

S-Malts and toasted nuts, very nice.

T-Sweet malts predominate, with a mild hop dry finish. Again, very nice.

M-Well balanced

D-Very drinkable.

Overall this is a decent brown ale. Not sure why this is a seasonal brew...there is really nothing special about it...just a solid everyday beer. That being said, it is well done and enjoyable....but between the Christmas tag on the neck, and the snowman on the label, I expected a little bit of a seasonal twist, which never materialized.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2008 19:38:07 | More by caddybuyer

blackjack000

Kansas

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into goblet.

Appearance: Magnificent. A dark, dark apricot with a frothy head that quickly disappears to a light drizzle that sits on top and rings the glass.

Smell: Ripe fruit, toasted brown sugar, and warm biscuits. A bit of cinnamon and spice lingers.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Sweet and soft like fruit almost overripe, but muted enough to not overpower. A thick and sweet malty flavor that makes the tongue smack.

Drinkability: Great. A beer with a lot of personality, but not so in-your-face that your taste senses get weary. I could drink this warming seasonal ale all winter to weather the cold.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2008 02:18:34 | More by blackjack000

gmfessen

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into a pint glass, beer is a brown-amber color with a huge, cream colored head. The smell is primarilly malty; carmel, toasted and light chocolate notes are present. There is also a hint of dark fruitiness like dates or figs. The taste is similar with a sweet, complex malty profile; if this was higher in alcohol it would remind me of an English barley wine. The finish is slightly roasted and has a touch of coffee to it. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a creamy carbonation. Overall, a very drinkable beer and an enjoyable one at that.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2008 01:20:42 | More by gmfessen

UA8

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- Pours a ruby shade with caramel head that quickly fades.

S- Scents of roasted malts and a light yeast backing

T- Starts with moderate malts and finishes with a light hopping. lacks a mid palate.

M- A bit thin with a medium heavy carbonation.

D- Not something I would seek out very average

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2008 23:55:50 | More by UA8

Talisker

California

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle received from BuckeyeNation as a trade extra.

On hand for at least 6 months, probably longer. So I was worried it would have lost its mojo, but no signs of deterioration, hence the review.

Pours a clear brown, maybe hints of maroon. Healthy two finger head, fine bubbles, nice lacing.

Nice malty aroma, bread, some sweetness without being overpowering. Taste is well-balanced - malt-led, but nice dry character. No stickiness in the texture. Hops are muted, which is nice in this style - no Cascades sneaking out like in too many supposed brown ales made in America.

A perfectly excellent, straightforward American brown ale. Reminiscent of Deschutes Jubelale in its lower-hop years. Nothing particularly holiday-y about it - no spice, no extreme-ness. But I would be happy to encounter this one as a regular drinker.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2008 02:13:44 | More by Talisker

ccrida

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into an imperial pint, Big Shot is a dark copper brown, mildly chill hazed with an ivory head that leaves scattered lace.

Smell is toasted malt, a little nutty and sweet, simple but pretty good.

Taste is also fairly strait forward but enjoyable enough, toasty biscuit malt, caramel, earthy hops, semi-sweet with a crisp dry finish that hints at it's robust strength, mainly with some trace phenols. Didn't change my worldview, but a respectable brown that I'd assume would be a crowd pleaser.

Mouthfeel is smooth, medium light body, impressive for a stronger brown ale that isn't thick and sugary.

Drinkability is good, a crisp, clean brown ale with deceptively hefty ABV and a smooth taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2008 00:46:50 | More by ccrida

umustdrink

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Clear mahogany brown color. Offwhite head fades to a film. Minimal lacing.

S - A light smell overall. Brown sugary and nutty malts with some green bitterness.

T - Starts out with a light bitterness and some very light malts. Malts and bitterness pronounce into something slightly more flavorful, but not much. Finish leaves a light but tangy bitterness.

M - Medium consistency with slightly elevated carbonation.

D - Easy drinking but not too much in terms of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2008 02:04:26 | More by umustdrink

Gavage

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: clear reddish amber in color with a 1/2" head that falls apart pretty quickly. No lacing develops.

Smell: caramel and a hint of fruit sweetness provides an overall soft and barely detectable aroma.

Taste: caramel with some touches of breadiness. Hints of plum sweetness, touch of earthiness, and mild alcohol tones are detectable.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Smooth from start to finish. Very brief aftertaste.

Drinkability: decent ale but not overly exciting IMHO. Beer was fresh but it needed a bit more of a punch on the malt side.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 13:30:34 | More by Gavage