Fireside Chat - 21st Amendment Brewery

RJLarse

Washington

3.68/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I bought a couple cans of Fire3side Chat at Total Wine & More in Spokane. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a walnut brown color, translucent , with a foamy beige one finger head. The foam is fairly sticky and laces the side of the glass in a broad ring.

Smell is a darkly sweet aroma, with some dark fruit and rum notes. Dates, plums and a bit of a rum fruitcake aroma.

Taste is a lot like the smell, rich dark fruit flavors, a little spice and rum flavor. Just a touch of alcohol heat on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, slightly cloying, with a heavy sweet aftertaste.

Overall a nice winter warmer. A little long on the sweet flavors.

Serving type: can

01-28-2013 00:36:09 | More by RJLarse

TheSixthRing

California

3.74/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Poured into my Chimay chalice, this winter warmer poured a deep ruby brown color with an off-white, finger width head. Average retention, the resulting lace was spotty, with fair stick.

Smell - Really sweet, fruity smell, like dried pieces of stone fruit: peach, apricot and/or prune. Hints at bready malts.

Taste - Follows the nose, and then some. Big bread notes, complimented well by the strong fruit and spice character, a touch of bitter chocolate mid-taste and toward the back end, then finishes like burnt bread with a moderate amount of citrus bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full in body, with a fair amount of carbonation. Tingles the lips. Finishes somewhat on the dry side of things.

Overall - This is a nice winter warmer. I don't know that I could drink more than a can at a time, but it's certainly festive, and a beer I might turn to for a one-off night cap on a day like Christmas Eve.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 07:41:27 | More by TheSixthRing

ESeab

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into pint glass.

Amber/brown color with thin, lingering vanilla head

Smells malty and not too 'in your face' for a spiced beer. Hints of caramel and cinnamon.

Taste was smoother than I thought and the spices were not lingering at all. Nutmeg was noticeable.

Overall this was a good brew by 21st Amendment. I'm not a huge fan of Christmas ales but would drink this again, just wouldn't seek it out. The spice disguises any alcohol that would be detected. Give it a shot, good, not bad, not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:20:18 | More by ESeab

atr2605

New York

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours a dark amber with an off white head that leaves a nice lace
S-cinnamon, brown sugar, cherries
T-caramelized sugar and spice meet with hop bitterness and a dry biscuit flavor in the finish
M-medium bodied
O-Not a bad beer, has decent flavor profile and appearance. Not a staple for my holiday season but might grab it once in awhile

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:27:07 | More by atr2605

GilGarp

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Canned 9-24-12.

Served cold into a goblet.

Fireside Chat is a hazy dark brown color with thin creamy head. Is settles quickly but leaves some lace behind.

Aroma is sweet and malty with honey and toffee elements.

Flavor is rich and spicy with lots of mulling spices like cinnamon and clove. It has a bit of vegetal flavor, which seems off.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated.

Overall a pretty good winter warmer but too heavy on the spices for my tastes.

Serving type: can

01-02-2013 01:20:56 | More by GilGarp

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presented to me at the JAmison Pourhouse as a rich ruby brown with a small substaining head. Did't take notice of the carbs.
Aroma was light with some spices that were pretty sutle at best. Abit malty but not much.
Aroma is malty fresh with a light spice taste. Iwasn't aware of cocoa nibs unti I read there website but either way I did't really taste any cocoa.
Smooth drinking and pretty full with a clean semi bitter aftertaste.
A solid beer in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 17:21:48 | More by micromaniac129

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a deep mahogany color with puffy, 2 finger, light brown head.

S - Caramel malt, bready, light on spices, nutmeg and allspice. Slightly metallic and estery

T - Wow, almost overpowering on the spices. Clover and cinnamon, lots of nutmeg as well. It's certainly Christmas-y, but almost in that "Good god, Grandma, have you no limits?" way. Little bit of ester.

M - Full, drying.

Overall - I feel like 21st Amendment tried to find the most spices they could possibly put in a beer and do that. It wasn't bad, but it was way overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 18:12:11 | More by BeerBuckeye

vkv822

Oregon

3.4/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on-tap @ Sellwood Public House.
from notes.

Deep mahogany with a thin off-white head.

Primarily chocolate malts, with lots of spice notes in both aroma and taste.

Mouthfeel is medium+ with mild carbonation.

This was an interesting beer, I enjoyed the aroma and taste, but overall the holiday-spice notes became a bit much towards the middle of the glass.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 09:46:26 | More by vkv822

MattyG85

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. can into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass. Canned on 09/24/12.

Appearance: Pours a dark and hazy brown with some hints of ruby. Lots of rising bubbles and a big four finger light tan head with decent retention. Leaves a bunch of spotty lacing around the glass.

Smell: A malt and yeast driven aroma with a very big mix of spices. Toasted malts and a Belgian like yeast presence. Hints of banana, biscuit, cookie dough, gingerbread, toffee, caramel, and wheat grains. Big hints of spices including nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and pepper. Sweet brown sugar and molasses. Subtle hints of dark raisin, fig, dates, and prune. The spices really stand out. Interesting smell.

Taste: As spice driven and malty as it smells. Toasted malts with a taste of bananas, yeast, biscuit, gingerbread, grains, toffee, and caramel. Very big taste of spices including ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, clove, and a little pepper. Undertones of fruit including apple, dark fig, raisin, dates, and prune. Sweet kick from some candied sugar and molasses. A quite interesting combination. Its sort of like a Dunkelweizen mixed with a heavily spiced winter warmer.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very creamy and slick. Spicy and fairly smooth.

Overall: A pretty different take on a Winter Warmer. Very heavily spiced and a nice fruity malt mix. Pretty decent overall.

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 07:36:23 | More by MattyG85

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a dfh snifter.

A: pours a deep dark brown/mahogany with a little more then a finger of tanned head.... Head recess nicley with some nice lacing.

S: x-mas spice blast. Particuarly nutmeg and cinnamon over Sweet molasses.

T: x-mas spice over a rich malt backbone. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, molasses, brown sugar, rasin.

M: in the heavy side of medium, a touch of bitterness on the finish leavs the mouth tasting bitter and spicy, moderate carbonation.... Not a fan of the aftertaste.

O: if you like very spicy winter Warner's you'd probably really enjoy this. Not particuarly my style, too much spice for me.

Serving type: can

12-15-2012 06:47:03 | More by PeterIngemi

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-dark brown with a reddish tint. thin light cream colored head

S-smells like hot cinnamint and grains. sweet smelling. i was expecting some smokyness like a fireside chat would have, but there is none

T-comes in with a cinnamint flavor with an odd sweetness. tastes almost artificial. has some dark belgian sugars to it. the ending really does taste similar to a dark belgian ale...with a touch of bitterness. its an odd mesh of flavors. Actually, there is a really faint smoke flavor in the after-taste.

M-medium dry carbonation with a watery finish

O-it's more or less just a mess. there are a lot of flavors going on here, but they just don't mix together well. I think some of the spices need to be taken out. It definitely does have some sort of potential, but it needs work. not exactly easy to drink. it has a certain plastic-like bitterness that makes this not exactly fun to finish. I don't recommend, there's something better out there for you to choose.

Serving type: can

12-14-2012 03:59:06 | More by AdamBear

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured from a growler into a Weizen glass (because it was dirty from the awful Boulevard Wheat), pours a dark orange brown with a short pillowy tan head that lingers leaving some good lacing, clear

S: cherries, grapes, raisins, dates, prunes, smells of spiced cake, molasses

T: sweet malt with afore mentioned flavors above that transisions into a drier finish, clove bitterness present that is a little overpowering

M: feel is fuller bodied with a hint of alcohol present, aftertaste is strong towards the spice side, slight carbonation is correct

O: not a bad winter style ale, spice flavoring is on the heavy side, could use more malt for balance

Serving type: growler

12-11-2012 01:06:14 | More by M_C_Hampton

magictacosinus

California

2.53/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Joy, another winter brew to try. This time from a brewery I enjoy, too! Poured into a tulip glass from 12oz can. Bottom states that it was canned on 09/24/12.

Pours a strong, promising reddish darkish color with an immediate strong and fantastic 4 finger head of brown-tinged carbonation. Hard to tell how much carbonation remains in the brew total, but the alcohol leggings are indeed quite strong here. Lacing remains around the edges of the glass, and slight frothiness coats the top of the liquid. Looks pretty good overall, definitely in the spirit of the holidays.

Aroma is definitely a different twist on winter beers than others I have seen in the past. There is a lot of alcohol here, often making the malts resemble a caramelized, sugary concoction. There are lots spices attacking my nostrils in the process, and what's especially prominent is peppermint and tamarind. Not bad at first, but about a minute in I'm feeling a bit dizzy from all of the alcoholic properties, as well as the strong spices and yeasty notes resembling dark fruits and (as others have mentioned) mulled wine. Kind of cringing overall.

This beer starts off pretty flavorful, and hell, just for kicks, I paired this with pretty rich homemade chocolate cake. However, as I finished the cake, and the beer warmed up, I started to realize what I was up against. At first, there's some great notes of peppermint, dark fruits (especially cherries) and canned cranberries. Then, something goes horribly wrong. The mulled notes come off as dry and withered, and there's an aftertaste that turns out to be astringent, metallic, and filled with rather undesirable flavors of overpowering blackcurrant. Something must be wrong here. The hops vanish altogether as this warms up, and the alcohol mixes with this aftertaste to create a rather nauseating product overall.

I honestly don't see what this was supposed to taste like with a final product this messy. Maybe it was supposed to be consumed fresher, but it seems I'm not the only one recently who's only been able to find a batch this old. I like peppermint and dark fruit flavor they aimed for here, but the metallic blackcurrant aftertaste really is too much for me, especially because I suspect it wasn't supposed to end up like this. Drain pour.

Serving type: can

12-10-2012 05:56:53 | More by magictacosinus

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in standard ale glass

A: dark cola color; thin head; very nice carbonation;
S: cinnamon, potpourri, other spices
T: sweet, spicy, deeply malty beer; very good specimen of a winter warmer; reminiscent of highly spiced mulled wine
M: viscous, thick; great body

I like this as a winter beer, but would have it only on occasion; it's quite intense-flavored

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 20:18:39 | More by Arithmeticus

xmorgan

California

4.1/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I like this beer, it comes off not overt sweet often a killer of this style as it lingers in a glass.

The appearance is well done with nice lacking.

My letdown was the body, I want a winter warmer to stick to my rips and warm me up, to put a fire in my belly to send me home and tuck me in, not a bigger session beer.

This is my opinionm but I enjoyed the beer and will have it again,

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 09:32:55 | More by xmorgan

StoneTSR

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

APPEARANCE: Deep, dark and reddish brown in color, the Fireside chat has a nice, thick and foamy head of about an inch capping the beer. The head retention is outstanding with only about a third of it fading in the first three minutes after the pour.

SMELL: Aroma of Christmas spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe a little brown sugar and even some pine lingers behind the spice. If it were stronger I'd be happier with it.

TASTE: The cinnamon and nutmeg are still present in the taste, but not nearly as strong as they were in the nose. The brown sugar and sweeter malt flavors run the show in the early and middle portions of each sip, but they are balanced by a nice, subtle, hoppy grassiness in the finish. This is what a winter warmer should be.

MOUTHFEEL: Rich, full-bodied, smooth and creamy. A touch of carbonation tickles the palate, but the smooth, creamy texture works perfectly with the big body. Decedent.

OVERALL: This is not my favorite style by any means, but occasionally, I'll enjoy a winter warmer. This is, by far, the best example I have tried. Somewhere between malty and hoppy this beer truly warms with a comforting array of Christmas-like spices.

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 08:36:59 | More by StoneTSR

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can poured into a nonic.

Pours a murky brown coloer with a finger of thick sticky foam. Nice lacing. Aroma is full of sweet toffee like mats, molasses, and holiday spices.

First sip is very sweet, with a peppery/spicy finish. Quite viscous, and although it is hard to pinpoint the exact mix of spices, they do add quite a complex finish to the super sweet body.

This beer is aptly named. The type of beer that you would drink like a brandy, with slow sips. There is a huge amount of sweet crystal and munich malt flavor, and a lingering spice bitterness.

I'm not a huge fan of spiced beers, but this one does it pretty well.

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 02:44:21 | More by FickleBeast

BWED

Pennsylvania

2.4/5  rDev -29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked this up in a mixer sixer. Looked interesting:

Poured into a pint. Label states: Canned on 9/24/12.

A- Dark deep mahogany, yet clear/filtered. Thick foamy head, very light tan, stays foamy but dies down a little. Lacing thick all the way down the glass.

S- Unique... a light toast with a dried fruit (maybe fig?) sweetness, and a very subtle clove/cinnamon hint.

T- A stronger malt flavor, overdone toast, some spice, but most apparent is the metallic aftertaste. It hangs on and makes me want to just down the beer before thinking about the flavor. Maybe it is overdue? I didn't notice the date until I tasted the brew and actually searched for it (on bottom).

M- Medium body, light carbonation, foamy rather than fizzy. Nothing special.

O- I'm disappointed in tasting the aluminum can with this beer. Maybe I should blame myself for not looking for a date, or maybe Fireside Chat should just be bottled. Nonetheless, I believe the beer isn't much anyway. Nothing really struck me as special in the end. Its bark, (presentation, appearance, smell) was definitely more appealing than its bite. Maybe I need to try this on draft, but I don't think I'll be going out of my way for it.

Serving type: can

12-06-2012 04:34:25 | More by BWED

colts9016

Idaho

2.85/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a nonic at 40 degrees.

Appearance: A three finger head that has good retention. The head is off white, similar to ivory, the head is billowy and foamy. The head on the beer left some lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is used motor oil. The clarity of the beer is opaque. I can not tell much else going on in the beer.

Nose: A light grain bill that is toasty, caramel, and biscuit. Other aroma in the beer is spices like cloves and nutmeg, citrus, floral, grass, and molasses.

Taste: A medium grain flavor that is toasty, caramel, biscuit. Other flavors in the beer is molasses, cloves, nutmeg, citrus, floral, grass, molasses, wood, and grapefruit.

The mouth feel of the beer is carbonated, slightly chewy, and astringent.

Overall: The body of the beer is medium and the finish is medium full. This is just an okay beer. The flavors are all over the palate. I was hoping for a more solid malt foundation and more uniformed in flavor. Good beer, glad I got to try it.

Serving type: can

12-04-2012 01:28:29 | More by colts9016

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from the can.

This beer is a dark red/amber colour with a foamy head that didn't last long. The smell has a lot of spice to it, mostly cloves and cinnamon with a hint of nuttiness. The taste is in-line with the smell, lots of clove and spices, with a nutty aftertaste. A nice winter beer.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

Serving type: can

12-02-2012 23:08:03 | More by NilocRellim

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from can into pint.

A - Nice lacing, good 1 to 2 finger head.

S - Very good balanced spices.

T - Excellent balance.

M - Smooth, creamy mouth. Medium to medium full bodied.

O - Very good beer.Will have again. Surprised that it didn't get better reviews. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 04:04:12 | More by Beer-A-Lot

BeerManDan

California

3.95/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The color when poured was dark brown with a little amount of tan foam and a load of lace on the side of the glass. The smell of spices and fruit, along with yeasty roasted malts filled the nose with a pleasant aroma. The taste had a sweet/bitter alcoholic spicy flavor with a hint of roasted yeasty bread/fruit flavor. A little bitter finish, but, a loads of spicy/fruity flavor on the palate. This is another winner for 21st Amendment. Nicely balanced flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 22:59:08 | More by BeerManDan

harrymel

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Canned 24SEP12
Dark, turbid brown with light tan and decent lacing. Smells of sweet gingerbread: alsspice, some molasses, sweet malts, a bit of graham. Taste is toasted bread with some bits of cinnamon, allspice and maybe a hint of nutmeg, sweet and dry flavor. Medium bodied with velvety carb and a semi dry finish. An okay beer.

Can date: unk, originally reviewed 22NOV11
3/2/1.5/2.5/2~1.88
A: brown with a finger of transient tan foam and a leftover broken sheet of the same. No lace. Excellent clarity.
S: Cinnamon and allspice with some....more cinnamon? Sweet malt profile in the back.
T: Metallic and herbal. Too much spice. Like it's been steeped with mulling spices.
M: Thin with hi carb and semi dry finish.
O: not a good beer.

Serving type: can

11-28-2012 06:28:11 | More by harrymel

circus_cat

Virginia

3.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Artwork note: I almost want to keep this can/box. Really cool depiction of FDR by the fireplace! (DC nerd status revealed)

A: Darker than I thought. Looks like a light roast coffee would look in a clear glass coffee pot. Nice khaki head that poured HUGE. I have this DC Brau beer glass that is shaped like a beer can and is really conducive to creating big, foamy heads, but this is bigger than usual. Taking a while to pour it actually. Nice spider web lacing going down.

S: It smells kind of like the stuff in a pumpkin ale (minus the actual pumpkin meat which usually lacking in pumpkin beers anyway, ironically). Nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice with some figs and dark fruit.

T: Taste mimics the smell but not quite as strong. Not much more to add on the taste. Interestedly I don't get much alcohol. A bit of sourness, a bit of bitterness on the finish.

M: More full-bodied than I thought it would be but still medium-bodied. It's nice. Pretty clean finish.

Serving type: can

11-27-2012 22:36:46 | More by circus_cat

JRed

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark reddish brown in body with thin coffee with cream head. Pretty stanky: vanilla extract, gingerbread, herbs, light cocoa, cinnamon. Tastes of herbal notes, medicinal flavors, cinnamon, light cocoa, bready, some vanilla extract, and mild grass. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Pretty bubbly for a winter warmer. Good for 2 at most.

Serving type: can

11-16-2012 01:12:11 | More by JRed