SXNW (Brothers' Reserve Series) - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

Zorro

California

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear dark brown colored ale with a tiny tan colored head. Looks remarkably like a glass of cola.

Smells lightly of chocolate and chili pepper. Slight sweetness and a definite pecan nut scent. That said you REALLY have to work to pick out the aroma, not a very aromatic beer.

Starts out mildly sweet with a fairly strong chilies and chocolate taste. Chili pepper is strong but not hot. Slight mint flavor. All that said it tastes better than the sum of its parts.

Mouthfeel is OK, not thick for the style.

Overall worth a try. Tastes much better than it smells.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 02:40:14 | More by Zorro

TofuDC5

California

2.99/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: 1-finger, white frothy head after pour; settled to nothing after a minute or so. Maroon color; about 80% opaque.

S: Faint; chocolate, molasses, licorice. Something tickles the nose, but I can't put a finger on what it might be; bourbon and spices?

T: A bit weird and not to my liking; bitter and musty. Qualities of the aroma became less noticeable, and I'm left with an interesting oaky/earthy aftertaste.

M: Creamy and bitter. Quite carbonated.

O: I tried to appreciate this, but couldn't. Strikes me as such an average beer with no outstanding qualities. Lacks depth in flavor and smell and perhaps what really threw me off was the awkward imbalance of oak/earthy flavor and the rest, which was faint.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 03:40:27 | More by TofuDC5

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-21-2013 18:15:23 | More by johntfox

AlTrombley

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I sell this beer. I have waited for a long time for a case to break so I could take one out of the breakage room. It never sounded very good (pecans with Chili's sounds bad) but I figured for free I would give it a try. I was REAL surprised how good it was. Just a hint of heat on the back end.... Very nice!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:26:55 | More by AlTrombley

metter98

New York

3.96/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear reddish brown in color and has a light to moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a thin off white head that quickly died down, leaving delicate lacing covering the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of cocoa nibs and pecans are present in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell except that the pecans are a little more prominent and there are also some notes of green chilies, which aren't really spicy, but become stronger as the beer warms up and linger through the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather in interesting and has a good balance between all of the ingredients (cocoa nibs, green chilies and pecans) and hides its alcohol rather well.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:44:49 | More by metter98

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

04-29-2013 07:48:17 | More by Kelp

roostor07

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-28-2013 23:00:38 | More by roostor07

WynnO

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

04-27-2013 16:24:28 | More by WynnO

heresy22

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

04-14-2013 18:39:22 | More by heresy22

drrone

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-14-2013 15:11:24 | More by drrone

harrymel

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-13-2013 04:54:38 | More by harrymel

dominic4beer

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-07-2013 06:32:05 | More by dominic4beer

Twig2848

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-06-2013 03:29:29 | More by Twig2848

OMG

Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-02-2013 15:34:07 | More by OMG

Lantern

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

03-27-2013 10:27:16 | More by Lantern

jmathis

Florida

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-16-2013 22:35:03 | More by jmathis

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

03-08-2013 15:12:58 | More by SkeeterBoganski

Pencible

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a clear black ruby with quickly dissipating light tan head.
S: It smelled like earthy chocolate and nutty malt, with some chili pepper and pumpernickel bread.
T: It tasted like earthy bittersweet chocolate and nutty malt, with some pumpernickel bread and chili pepper. It had a clean and bittersweet aftertaste with a bit of heat.
M: It was watery with a little carbonation. Thin body.
D: The concept sounded better than this beer ended up. The scent and body were ok but not delicious. The body was weak, and the finish wasn't super smooth. The alcohol was hidden decently by the spicy character, but it wasn't the easiest to drink. I doubt age would improve it. Simply not a good show of brewing skill. Not a bad drink, but not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 17:01:28 | More by Pencible

kjkinsey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

02-24-2013 23:44:10 | More by kjkinsey

JRod1969

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

02-23-2013 04:56:29 | More by JRod1969

a74gent

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

02-20-2013 01:18:42 | More by a74gent

squidrobot

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +1.8%

02-17-2013 15:10:35 | More by squidrobot

mactrail

California

3.4/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A handsome brown-tinged red in the tall tulip. The head, alas, doesn't seem to last so well, but the lacing renews itself when you swirl the glass. A little oily in the mouth, but not so syrupy.

This brew has a fair amount of heat with just a twinge of chile flavor. It's sweet but sharp, hot and spicy. Overall, it's a nice blend of flavors without any of them standing out too much. The Mexican chocolate-cinnamon combination is not one of my favorites, but it merges with the dark caramel, roasted malt, and what tastes like dried red chiles rather than the fresh green ones. Between the alcohol and the heat, it's a slow sipping affair.

From the 22 oz bottle bought at Barons Marketplace on Point Loma Blvd.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 06:03:39 | More by mactrail

1Nrwyscotch

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

02-08-2013 03:20:46 | More by 1Nrwyscotch

SourAddict

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

01-14-2013 13:59:40 | More by SourAddict