River Horse Belgian Freeze Belgian Style Winter Ale - River Horse Brewing Co.

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I think this beer does what it was meant to do very well. Its warming and very good for the cold months.

Pours a very very hazy brown with about an inch of head that eventually recedes to a lace at the top of the glass. Not too much on the nose, just some dark fruit such as dates figs and raisins. Also some mild phenolic scents.

Up front the beer is slightly spices. It follows up with some dark malts and dark fruits whose mild sweetness is balanced by a very mild hop presence leaving the slightly high alcohol content to warm your throat on the swallow.

Medium bodied with lower than average carbonation. This beer is slightly mild overall but does what it does extremely well. Extremely drinkable on a cold winters night

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 00:45:55 | More by jtierney89

alex_hart

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -15.7%

05-19-2013 01:20:17 | More by alex_hart

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

05-16-2013 16:59:16 | More by Slatetank

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

05-15-2013 17:10:31 | More by twenty5

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

05-12-2013 16:57:01 | More by mikeburd1128

Tavo2311

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-08-2013 00:53:46 | More by Tavo2311

srw

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

04-28-2013 00:53:25 | More by srw

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15.7%

04-25-2013 18:26:29 | More by Jason1337

CTChef

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

03-28-2013 01:24:59 | More by CTChef

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this into a glass, it has a reddish brown color body with a thin tan head. The smell has a dark fruit and sweet aroma. The taste has a rasain, dark fruit flavor. It also a has a belgian yeasty flavor. The mouth feel is very nice not heavy with medium body. Overall a pretty good belgium

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 01:44:54 | More by chefhatt

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12.4%

03-24-2013 23:06:57 | More by brheuer

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -43.8%

03-21-2013 00:05:41 | More by BGsWo22

username

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

03-18-2013 22:35:12 | More by username

tmars13

2.5/5  rDev -29.8%

03-03-2013 19:35:57 | More by tmars13

st9647v3

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

02-28-2013 00:57:31 | More by st9647v3

stobliss

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15.7%

02-18-2013 06:22:34 | More by stobliss

Snarf103

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%

02-12-2013 04:41:14 | More by Snarf103

confer

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

02-12-2013 03:59:33 | More by confer

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-02-2013 02:04:10 | More by calcnerd

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- 12oz bottle poured into a regular-sized tulip. Dark red-brown body with a definite haze to it. One finger light brown head forms and has lackluster retention. A ring and cloud with big bubbles remains and leaves just a few webs of lace.

S- Belgian yeast with a large amount of dark fruit, which is slightly medicinal, up front. Hints of clove, banana, spice, alcohol and apples; likely also from the yeast. Not much beyond that besides some slight toasted malt sweets.

T- Yeast forward again, something I would expect from this style. Light fruits like white grapes and apples come through more here but there is still some dark fruit, not medicinal though. Belgian yeast spice, pepper, zesty citrus peel, banana, clove and some alcohol hints too. Brown sugar, toast and caramel come from the malt and probably sugar additions.

MF- Dried out body but one that does not feel thin. Slightly creamy with moderate carbonation. Light spicy bitterness in the finish.

Really not bad for an American Belgian style ale. I find that fruit notes from the yeast like apple and raisin really drive the beer but don't overwhelm. ABV doesn't bother me but it is not the most well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:21:53 | More by cbutova

Ozzie1111

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

01-31-2013 03:51:31 | More by Ozzie1111

ranger60

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had it on tap at Southside Grille in South Bound Brook, NJ.

Appearance - very interesting, very red, hazy. no head at all

Smell - has a typical Belgian ale smell, but seems a little sweet.

Taste: very good...picking up all the fruits and spices you'd expect of a Belgian dark ale.

Mouthfeel: wouldn't mind a bit more carbonation

Overall: bartender at Southside Grille recommended it, after a did a 5 beer tasting and did not include it. I love Belgian dark ales...this one is not bad, but is lacking some punch overall.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 19:01:19 | More by ranger60

AntLeatherface

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +33.4%

01-08-2013 04:10:03 | More by AntLeatherface

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours brown into a glass with about a finger of white lacing.

Tingley mouthfeel.

Very powerful smell of cherrys and similiar fruit esters along with a smell of alcohol present as is such in other high abv beers that use belgian yeast.

As for tastes its got the sweetness I expect in my belgians. Kind of tastes like a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat. Slightly bitter aftertaste.

Great beer if you like winter belgians.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 02:15:58 | More by Ryanm1

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

01-04-2013 00:45:55 | More by Holland