Heavy Seas - Winter Storm ("Category 5" Ale) - Heavy Seas Beer

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BA SCORE
87
good
-
670 Ratings

THE BROS
90
exceptional
-
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rAvg: 3.85
pDev: 11.43%
Reviews: 478
Hads: 192

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Brewed by:
Heavy Seas Beer

Maryland, United States

Style | ABV
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB) | 7.50% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (443), on-tap (25), cask (8), growler (2).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

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Reviews

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Reviews by troysoy2:

troysoy2

Pennsylvania

3.55/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another style-bending brew for the winter months.
Poured into a pint glass, it's a nice brownish red with gold on the edges. A thin head, but it sticks around for a long time. Lots of tiny bubbles in the body.

The body of the smell is sweet malt. Not light and biscuity, yet nor is it heavy and thick smelling. Very moderate. There's also a hint of hops, and somehow I am reminded of another Clipper City beer, Loose Cannon.

Interesting taste. The bitterness is indeed surprising. Citrus attacks the tongue at first, but over time the malt really comes through to wash away the prickly hoppiness. The malt is kind've tangy in its own way, though, and the finish is a bit drier than you may expect. Mouthfeel is ok. Not watery. Not overly or under-carbonated.

Not your average winter seasonal. I'm not so sure it really gets me in the mood for a winter storm, but in and of itself, it is not a bad beer. Not really as balanced as an ESB typically might be, but it's got an interesting interplay between flavors. Recommended to try at least once!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 04:40:57 | More by troysoy2

More User Reviews:

wgfxkmf

North Carolina

3.75/5 rDev -2.6%

05-18-2013 03:06:16 | More by wgfxkmf

RicheeD

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev +16.9%

05-17-2013 01:30:10 | More by RicheeD

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.5/5 rDev -9.1%

05-08-2013 04:48:42 | More by dalepryor

schaffer9252

New York

3.75/5 rDev -2.6%

05-04-2013 17:33:52 | More by schaffer9252

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before April 2013. Pours slightly hazy ruby red color with a 1 finger fairly dense cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of raisin, pear, caramel, toast, brown bread, floral, light pepper, light toffee, and toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of raisin, pear, caramel, toffee, toast, brown bread, floral, pepper, pine, light nuttiness, and earthy spiciness. Good amount of spicy pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of light fruits, caramel, toffee, toast, brown bread, floral, pepper, pine, and earthy spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of malt and fruity ester flavors; with a good hop balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a creamy and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice imperial ESB style. Nice complexity of malt/fruity notes with hop balance; and quite smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:49:02 | More by superspak