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

rangerred

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on cask at Nicholson's in Cincinnati.

Arrived a clear ruby with a small head. Excellent lacing.

The smell was full of floral/citrus hops. Some caramel malt as well.

The flavor is very hop forward. Wonderful citrusy hops dominate throughout with a quite assertive bitterness. Malt notes come in at the end and linger.

This is a great beer and one that I am thrilled I got to try on cask. Will definitely seek out again.

Serving type: cask

12-24-2011 19:36:57 | More by rangerred

jbriggs7036

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bam! On Cask at Frisco's in Columbia

Looks great, and the head is sexy coming from the cask.

Smells of fruity/fresh hops, purely delicious

Taste- PLeasure to the palate. Again very fresh.

MF- Could have a bit more carbonation

Drinkability- 2 and out.

Overall, loved it, went back to Frisco's looking for it, but they had switched their cask to a Flying Dog that was also good.

PS. Frisco's is my new favortite place to go

Serving type: cask

11-09-2010 14:58:53 | More by jbriggs7036

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

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

Rich winter warmer with a tasty malty range on a cask serving.

Presentation: 12 oz cask offering. Short description noting main characteristic of the style and brew, menu also notes Alc. by Vol (7.3%) Served in a pint shaker glass.

A - Hazy brown pour with a rich creamy head, good retention and nice lacing.

S - There is a rich malty sweet range with a caramel hint, a bit too subtle.

T - Taste follows with a roasted malt sweetness and a nice hoppy balanced bite that picks up the malt at the end again

M - Medium body to full body with hints of the second cask carbonation, nice thick texture and finish.

D - Works rather nicely on cask, very drinkable.

Notes: Imperial ESB or not, this is a rather nice malty brew with a nice hop counterbalance. The cask profile gives it quite a nice character.

Serving type: cask

11-24-2009 03:01:30 | More by Daniellobo

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cask at Aroma's in Athens.

Pours a hazy light brown color with a 1.5-finger, large-bubbled light tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of lightly toasted caramel malts with large amounts of citrus and lighter amounts of pine. The nose in this is very good though purists will likely disagree.

Tastes good. Light caramel malt flavors have a tinge of nuttiness and hold more sway than they did in the aroma. The malt flavors are soon joined by pine and citrus hop flavors that carry through to a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a solid thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall I very much enjoyed this beer. While much hoppier than classic ESB's I think the hops worked in this beer's favor and the malt profile itself is nothing to sneeze at. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: cask

11-20-2009 04:11:35 | More by glid02

Travlr

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cask at Churchkey. Cloudy amber with chunks and floaties, medium light tan bubbles, just around the edge of the glass. Aroma of bread and caramel. Nicely hopped but with a good malt balance. Taste has a few splinters of oak, very subtle. Longish bitter finish. Nice enough.

Serving type: cask

11-05-2009 04:27:22 | More by Travlr

adamette

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from cask at Buckeye Beer Engine in Lakewood, Ohio a few hours ago.

A Deep brown body below a milky, silky smooth cool whip smooth head which was very cool indeed.

S Hoppy but not to any extreme.

T Reminded me greatly of a Barleywine that I recently tasted (Sierra Nevada Big Foot) but not as bitter and unforgiving as the Big Foot.

M Full for sure but so smoooth (was that thanks to the casking?)

D Not good due to high ABV, bitterness.

Notes: This is my first reviewed cask beer and I loved the presentation and mouthfeel of this beer I believe due to the fact that it was from a cask. Very cool and I think that it really enhanced the beer.

Serving type: cask

10-18-2008 01:49:55 | More by adamette

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on cask at Max's. IMO, this beer is much better on cask then it is in bottle or regular draft.

The beer pours an attractive copper color with very good head retention and outstanding lacing. The beer is very perfumy on the nose, reminding me more of an IPA then an imperial ESB. It's quite attractive actually. On the palate this beer is very nice indeed, and the cask conditioning really softens out some of the rough edges I don't care for in bottle/draft. Again, the beer tastes more like an IPA, but there is some nicie malt to counter the rather large amount of hops. The beer has a very nice soft, smooth mouthfeel, which must be from the cask conditioning. I find this beer to be quite rough in bottle/draft, but on cask this beer is so much more drinkable and enjoyable. The abv. is noticeable, but is not at all obtrusive, and the beer is actually pretty drinkable.

Very nice beer, at least on cask. Any other format and I wouldn't get it, but on cask this is a beer I quite appreciate and enjoy.

Serving type: cask

01-21-2008 19:20:39 | More by johnmichaelsen

davidt

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served cask conditioned. I've had this one bottled before so enjoyed the opportunity to try in from the cask. Crisp floral hop aroma backed by a bit of caramel malts. The mouth feel was very smooth with a very nice piney and floral hop flavor. A very nice beer and the 7.50% ABV is well masked.

Serving type: cask

12-24-2007 18:44:05 | More by davidt

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

Mitchster

Michigan

4.01/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brewed with 2-row, Crystal, Caramalt, and Chocolate Malt. Hopped with Warrior, UK Goldings, UK Fuggles, Cascade, and Centennial. ABV: 7.5%, 50 IBU's. $9.99/6'er @ BevCo.

Pours out to a sparkingly clear medium amber, forming a nice mousse-like light yellow head with excellent retention and great lacing. Carbonation is moderate, ~2.5 carbs. The nose opens with plum and faint cherry esters, followed by some rotting orange and toast with some fruity hops. No DMS, subtle diacetyl, no sulfur or fusels. The mouthfeel is soft with a medium dense body. The taste opens with the fruity esters and is followed by toast, nuts and some tobacco lingering in the finish. Bitterness is moderately firm with hop flavor appropriate to the style, in balance with the toasty malts, but not overpowering them. The Fuggles and Goldings add their distinct papery herbal flavor, but the American hops balance them nicely with some fruits. There is a rough edge in the finish with some higher alcohols and a little pepper, unusual for the style.

This is a good beer, no doubt, but I'd much prefer a Fuller's ESB which is fruitier, less hoppy and easier to drink with that distinct orange marmalade and toast flavor that I love in well-crafted ESB's.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 06:35:54 | More by Mitchster

ckollias

Maryland

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

Enjoyed this 12 oz bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a cloudy amber hue with a thin white head that slowly dissipates down the slide of the glass leaving a decent lacing.

S: Sweet malty aroma with a dark fruit caramel noise.

T: Slightly sweet caramel malt flavor that finishes on the dry side.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Decent brew – not my favorite heavy seas brew – but worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:42:56 | More by ckollias

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a darker brown to amber color with a decent head at pour. Decent head retention and good lacing. Aroma is darker malts and maple syrup. Taste is sweet - again darker malts and syrup present. Starts sweet and finishes on a slightly bitter note but not over powering for those that like milder hops. Great beer for a cold day.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 20:37:49 | More by Oakenator

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.46/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle with March 2013 clipped off the label. Sampled on January 22, 2013.

The way it poured all I could think of was a winter storm churning out in the deep ocean with circular carbonation bubbles slowly falling apart and becoming a handsome looking medium amber with reddish hues and a lasting head.

The aroma is of dark malts, plum (maybe), toffee, and English yeast. The hops are not as evident on the nose.

The body is bold and smooth.

The taste begins mildly sweet with a balanced but slight hop bitterness kicking in to round things off. Like the aroma there is an array of dark malts and dark fruits showing up in the flavor. Quite nice and authentic to a strong British Bitter.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 22:59:39 | More by puboflyons

Cugabuh

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a 6er of this when I got off work. Being a huge fan of both Heavy Seas "Loose Cannon" and ESBs in general, I figured this would be a good match for me.

Pouring into a standard 16 oz pint glass, I notice a head roughly 1 finger length tall that dissipates rather quickly. A bit of lacing lingers for most of the brew but nothing to write home about.

Appearance: The appearance of this beer might just be my favorite part. It's a BEAUTIFUL ruby red color that will certainly catch your eye after pouring is complete.

Smell: The aromas of this beer are a bit lacking, and I wish such a beautiful looking beer could follow up with a wonderful smell (fortunately the taste saves it a bit but we'll get to that)! Unfortunately the smell is on the weaker side. Hints of bread are certainly to be found, as well as a certain nuttiness.

Taste: The taste of this beer (as stated earlier) makes up for its weaker aroma. The bread/nut flavors certainly stand out much more on the tongue. Obviously, with this being an Imperial ESB, even a tongue with a single taste bud could taste the bitterness of this beer. Personally, I love the flavor and the 7.5% ABV blends perfectly with the flavors and malts. You know it's there, but it's not punching you in the face screaming "I'm BOOZY!"

Mouthfeel: Fairly strong carbonation, and of course a bitter flavor that lingers in the mouth for quite some time after taking a sip. It has a body that could be put on the same level as a brown ale (detectable malts but nothing that will weigh you down).

Overall: I'd certainly recommend this beer to a friend. With all the stouts and porter flooding the market during the winter months, it's nice to find something a little lighter. This opens up the window for a good winter drinking session with some buddies. Certainly not on par with their Loose Cannon, but regardless Heavy Seas has impressed me yet again! Touche HS.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 02:47:28 | More by Cugabuh

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - pours a deep mix of ruby red and mahogany brown. Maybe two fingers worth of quickly dissolving tan foam leaves lots of spotty lacing behind.

S - nose is rather muted. I can tease out some grainy bread, sweet cherries and maybe a hint of spicy hop character but not much else.

T - dough and dark bread flavors up front with a molasses sweetness. Notes of ripe cherries with a just a tinge of citrus. Zesty peppery hops excite the back of the palate. Finish is dry with a lingering citrus flavor.

M - medium bodied nearing full with a creamy texture. Medium carbonation.

O - good beer. Having had this beer before I know it has shown better than this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 16:55:43 | More by Teleweizen2

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a decent fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades slowly, some lacing sticking to it, mostly clear ruby mahogany color.

Nose has some earthy slightly herbal hops, light fruitiness, sweet caramel reddish malts, little candy like malts, hint grassy hops.

Taste starts with sweetness, sweet malts, candy like slightly syrupy rich caramel reddish malts, little nutty even, although that quickly turns to bitterness, quite bitter with earth chewy hops, slightly herbal and very little grassy, hint of pine even, but mostly a chewy hop flavor with a light spiciness. Finish is a bit drier which helps since it was so sweet, long lingering earthy spicy chewy slightly herbal hop profile, hint of candied orange peel as well, and touch of candy malts.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied, decent carb.

Overall OK, but not great. Not my fav style, although this shies away from the over herbal vegetal grassy hops I really don't like in most ESBs. It's quite bitter and a nice malty balance though, although it does get a bit too sweet. But overall done pretty well.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 20:36:06 | More by jlindros

scootny

New York

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lovely clear rusty color with a light khaki head. Nose is bready with a healthy dose of what smells like Maris Otter malt. A melange of spices to compliment the malt body. Alcohol esters and English fruitiness. Taste is caramel malt sweet with a toasted light and roasted dark grain compliment. Holiday spices abound and flow into the alcohol edge. Big hops show here and give an earthy dry finish that has a good amount of grapefruit. Feel is velvety and lightly chewy. Creamy carbonation makes this on highly drinkable. A superb winter ale!

Serving type: growler

12-31-2012 02:03:04 | More by scootny

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This ESB pours with a copper brown color a small white head and minimal carbs leaving no lacing or perhaps a lighly spotty lacing.
Smells of toffee and bready grains.
Taste is faily malty with some bready grains maybe a hint of spice, I don't know. I pick up some light hops towards the end having a floral aspect but very light.
Drinks smooth with a clean finish.
A good worthy brew.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 17:58:01 | More by micromaniac129

barczar

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear brown amber with a solid half inch beige head that slowly dissipates, leaving lines of lacing.

Butter, toffee, and nutty toasted malt begin the aroma profile, with caramel sweetness and a hint of citrus finishing things off. Minerally, earthy hops emerge late.

Flavor is sweeter than expected. Dark fruits mingle with lightly roasted malt, finishing fairly charred, bitter, and dry. Caramel sweetness is dominated by bitter hops. Booze is fairly assertive. Notes of pine and citrus emerge as it warms.

Body is on the light side, with carbonation on the low side. There's significant alcohol warmth.

Overall, a pretty bitter brew. Sweet initially, then boozy and bitter. The hop character adds a little intrigue.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 21:13:22 | More by barczar

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear dark reddish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high beige head that hardly died down and left a coating of bubbles down the side of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of citrusy hops in the nose along with some hints of fruity yeast. Malts become apparent as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has some flavors of citrus hops like the smell but is maltier with flavors of nuts, toast and sulfur along with a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a bit dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a pretty good ESB on its own but the use of citrus hops makes it unique compared to other beers in the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 03:53:05 | More by metter98

mckenziac

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from a Heavy Seas variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark brown color with reddish hues. Has a large, fizzy head that dissipates slowly and leaves some spotty lacing.

Smell: Smells strongly of caramel malt with a slight grassy hop aroma.

Taste: Starts off fairly hoppy with some grassy, earthy flavors. Finishes malty with caramel and a strong dose of chocolate malt. Really some interesting combinations with the ESB style.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with a nice carbonation.

Overall: A nice winter interpretation of the ESB style. Definitely well-balanced between earthy hops and caramel/chocolate malts. Certainly something I'd have again and recommend to others.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 21:44:15 | More by mckenziac

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pouring aggressively I got a finger and a half of orangey head. This sat on top of a ruby-copper body and bubbled away over the course of a couple of minutes. Kept a good amount of froth up top and light lacing noted during consumption. Bubbles noted clinging to the side early on, eventually rises and join the atmosphere.

Smell is earthy and malty. Vaguely sweet, it doesn't make a big deal of itself.

Mild malt is the immediate taste, then split seconds later the hops come right in and say "hi." This is a good grapefruit flavor, and it is balanced out by the continued sweet presence of the malt, and some spice.

Beer is medium bodied. It doesn't coat the mouth or tongue. Has a dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 23:10:21 | More by CFHMagnet

Luigi

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a healthy off whit two finger head, that settles to a blanket of foam still the last drop. There is plenty of lacing sticking to the glass. Has a clear rich amber color with copper highlights.

The aroma is roasted malt, soft bread, and ripe fruit.

Big sweet and toasted malt hits the palate at first. In between, there are toasted bread, plum, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a light ripe citrus from the hop.

Full bodied and slick on the tongue. Has a semi-dry finish with a very tasty medicinal hop lingering of the palate.

Over all I have to say this ESB is delicious . Big malty and spicy flavor with no spice added. I love ESB's and this brew is at the top of my list.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 20:07:43 | More by Luigi

claspada

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a translucent, dark golden color with a moderate, off-white head that recedes to leave some very thin, lacing.

Aromas begin with well-toasted bready malts with a dash of dried citrus peels, earthy/floral hops and a touch of evergreen. There is a slight alcohol in the background as it warms.

The tastes negom wotj deeply toasted bread crusts and almost a generic table sugary/candy presence. Slight yeasty fruitiness as well with an emerging earthy, zesty, citrusy hop profile with a medium-high bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium-plus bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is fairly crisp and dry with some lsightly emerging alcohol and hop bitterness.

Overall I really enjoy a high quality ESB but unfortunately this just was not one of them. There is an overly assertive minerally, alcohol dryness that overwhelms the flavor profile. The hops are also too American for the style, comes across as a muddled IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2012 21:22:45 | More by claspada

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Brownish tan, slight white head and minor lacing. Looks like a brown ale for sure.

Smell - Hops, caramel malts. Toffee, spices, brown sugar and mollasses. A little bready, grainy.

Taste - A nice bitter malt kick at first. Caramel, mixed with some spices. Then a decent hoppy note at the finish. Some pine and apple flavors, Herbel spices add a peppery flavor. Some booze shows up adding a little heat.

Motuhfeel - SOme bitterness, malts and hops coat tounge. Spices also add more bitter and peppery notes. Hops hit palate with some fruits and bitterness. The aftertaste is bitter, malty and dry.

Overall - Decent, a different kind of winter beer compaired to everything else that comes out. Its Flavorful, and a nice mix of bitter hoppy and sweet malty. Alcohol is minor in each drink. The spices really are strong and stand out. Nice change of pace, worth a drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 01:36:24 | More by wvsabbath