Hibernator - Long Trail Brewing Co.

zaphodchak

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finger of fluffy white head, hazy amber body. Some lace.

Some fruitcake on the nose and some yeast. Some 'chocolate orange'.

Taste is rich and malty in a very pleasant way. Lacing in specifics perhaps, but very pleasant and well balanced. Seems very sweet, wheaty at first, but there's some hops in the finish.

Thick, but not milkshake thick Foamy.

This is quite nice and at a decent price point. I guess I get the classification as a Scotch style.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 02:21:49 | More by zaphodchak

Bobancheff

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It pours a dark amber color with about a half inch of quickly vanishing head. You can defiantly smell the malts and caramel in it. The taste is not very strong. I can taste the malts and caramel in it as well. I thought it was a little light compared to the other winter beers I have tried but was still a good beer.

I really enjoyed this beer and will get more in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 00:42:15 | More by Bobancheff

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a deep brown color with a thin tan head on top. This beer has a malty sweet aroma with some earthy aromas too. The flavors of some light spice back up with some roasted malts and caramel. The mouthfeel of this beer is drinkable, it's not really thick and has a decent carbonation. Overall it's not a bad brew, it's got some warming spices in there that are nice but I'm had better Winter beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 23:25:31 | More by Knapp85

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This was part of a trade with a friend at work. I hadn't had much success with most of the Long Trail, but he guranteed that this would be an enjoyable pour.

The beer pours to a decent amount of foam that stays well for a few minutes and leaves nice lacing. The beer has a nice amber color which works well for the type.

Off the top of the beer I smell fruitiness, like grapes. The taste is laden with more sweetness and fruits. I pick up plums and raisins.

Overall, this is a very drinkable winter beer. It is not too heavy, and the flavors work for the season.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 23:10:12 | More by ummswimmin

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a rich semi-clear copper-red color with a finger of frothy off-white head. The head fades down to a thick ring around the glass leaving some nice lacing behind.

S - The aroma is a mix of rich sweet toasted malts and some background spices. There is also some bread aromas and just a touch of hops.

T - Starts off with some sweet lightly toasted caramel malts and a touch of background hops. Through the middle, a bit of bread and spices come through as well. The finish is a mix of sweet toasted malts and some spices that linger nicely.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. The beer feels smooth and even a bit crisp. The finish has a nice balance of sweet and spicy.

D - Very drinkable. The flavors are really nicely balanced, especially the spices. The slight hop presence is also very nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 19:26:29 | More by ngeunit1

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Found in a notebook from last semester. A brief review I intended to input.

A-Darkish amber with some ruby hue. The head forms and leaves some nice lacing.

S-Quite sweet. Malty and deep. A faint hop scent. Sugary.

T-A bit more bitter than anticipated. Sugary sweet, and a bit grainy. Caramel, a nice balance actually.

M-Smooth on the palate. Medium bodied with medium carbonation as well.

O/D-Hibernator is not too shabby. Its hard to go into a store looking for a winter seasonal and not come out with Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale. A six-pack of Hibernator won the battle once...only once.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 19:23:19 | More by VelvetExtract

Nordicsk8er

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've sampled a few bottles of Hibernator in a tulip glass, a pint glass, and straight from the bottle.

In a pint glass, it presents with a copper/caramel partly cloudy hue. About 2 fingers of white head that leaves some nice thin waves of lacing down the glass.

The smell is mostly grainy malt and caramel, with a hint of spice. A little butterscotch candy in there too. But nothing over the top.

Quite simply, I really enjoy the taste and the mouthfeel of this brew. I think it's one of Long Trail's best offerings. It has just a smidgen of caramel malt but some nice dry hops to complete it. And there's a little warming kick going down. Nice assertive carbonation, but with a mouthfeel that's just slightly creamy and sticky - enough to leave a nice linger without being overbearing. I find this a very versatile beer when paired with food. Burgers, Chinese food, Salmon, Snack foods, Wings, etc. It compliments everything I've tried it with.

It may not be a true Scottish Ale. But I think this is one they got right - no matter what you call it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 01:20:03 | More by Nordicsk8er

bgildea

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice light amberish color with a decent white head that leaves some nice lacing.

S: Has a nice sweet aroma that comes across at the beginning. The sweet smells fades into a slight smell of hops and barley.

T: The taste mirrors the smell. The flavor starts with a nice sweet flavor that then blends into a nice strong hoppy finish. The hops leave a nice pleasant bitter aftertaste.

M: Really nice amount of chew to the beer. I was expecting a lot less chew, so I was pleasantly surprised.

O: Overall the beer was very good. The beer balances sweet with hops very nicely, and leaves a nice aftertaste. I would highly recommend this beer to all drinkers. I think hopheads will be enjoy the amount of hops that come through in the end.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 01:36:23 | More by bgildea

dtivp

West Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pored a clear amber brown with a slight white head that dissipated quickly leavig a very slight lacing.

Aroma of malt, caramel and floral hops.

Taste had a little grainy malt, hint of butterscotch and a bitter hop finish.

Mouthfeel was medium body with moderate to light carbonation, creamy smooth and a slight bitter ending.

This is a nice session beer, however, I would expect a bit more malt and a little less hops for this style.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 17:51:25 | More by dtivp

droomyster

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy dark copper with one finger of off-white head with decent retention properties. Aromas are sweet (somewhat caramelly) and grainy, a bit simplistic for a beer of this style. Flavors are consistent with the nose, but add another layer on the finish by contributing a tea-like or earthy bitterness that balances the malts. Such a well-crafted, medium-full body should be more flavorful in my opinion. This beer has a pleasantly hefty weight and feel but lacks the flavor strength to withstand a hunk of basic cheddar. If the maltiness were more assertive, I'd give this two thumbs up.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 04:59:37 | More by droomyster

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.5/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Going against the grain on this one. From winter brew tasting notes (2010): Pours a partly hazy amber, off-white head. The flavor is sweet, brown sugar, malts, caramel, some earth. Malty, caramel aroma, brown sugar. The finish is an earthy, floral hop bittering. Thin/medium to medium in body. This beer didn't put together for me at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 19:34:57 | More by CuriousMonk

Kitt

Delaware

2.85/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A deep red-brown with a straw colored one-finger head. Prominent and persistent lacing.

Aroma rather weak. An earthy-malt scent. Not much here.

Taste rather bitter for a Scottish Ale. Malts not heavy or strong. Some caramel and a hint of citrus.

Mouthfeel is smooth and and fairly light. I disagree that this is a full-bodied ale. There is room for improvement.

Drinkability favorable. Definitely smooth. Carbonation prevalent, alcohol not quite as much.

Overall, I am disappointed with this beer. I had heard good things. It's not as rich or flavorful as I would have liked and I fell it has a rather weak body contrary to popular belief. By no means is this my favorite style of ale - but even so, I expected something that stands out. This beer seems rather bland to me.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 03:13:44 | More by Kitt

asabreed

New York

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a 12 oz. Samuel Smith nonic.

Appearance: A mildly hazy orange color, almost like an orange marmalade, without the thickness of course. Off-white head balancing at the top with minor retention.

Smell: A nice balance of mild fruit esters and good bitter hops, with some candied fruit aromas. But even as it warms, there's not a lot that's discernible except the commingling of the two.

Taste: The hops here come into play a lot more than the malt and fruit esters, which surprises me a bit for more of a winter brew. Lingering earthiness and hops with back-end mild fruit esters.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a good creaminess, and one of the best attributes of the brew.

Drinkability: A decent and somewhat sessionable brew for the winter. Both a little hoppier and heavier than I expected originally, which turns out to not be a bad thing at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 21:50:43 | More by asabreed

TheGarvenator

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - pours into an amber color with a lingering head

S - smells like toasted malt and herbs, also some butterscotch

T - caramel and other malts...has a fruity taste thats shadowed by the first taste of the malts

M - smooth with a little kick with a medium level of carbonation

D - very drinkable, the little kick with the fruity malty taste provides a good winter brew experience...

I thought it was pretty good...the original taste had me question it but it won me over...a good winter beer and i recommend it

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 04:28:51 | More by TheGarvenator

merlin48

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle pours a hazy, almost murky, golden brown body with a small beige head that quickly drops into a collar. Some patchy lacing is left on the glass.

Aroma is subdued. Toffee and pine hops are noted.

Light medium to medium body has a solid moderate carbonation.

Taste has pine and earthy hop bitterness up front that lords over the malt presence. Faint notes of toffee and caramel balance but don't shine like one would expect from a Scotch ale. Finishes with an earthy hop bitterness.

Hibernator is a good name for a doppelbock, which I thought this was when I picked up the bottle. When I tasted it I thought it was a hoppy amber. Now, I see that it's supposed to be a Scotch ale, and it might be a good one if the malt bill was beefed up.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 00:08:47 | More by merlin48

argock

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. Bottled on 102510 on bottle neck. Single purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $1.60.

A: Slightly brownish amber with 1-finger of off-white head with good retention and a nice line of lacing.

S: Nice toasted malt aroma with bits of butterscotch and herbal hops tossed in

T: A good malt ride with buttery biscuit mixed with plum and raisin flavors. Hops are earthy and herbal in nature. There is a bit of a grain edge as well.

M: Smooth and coating with pleasant plummy aftertaste. Carbonation is low-medium.

D: A nice winter ale from Long Trail. Brings a good malt punch in its moderate ABV package.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 02:51:23 | More by argock

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is hazy copper in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin off white head that quickly faded into lacy patterns of bubbles.
S: There are light aromas of caramel malts in the nose.
T: The taste has subdued flavors of biscuit and caramel malts along with some hints of sweetness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and a bit watery on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer went down very smoothly; I would have no problem having more than one of these at a time.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 15:49:56 | More by metter98

ksimons

New York

3.35/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A-pours a clear deep amber red with a nice amount of head that leaves some lace and stickiness on the glass

S-malts and a hint of earthy hops

T-a mix of malt and hops, a little watery, has a bit of a metallic taste to it

M-moderate carbonation, light body

D-I wish it was a little maltier and richer, but overall a decent sessionable winter beer to enjoy since its so easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 22:23:31 | More by ksimons

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

clear dark amber color, with white head, some lacing.

smells sweet and malty, maybe a little oxidation.

taste is malty, with just a touch of spice. sorta one note, nothing too special. moderate carbonation and medium body, but an odd chalky feeling of an aftertaste.

I'd say below average drinkability just because it seems a bit off.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 02:32:26 | More by jmdrpi

micmillon18

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Long Trail pint glass. Born on date reads 11-3-10.

A - Pours a small white head that dissipated quickly. No lacing around the glass. The beer itself is a reddish amber color, slightly clear. A small amount of sediment of sorts is floating around in the glass.

S - Cascade hops, caramel? faint to the nose.

T - Coppery, hoppy flavors. Malty. Bready towards the end. I"m tasting black licorice bouncing around in here somewhere which is a nice touch with the slight hoppy bitterness.

M - Carbonation is well balanced. Very smooth and drinkable.

D - Overall, a tasty brew though I wouldn't call it overly special. Maybe I'm comparing it too much to a Belhavens. Another solid beer from Long Trail.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 01:08:53 | More by micmillon18

magine

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonic glass.

Pours a hazy dark amber color with a patchy light tan head. Head settles to a rim of lace along the glass. Small patch island left behind. Average looks.

Brew smells of sweet malts; caramel. Little bit of nuttiness, slight hop as well. Decent nose.

Brew is sweet and malty, crisp and balanced. A little light in the mouthfeel. A little watery and light flavors though. Biscuity malts, caramel, maybe a bit of floral hops. Some oily resin from the hops. Drinks very easy and finishes a tad dry. Decent tasting brew, nothing special though.

This would be a good sessionable brew to get drunk off of, nothing to make you stand up and seek it out. But if the price were right it would be ok to session. Just not a stand out brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 23:07:41 | More by magine

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

pours a clear, dark copper tone yielding a big 2-finger beige colored head. nice retention and lacing... great presentation.

nose is somewhat tame, noteworthy in its caramel, bready maltiness, but not a whole lot else going on.

flavor follows the aroma closely, which is to say, meh... bready, with sweet, caramel malts, a bit of a metallic edge to it. OK - nothing more, nothing less; a decent if uninspiring quaff.

medium bodied, medium carbed mouthfeel. goes down easy enough, just seems to me there are far better offerings to be had.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 05:39:15 | More by perrymarcus

MLasoski

New Jersey

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

I am currently on my 4th one of these right now, all poured into the same ale glass.

A: Copper body with 1/4" head. No real visible carbonation, but slightly transparent.

S: It has a sweet and bready aroma. Malts over everything else.

T: Tastes like hoppy Werther's caramel candy.

M: Sweetness and caramel malts up front with the hop profile raising its hand in the back as I finish. Has a frothy feel to it (I guess chewy would be more like it?).

D: Considering I've had 4 of them tonight...with 2 more lingering in the midst... I think this is one of the winter seasonals that went under the radar. Pretty good!

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 00:24:09 | More by MLasoski

TCgoalie

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Beer shower gift from zozo1967, thanks!

Pours a hazy reddish brown with no head and not much lacing. There is evidence that the beer is alive from a bit of carbonation.

The smell is malt heavy with some pine and a dull sweetness.

From the previous Scottish ales I have had, I would describe this one as a session Scottish ale. Malt driven with mild sweetness and gentle bitterness.

Carbonation is the major aspect of this brew with not much memorable about the mouthfeel.

This is likely the most drinkable Scottish ale I have had, but it isn't very interesting. If you love Scottish ales but never have found one to crush, try this.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 04:06:02 | More by TCgoalie

bum732

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

S: Very herbal and earthy, more malty, less sweet. Root beer smells almost.

L: Slighty hazy amber-red, decent head that dissipates, ok lacing.

T: Caramel sweet with a herbal like backbone. Earthy, herbal medium low bitterness leads to a medium clean finish with some residual spices.

M: Smooth medium bodied. Medium-low carbonation.

Not bad, i wouldn't have guessed this as a scottish ale, but i thought it was pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 03:13:42 | More by bum732