Red Nose Winter Ale - Natty Greene's Pub & Brewing Co.

brentk56

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark brown color, like a molasses infused gingerbread, with a fluffy little head that didn't leave too much lacing

Smell: Somewhat understated, but full of holiday spices such as ginger, cinnamon and perhaps some dark fruit

Taste: Nice malty body against which the cinnamon and ginger spices provide the spice balance; they call it "gingerbread in a glass" but I think it also has some elements of fruitcake as well

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with a moderate degree of carbonation

Drinkability: One of the better winter warmers I have tasted, this beer is another winner for Natty Greene's

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2005 21:49:59 | More by brentk56

oberon

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice to see another newbie from Natty's.pours a deep amber with a nice creamy-like head that stuck around for quite awhile,big ginger aromas with some noticable cinnamon and nutmeg in there as well, love the smell of the holidays.Like the board says like gingerbread in a glass,heavy doses of ginger with a large dose of cinnamon thrown in I pick up hint of nutmeg and spiced cherry as well,alot of things going on here.Not a "christmas pudding"
heavy holiday ale here a quaffible spiced brew with nice flavors a winner in my book.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2004 03:08:02 | More by oberon

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served from bottle into a Stone nonic. Poured red brown with a one finger light tan head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, and subtle alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, toffee, subtle alcohol, and dark fruit upon warming. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. I was kind of let down by this one upon smelling it due to the lack of components and complexity present. However the flavor turned out to be a lot more complex. With that said, the flavors didn't really mix well together. While all were good in their own right, some just didn't belong together. Worth trying but that is about it.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 13:07:00 | More by thagr81us

blackie

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: piraat snifter, deep nutty brown in color, pours with a tight khaki head that spreads out to a thin ring

s: brown toasty malts, brown sugars, subtle spices, dark fruits, a dusting of roasted malts

m: carbed on the low end of moderate, medium body with a slick malty end

t: plummy malt body, brown sugar, light nutmeg and cinnamon, not heavy but starting with a good malty sweetness, ending with a light-moderate hop tinge in the finish, a dusting of woody cocoa, dark fruits, a tasty malt-forward warmer if a little shallow

d: drinks well, satisfyingly malty

single from Sam's, Durham

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 03:52:25 | More by blackie

tdm168

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - dark caramel amber with a soft, off white head that has good retention

S - faint cinnamon and caramel

T - caramel, cinnamon, ginger, dark malts

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is to me is just another run of the mill winter warmer. It's dominated by caramel malt and ginger with a very faint spice character. This will be a pass for me in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 23:07:08 | More by tdm168

Durge

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the Greensboro brewpub this has a blackish mahogany color with a fair light tan head and decent lacing. The aroma brings a mild but nice nutty malt with just a touch of spruce. Good but not very heavy. The flavor introduces a smooth chocolate malt smartly blended with the sprucey hop. There's a little bit of a lemon edge that creeps into a sort of tart grass which eventually reveals ginger. Once you get that, it becomes more dominant and levels off to a roasted malt and nutmeg ginger medley with a bit of charcoal at times. Very nice and relatively subtle as holiday brews go. Body is medium at best with moderate carbonation and pretty easy, slightly aqueous feel. I liked it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 06:35:21 | More by Durge

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a hazy mahogany in color with some ruby red highlights and light amounts of gentle visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dark beige head that slowly reduces to a large patch of very thin film with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of dark fruit malt sweetness with some moderate amounts of spice aromas - cinnamon, ginger, and light amounts of nutmeg.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of dark fruit malt sweetness with just a touch of roasted malts. There is a solid spice component to the flavor of this beer with cinnamon and ginger featuring and a lighter amount of nutmeg - there is also a very light note of brown sugar and cocoa.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light notes of alcohol heat in the finish.

O: This is an enjoyable beer and a nice example of a winter warmer - though there is a little too much spicing for this to be sessionable or a regularly drinker for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 23:34:40 | More by dbrauneis

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Growler filled less than 3 hours ago, fresh from the source. So no surprise to get a huge frothy head, heavily cratered and looking like enlarged crispy rice. Two-fingers thick, and stays a long while before flattening out. Tons of lace in various shapes. Color is a deep caramel/mahogany.

Aroma isn't too far away from a pumpkin ale, have similar spicing and a creamy sweetness.

The spices and various flavors brighten further in the flavor. Hibiscus, rose water, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla. Overall flower and dessert-y; tons of balance, never cloying. Just a hint of hop bitterness in the finish, but your basic beer ingredients generally act as backing band to the flowery/spicy star in the spotlight.

Almost a cask-like velvet smoothness, super-creamy, firm...just magnificent. I'll call the mouthfeel perfect, or certainly perfect enough. I'm doubting the feel of the bottled counterpart is nearly this wonderful.

Focus on spices makes this only an occasional choice for me, but to its credit the spicing is controlled, earthy/natural, and never overbearing. Nice job, N.G's!

Serving type: growler

11-21-2009 19:58:51 | More by Metalmonk

srandycarter

California

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark amber, big near white head, lots of foamy white cling lace.

S - Fruity, spicy, malty. Some menthol and anise present.

T - Very similar to taste, without much difference.

M - Medium body, balances to the spice aspect, very carbonated.

D - Nice winter warmer. I am glad to try it.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 08:02:21 | More by srandycarter

aerozeppl

New York

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to scifan for this as an extra in a recent trade.

A: Very dark brown almost molasses color. Very little light gets through at all. A thin layer of slightly off white head forms. No lacing but not really necessary for the style.

S: Quite a nice nose. A touch of chocolate. I get a little bit of a spicy fruitcake which is an awesome smell in a beer yet a horrible smell in a cake. Little bit of gingerbread in there as well.

T: Not quite up to the nose. Big malty beer. A little bit of spice gets through as well. Not that heavily spiced which is something I prefer in the style.

M: Fairly chewy. Nice and thick for the style. Carbonation is low but it would have been weird if it was turned up more.

D: All in all a solid seasonal. Not something I would reach for everyday but a nice beer. Thanks again to scifan for the extra.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2010 22:22:15 | More by aerozeppl

chinchill

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

undated 12 oz bottle served in a snifter.

Appearance: Dark red-brown color with a small head that died soon and didn't leave much lacing

Smell: Dominated by caramel and darker malts. but with some orange peel, coriander and cinnamon.

Taste: Solid malty body over which is a carefully proportioned interplay of coriander, cinnamon, ginger and other spices. Manages to get some complexity from what I assume is a mix of several malts. Good balance, with bittering hops kicking in the the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body; moderate carbonation

O: A fine winter warmer, with ample but not overdone spicing to fit winter holidays. Nearly 7% ABV is not hidden but fits in with the character of this ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:51:37 | More by chinchill

wedge

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an appropriately festive deep reddish brown with a small head. Spiced fruit aroma...ginger, nutmeg...thin overall making them hard to discern. Phenolics, nuts, and a faint whiff of chocolate. The flavor is fuller...malty with some creamy frosting, cherries, and holiday spices. Some gingerbread. Smooth, but fairly well carbonated. Medium-light in the mouth. Not too bad all around, but I'm ready to move on after a bottle or two.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 19:51:25 | More by wedge

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep cola-like color with very little head that disappears very quickly. No retention or lacing. Seriously, is this a Pepsi?! I'm smelling a slight smoky characteristic and some chocolate, but that's about it.

This has pretty good flavor. Chocolate, licorice, some toffee. This is like a watered-down porter...or bock. What is this? Crisp mouthfeel, good carbonation. Fair drinkability for what it is...if only I can figure that out.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2008 18:29:57 | More by Onenote81

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up another local sixer from these guys over the weekend. It isn't really "red nose" season yet but it's coming. This Natty offering is colored several shades of brown with the lightest hue at the bottom. No head to speak of and a healthy blast of nutmeg and cinnamon on the nose.

Extra large dose of chocolate malts form the backbone with spice and hops providing the scaffolding. Fairly neat, without much aftertaste. Stiff touch of alcohol along with dark malt and hops in the finish. A little over-carbonated, this is a tasty example of the style; let it warm up a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 01:22:00 | More by daliandragon

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.33/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Unlike other reviewers, I was unable to detect all of the Holiday spices and aromas. Maybe this years recipe is a bit different. I got some cinnamon but that was it. The appearace was very nice. A full, one finger head of an off-white color. Head was a bit thin with that fish eye thing going on. No lacing. Flavor was cloves and cinnamon. A nice twang was present; not sure if that was intended but I like it. Medium bodied brew with nice drinkability. In all honesty, I dont think of this as a winter warmer. Tastes like an English version of the style; in other words, I may pass on a second attempt.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2006 19:53:45 | More by SaCkErZ9

beer2day

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark pour, more red than brown, with a dense light tan 2-finger head. Decent retention and lace.

Nose is dried fruit, cherries and plums mainly. Picking up winter spices as the glass warms.

Medium bodied with an oily finish. Dried fruit is there, but so is a very sticky sweet character - sugary cherries comes to mind, as in a house made cherry coke.

Decent warmer, but the abv is a little low in matching the flavors and style. No real alcohol feel at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 01:50:39 | More by beer2day

farrago

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Close to two fingers of deep tan foam, dense with good retention and some dimpling, mainly smaller bubbles, while not a lot of stickiness to the lacing it does take a good while to slide down the glass side in a solid sheet. Very deep reddish brown clay in color, some yellowing around the rims, mostly opaque, a few beads of tiny, widely spread bubbles visible. Nose highly spiced, full of cinnamon, clove, anise, juniper as well as mocha, milk chocolate, toffee, strong mixed citrus presence, some cherry, plum, apricot fruit, overall dry in texture, almost dusty. Full-bodied, again spicy with that juniper, coriander and licorice it almost seems like gin at first, then you got a healthy dose of chocolate, cola, clove, nutmeg, caramel and toffee which both sweetens and normalizes it. Lots of carbonation with a fine prickle rather than creaminess. Strong orange citrus infusion. Moderate peach, red cherry, pear, apple fruit. Comes close to trying to do too much but manages to get it all cohering in the end. Fun and can appeal to a variety of personal tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 02:31:33 | More by farrago

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown with a nice beige head with good retention. Smells of Cinnamon, ginger and other holiday spices. Taste of chocolate covered cherries, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg. All while maintaining that it's a solid beer and not going too overboard with the spices. Silky smooth mouthfeel. Excellent Winter Warmer. I prefer it over Cold Mountain this year.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 06:39:06 | More by wcudwight

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a murky particle laden copper with sticky lacing on the edges.

S: Aroma of dark fruit, some light spices and caramel

T: Flavors of a nice light cherry soda , light caramel malt and hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa are very faint. I really liked this a lot the first time I had it and saved one to review at a later date about three months back and I think it has held up pretty well, just a little less fresh at this point. Rating at the higher end to adjust for the time I have had it and comparable to what I had thought the first time I had it.

M: Medium body with a mid to high level of carbonation that is good for the style.

O: Overall, at the abv, this is very drinkable and I thought sessionable although some would argue on that point. For me, I could have two or three of these and call it a night with no complaints.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:28:30 | More by alpinebryant

KajII

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Shaker Glass]

The pour was a murky medium brown with a large (2-3 finger) light brown fizzy head that rapidly receded, down to a very thin fizzy film and small collar with poor lacing.

The aroma was of a toasted biscuit malt, light citrus hops and a musty yeast with notes of caramel, a light chocolate presence, coriander, ginger, citrus (orange peel) and a hint of cinnamon.

The taste was malty sweet and a tad acidic with a hint of caramel and a very light touch of chocolate at first, and then became a bit yeasty and slightly bitter sweet with a nice spicy citrus peel ending. The flavor lasted an average time proceeding the swallow, with a lightly spicy citrus taste left behind.

Mouthfeel was just above light in body with a watery, dry texture and a fizzy carbonation.

Overall this was a brew with a lot of flavor and a bold carbonation. What I really liked was the well rounded spicy ending which allowed the cinnamon to shine right at the finish, making this a smooth and tasty Winter Warmer with a really good drinkability...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 15:47:56 | More by KajII

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

tap at the pub.

Pours a reddish brown color with a white lacing.

Nose is a bit of orange peel and some pumpkin pie spice.

Taste is a myriad of spices, cinnamon, ginger, other pumpkin pie flavors, over caramel malts.

Medium to fuller body with a soft carbonation.

My favorite winter warmer to date. For a style I normally don't care for, this is a definite return trip for me. The spices really work well.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2012 00:12:54 | More by Cylinsier

PatrickJR

North Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into nonic pint glass.

A - Clear dark red/brown. A finger of off white head forms with moderate retention and minimal lace.

S - Tons of spice, reminds me highly of a pumpkin ale. Ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon are most obvious. Other similar spice aromas are hiding with a thin caramel malt presence.

T - Taste begins semi-sweet with an inkling of caramel malt overwhelmed by spices. A very minty/cardamom/cinnamon flavor is on the palate immediately. Mid palate the beer dries out leaving traces of ginger and mint. An earthy and herbal bitterness rounds out the finish with a touch of citrus mixed with the typical mulling spices profile. Taste loses half a point because of the over abundance of spice and lack of beer character.

M - On the light side of medium with a fairly high carbonation. Thin-ish body and prickly carbonation render most of the spices a little bitter and leave little room for malt to shine through. This needs to be a thicker, softer brew.

D - Although quite thin for the style and dominated by spice, this is a pretty quaffable beer. While the spice leaves little room for the malts, it's still well restrained and never becomes overbearing.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 10:46:22 | More by PatrickJR

silver0rlead

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark amber color with a frothy tan head that leaves nice lacing. The aroma is malty and slightly spicy with notes of caramel and molasses, toasted bread, orange zest, cherry marmalade, corriander, earthy hops, some chocolate and a touch of alcohol. The flavor is similar with notes of chocolate and caramel, molasses and toasted bread, along with some corriander and clove, orange and cherry marmalade and some alcohol. The mouthfeel is medium and drinkability is very good. A tasty and drinkable, if not particularly memorable winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 03:51:29 | More by silver0rlead

bboven

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Dark mahogany body with tons of ruby highlights. Clear, with a thin head and spots of lacing.

Smells bready, cherry and hot alcohol notes also play major roles.

Big cherry flavor upfront retreating into some medicinal flavors. Definite hot alcohol. Some burnt coffee at the very end.

Moderately carbonated, really drying.

Much improved over last year. This is the first year they've had it in bottles, and I believed they toned the recipe down a bit. Hopefully they'll continue to tweak it and make this an outstanding beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2008 23:23:22 | More by bboven

Higravity

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This reminded my a lot of Harpoon's WInter Warmer. A spiced delight more than an alcohol driven warmer. Would this warm well? After half a growler I might have been warmer if I just put on some socks. It had a nice dark brown color and a large bubble head that fell back but gave up lace in the glass. The smell was grand, full of spice from the winter oven, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. Maybe a little molasses in there and this beer could start being more Gingerbread-like. The taste is close to the smell but the beer underneath lacked any real personality. The malt was nearly all attenuated and it was pretty dry in the finish. Again I think some molasses would push this into gingerbread beer and give some more body to this thin beer. Easy drinker and I would have a few glass at the pub.

Serving type: growler

01-24-2006 13:18:20 | More by Higravity