Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Jolly Pumpkin / Stone / Nøgne Ø - Special Holiday Ale

"Winter" ale, 8.5% ABV

If DFH's Punkin ale is a fantastic fall ale, then this is its winter equivalent.


Appearance: Rich, dark chestnut. Cloudy, and pours out a nice 2-finger head. Retention of the head isn't stellar, and not a lot of lacing is left, but overall it's enticing.

Smell: It smells piney, and wonderfully spiced. Clove, coriander, and wood resin are predominant.

Taste: There is a nice caramel malt backbone that supports the spiced elements to the beer. It tastes a lot like how it smells. The best way to describe it is like a richer, smoother spiced cider -- and not cider like beer-adjacent cider. Cider like hot apple cider in the winter.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, rich, and creamy. The carbonation is present, but doesn't detract from the smoothness or the flavor. Really enjoyable.

Overall: It would be lovely with an apple or pumpkin pie in front of the fireplace. It's called a "Winter Warmer" over on Beer Advocate, and though "Warmer" isn't really descriptive as a style of beer, it's certainly descriptive of the quality and experience of the beer.

4/5

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