Clipper City Heavy Seas Winter Storm (2005+ -- Imperial ESB)

#966, Bottle, sampled at the Champaign Urbana Beer Club meeting in December of 2006. Light copper nose malty with a good hop kick. Taste is just about the same with malts towards the back but a good sence of hops. Very good.

Aromsa of English hops and crystal malt. Light in color, but with a nice glow to it. Good hop presence, long hoppy finish, but light on the palate. The caramels set this warmer apart, making it a bit sticky on the finish. Solid enough.

Brown/copper, decent lacing. Nose is rich malt, dark fruits, a good amount of hop. Flavor is malt, very little sweetness. More bitter than expected. A bit like what I imagine Southern TIer’s Old Man Winter would be like if they mashed wayyyyyyy too low.

Pours deep amber/copper, with a tan head. Aroma is hops, caramel, and malt. Flavors are caramel, hope, malt, alcohol, and fruit. Better than expected.

Pours clear dark copper with a dark beige head that leads too good lacing. The aroma has heavy toasted caramel malt and spicy / piney hops that are very clean and smooth. Medium / full body. Flavor starts with deep toasted caramel malt that is rich and chewy, but not too sweet. There is some woodiness nestled in as well. The finish has more woody hops ans some spice. There is a bit of alcohol warmth on the finish. A good winter warmer beer.

My first offering from Clipper City, I’ve been eyeing them for awhile now and never took the plunge until now. This winter offering pours a dark brown leaving a thick tan frothy head. the aroma is hoppy, caramel, sweet dark fruit. The taste is very hoppy, but balanced by a nice malt backbone that is highlight by a toffee sweetness that is followed by a definitive alcohal presence. I think this needs a bit more balance overall and the alcohal presence is far to great for only a 7.5% beer which can be overwhelming.

12oz bottle...2006...so the visual is over-concentrated iced tea...smells of strange spices(maybe too many)..delicate lacing...very mild creaminess with just to much imbalance, I notice this with all the cliper city brews that ive tried so far

Bottled... 2006 Release.. Pours a deep red with alot of lacing and a fluffy head.. Nose is lots of hops and hints of malt.. Flavor is dominated by bitter hops that lingers around.. very nice but not a fav..