Heavy Seas Winter Storm (2005-) (Imperial ESB)

Brewed by Heavy Seas Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

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12oz bottle. Pours a deep, clear copper with russet and orange highlights. It pours up a smallish, light tan head that fades quickly into a very thin ring - but it leaves lots of lace on the glass. The aroma is thick - a pleasant combination of chewy, caramel malts and resiny, earthy, fruity hops. The flavor starts bittersweet with delectable malts - lots of caramel, some biscuit, and a touch of chocolate. The hops provide a nice background of subtle, flowery bitterness - but the front of the palate says this beer is more malt forward. The are tasty, fruity, English esters in there that strengthen towards mid-palate (and as the beer warms). The middle of the tongue finds more fruit and esters in the overall malt flavor, and a firm bitterness makes itself present. The finish is full of biscuits and dark toast along with some notes of caramel and English hops. The mouthfeel is quite nice - medium-full in body with a moderate level of carbonation. Overall, this is a pretty darn good beer.

Pours a mahogany color. Smell is of hops, floral. Taste is well balanced hops and malts, a touch sweet, a bit of alcohol. Overall an enjoyable beer.

bottle - Pours dark amber with a tan head. It has a rich caramel malt aroma and flavor with moderate bitterness that balances the caramel malt well. It’s a good, straightforward, full bodied brew.

Originally reviewed: 11/24/08. Pours a deep ruby with barely any amount of head. Little spotty lacing. Smells of citrus and malt. Some slight alcohol scent wafting out. Taste of alcohol and some citrus notes. Deep bitter aftertaste. Some licorice and dark fruit flavors. Gets better as it warms. Not too bad. Moutfeel is nice and crisp due to a decent amount of carbonation. Not a bad ESB. But wouldn’t drink a ton of these due to the ABV.

Pours a nice red amber. Light aroma of amber malts and a little hops. Medium bodied with a bitter palate. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

A very good winter warmer beer, nice and malty with a very good finish of hop flavor. Nice and high in alchol which keeps you warm on a cold night.

Bottle. Different label than that in the picture. Purchase before: 03/12. Pours a ruby/amber color with a nicely sized beige head. An aroma of caramel maltiness, toffee, some cereal, a doughy yeastiness, and the slightest hint of citrus in the background. A relatively medium-bodied palate. Caramel, toffee, and a dusting of brown sugar upfront taste-wise. A lightly biscuity middle. Kinda bready. An ample amount of bittering grassy hoppiness at the end. Some nice spiciness all the way through. The alcohol is hidden very well. Easy to drink and quite pleasant.

On tap at Oceans & Ale in Williamsburg, VA. Copper in color with a decent off-white head. Aroma is of bread dough, caramel, citrus and spicy hops. Taste is of toast, toffee, and citrus with a wonderful hop finish.

I liked this definitely a good example of a winter warmer. Slight hops but not really much mostly malty. Carmel notes and a good bit of sugar dominate the body that linger through the finish. Good winter beer.

Bottle. Aroma has malt in the forefront and dominates the flavor with big bitterness at the end. This was a bit much for me and not my favorite style.

Bottle. A clear brown beer with good head retention and lacing. Aroma is full and fresh sweet malty ripe dark fruit with a bit of butter. Some pine and funky NW hops are in there as well. Flavor is sweet malty at first but dries quickly to a long bitter finish. Slick and sticky palate. Pretty well constructed. Nothing I love about any individual element but it works together.