Cottonwood High Gravity Frostbite

Bottle. This is the new high gravity Frostbite, at 8.5%, thanks to NC’s revised abv laws. Reddish amber with a tan head. Nose of deep earthy hops with lots of pine, dark caramel, crystal malt, and faint alcohol. Flavor is very rich grainy malt with balanced bitterness throughout, finishing hop-tacky and bittersweet. Alcohol is well hidden and lends a glowing warmth throughout. This was fantastic, though the Brown Ale moniker confuses me. There might be a "winter tradition of a hearty brown ale", but what they’ve brewed here is a tasty IIPA.

At Jan ’06 KC biermeisters meeting. Dark red color. Honey, brown sugar, cascades (oops, wrong C hop), citrus aroma. Fragrant! Honey, sweet malt, citrus, pine, mild earthy flavor, moderate bitterness. Similar to Celebration. Full mouthfeel. Good stuff!

From notes 2/11/06: Same label as the old Frostbite, but with a "High Gravity 8.5%" notation on the neck. Pours a moderately hazy auburn copper color with a filmy almond head. Lacing in a thin spiderweb design. Swirling reanimates the head to a thin cap that then quickly reduces again. Aromas initially have a surprising markedly noticeable caramel malt character. Raw green hop tone is then easily noted in the air. A bit rough, edgy. Quiet fruit tones of peach and apricot as it warms. Chewy caramel flavors begin the tasting. Hoppiness (in the way of being citrus or piney or resinous) has plenty of oomph, but not overly so. Tongue-scraping bitterness, and at times a touch overwhelming. Woody feel. Tongue-shriveling. Rough and tumble. More than one would ruin your palate, but unfortunately not in a glorioius way a la Stone’s Ruination. Bitter and harsh just to be bitter and harsh. At 8.5% this one packs an alcohol wallop, but the entire package doesn’t seem to land this beer in the DIPA category. This one has a simple IPA character written all over it with the added bonus of belly- and cheek-warming.

Clear borwniah copper, beige head. Serious grapefruit / pine aroma. Really nice earthy, pine flavor with looooong sticky, resiny aftertaste. Like Endo on steriods.

Bought a bottle of this last week and didn’t realize it was separated from the pre-6% stuff, I just wanted to try the new beer. At any rate.... Bottle. Pours a deep copper with a tall foamy tan head. Nose is spicy hops, creamy malts and caramel. Light tangerine and a bit of alcohol as well. Taste is a hop bomb but is so much better than I remember the old version being. This is more balanced. Chewy malts, nice caramel notes, spicy hops, light pine, and tangerine. Bit of grapefruit as well. Very nice! Body is medium-full with some carbonation fullness. Finishes much the same way it began - big, spicy hoppiness, caramel, citrus fruit, bit of pecan pie and malt. Nice upgrade from the previous version!