Great Lakes Brewing Winter Ale

Brown bottle, 750 ml, gift-pack purchased at the LCBO on December 21 2007, "savoured" on January 6 2008; eye: amber with a redish hue, clear, beige head disappears almost immediately, no lacing; nose: start of an infection?, no other odours are present; mouth: start of an infection?, only acridness, no other savours are present; overall: disappointing FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 750 ml, 6,2 ensemble cadeau acheté au LCBO le 21 décembre 2007, « savourée » le 6 janvier 2008; œil : ambrée avec une teinte rougeâtre, claire, mousse beige qui disparaît presque immédiatement, pas de dentelle; nez : début d’infection?, aucune autre odeur; bouche : début d’infection?, âcreté présente tout au long de la gorgée, aucune autre saveur perceptible; en résumé : déçu

Bottle: Poured a deep orangey color ale with a nice foamy head with OK retention but no lacing. Aroma of caramel malt with light spice mix is weaker then anticipated. Taste is a mix between some nice caramel malt with some notes of cloves and ginger. Body is thinner then expected with some medium carbonation. I was expecting a bit more character from this one but enjoyable nonetheless.

750 mL corked bottle. This is a mahogany-brown beer with a small head which quickly fades to a film. The aroma is surprisingly mild, considering the ingredients, with only caramel malt and the ginger coming through clearly. The flavour, on the other hand . . . . "Generous amounts" is not generous enough for the amounts of spices, particularly cinnamon, in this beer. It is doused with cinnamon to the point of bitterness. Although this beer is plenty sweet, more malt complexity would help to balance this out. Maybe. The body of this beer begins quite thin, but fills out a bit in the middle. Kudos for trying, but . . . try again.

Draught - Volo, why not just rename this ’Big pint of cinnamon ale’? Ruby red, small head and a smashing cinnamon and nutmeg aroma and flavour. A long dry finish but excusable because it is such an interesting brew.

750 ml bottle - pours a clear dark amber with a small off-white head. Aroma really sweet and malty, some honey and faint mandarin peel. Flavour very nice - again, very sweet, but more complex than the aroma, with the honey, ginger, cinnamon and some dark fruits really coming through. A dry, slightly astringent finish rounds things off. Thick mouthfeel, almost syrupy. Alcohol extremely well-hidden, although it warms as you work your way through the bottle. A lovely beer to sip with a friend on a cold winter evening. Attractive bottle as well. Another winning seasonal from Great Lakes.

750 ml corked bottle. Clear dark copper colour with a thick but mostly diminishing creamy and fizzy off-white head. Dry spice aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and citrus, along with some dark fruit cake notes. Dark fruit, persimmon, plum, cherry, and raisin flavour with a dry, pithy, earthy, and dusty bitter finish. Medium bodied, tries to be chewy but more on the watery side. Why go through the trouble of the cork and cage if you’re going to filter out the best of the beer?

Dark ruby with thin cola like head that keeps a lacing on the side of the glass. Aroma is sweet and malty with a fruit hint, and a mildly astringent wine aroma as well. Flavour lacks the wine in the aroma. Malt spice flavour. I can’t really pick out the spices too well, honey is present. There is a light citrus acidicness and the body is relaxing. I want another bottle! This is the best beer from this brewery that I have had so far.

Bottle from the brewery. Deep red/brown pour, with a thin film of a head. Aroma of mulled wine and grated ginger. Initial taste of subtle citric sharpness gives way to traditional mulling spices. A tingle of ginger on the tongue pleasantly finishes off the sip. Strong malt backbone, and very little bitterness. I would recommend starting this one chilled and drinking slowly, as different sides to the beer develop as it warms. Another solid brew from Great Lakes.