JosephsBrau Winterfest

Nice pour, a creamy tan, heavy lacing head topping a deep chestnut body. The aroma is a lightly roasted caramel malt with molasses. Unfortunately, this fades somewhat is the slightly thin body, the flavor being mainly the sweet caramel touched by hints of juicy fruits. Not a bad drink.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.traderjoes.com/locations/map/686.asp>Trader Joe’s, Orland Park, IL<font size=-1>

Clear, dark ruby--almost maroon--body with a fluffy, tan head. Sweet, caramelly aroma with cocoa, grains, some molasses and a hint of honey and raisins. The body is relatively full, but not thick or oppresively full. The flavor starts sweet, continues it’s sweet character at the top and finishes sweet, with a light alcoholic twinge. All told, it’s pretty sweet, with caramel, overripe fruit and a light cocoa element. Not overly interesting or complex, but tasty and enjoyable, especially at $5.99 a six-pack.

Chestnut colored with a large, light tan head that is partially diminishing. Heavy caramel/toffee aroma, similar to peanut brittle with just a slight roast. Roastiness really pops in the flavor, along with roasted nuts, brown sugar, and molasses. Lively carbonation. Finish is slightly metallic, sadly.

Bottled. Pours a dark amber color. Clear with very little head. Prunes and malt in the nose. Very roasted flavor of dark fruits with some sugar and a little alcohol. Tons of smoke.

12 oz. bottle - pours a very dark, deep redish brown color, with a modest head. The head disapates rather quickly to less than a 1/4" but never completely goes away. Lacing is fair at best. Aroma is full of semi-weet malts, yeast and banana and hops. Flavor is mostly malt and hops, with hints of coffee, caramel and alcohol. Actually, the alcohol comes forward often. Mouthfeel is kind of light and silky, very dinkable. Aftertaste is light, as well, kind of bitter.

beer #4 at hey kevin’s Iowa City gathering. poured a light brown/amber with a tan head. caramel and alcohol aroma. flavors of brown sugar, caramel malt and alcohol. not much in the way of any hops noted.

Sampled at hey kevin’s Iowa City gathering. This one poured a light brown color and had some malty/caramel sweetness in the nose. Flavor was malty up front, but the finish was pretty weak. The hops in the finish were almost undectectable.

Uncomplex but rich dopplebock taste that is well worth the low price. Has some of the characteristics of barleywine but not as strong of alcohol. I do recommend it if you like the rich winterbrews and if you are not looking for a strong hops flavor on this particular drinking experience.