RateBeer
   Home Sign Up or Login Advanced Search
   People Ratings Events Places Forums Shop Magazine
      Top By Category  RateBeer Best  Latest Ratings  Top 50    

Home > Brewers > Colorado > Left Hand Brewing Co. >

Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale

Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale

* picture credits
copyright may apply

 Percentile 
72
overall
A Spice/Herb/Vegetable brewed by
Left Hand Brewing Co.

Longmont, Colorado USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
Send Corrections

 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
2603.33/5.03.32/5.0Winter8.6%79.8 Lager glass, Tumbler P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Fight cabin fever! Made with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, hops, yeast, honey, orange zest, and other spices.

Editor's Note: beginning in 2006, Snow Bound became the name for Left Hand's strong winter seasonal beer made with honey and spices. It was previously known as XXXmas Ale. Below is the original XXXmas Ale description for reference.

XXXmas Ale is a spiced strong ale, using all natural ingredients to give it its festive nature. We brew this beer from a relatively high initial gravity to give it strength and body. This is (in our opinion) appropriate to a winter beer, and it helps to balance the numerous spices added. Honey is also added to increase fermentable sugars and give additional sweetness. Northern Brewer and Saaz hops are used sparingly, to allow the spices to evidence themselves. We add ground nutmeg, whole cloves, crushed cinnamon, orange zest and chopped ginger to spice the beer. Carbonation is kept low to accentuate the flavor of the beer and spices. It's like a liquid cake. Brew water is relatively soft.


Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 Kevin (1765), Colorado, USA
4.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/58/105/519/20
Nov 27, 2006  
bottle. dark grape juice like body with a yellow white head. a great aroma of ginger snaps, corriander or something similar, and oranges. really a great one to dip my nose in. highly spiced flavor with ginger, allspice, pine, caramel. the flavor of christmas cookies and a rich doughy note work amazingly well. spices linger and make me go back for more. orange flavor lies underneath with a thick body and a wonderful sweetness. one of those beers that makes me shake my head in amazement. i really can’t believe how damn good this is. the best "christmas" beer i’ve ever had.


 mribm (416), Hurley, New York, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/510/104/518/20
Dec 19, 2007  
This was a GREAT winter ale that is perfect for the holiday season. This beer is loaded with sweetness, cinnamon, nutmeg and a flavor that makes you want more, more, more! The alcohol is very well hidden, so be careful, because this great beer could come back to bite you the next morning! I loved this beer and will make it one of my yearly searches. Very well done.


 Likerighteous (120), Pflugerville, Texas, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/104/516/20
Dec 10, 2006  
All the stuff I want in a winter warmer beer as I sit beside the fire with friends. Yum yum cookies, hints of nutmeg, ginger and molasses. Oooh, and pop-tarts too. Probably my favorite of this style.


snargles (23), wouldntyouliketoknow, Maine, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Nov 5, 2007  
Tried a version under the name xxxmas ale...amazing.a spicy gingery treat that if i’m not mistaken had a somewhat piney taste as well.truly original,Christmas in a bottle


 Gusler (2656), Tucson, Arizona, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/518/20
Oct 27, 2007  
The beer upon its pour form the 22-ounce bottle resides in the glass a somewhat hazy brown with nice highlights of ruby red, the light tan creamy head makes a nice two finger cap to the body, as it slowly fades, the resultant lace provides a tight seal upon the glass. Nose is sweet malt, many spices, fruity, crisp and pleasing, caramel also present, and a treat for the olfactory and ocular senses. Front has a spicy sweetness, touch of bittersweet chocolate, personable malt presence, top is medium in feel. Determined acidity at the finish, hops pleasantly spicy, spices continue their sweetness to the dry end, a bit of a tummy warmer, this winter warmer.




WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ MORE RATINGS?
Then join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.

Desired User Name
*
Valid Email (Needed to verify your account)
*
Relax. RateBeer is 100%, guaranteed spam-free. That's our promise to you.

I agree to the terms of the RateBeer User Agreement

RATE THIS BEER

Aroma

rating assistance

Appearance

rating assistance

Flavor

rating assistance

Palate

rating assistance

Overall impression

rating assistance

TOTAL SCORE

Comments

More Spice/Herb/Vegetables

Selins Grove Pumpkin Ale (4.12)

Midnight Sun Oak Aged Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter (3.89)

Midnight Sun Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter (3.82)

Bells Eccentric Ale (3.79)

Schooners Vanilla Bean Oatmeal Stout (VBOS) (3.77)

Founders Deca (3.75)

Alt Platz Alt Kürbis Pumpkin Ale (3.73)

Craftsman Triple White Sage (3.71)

Fantôme Strange Ghost (3.71)

Valley Brew Home Honey Im High Holiday Bock (3.7)

More Colorado Brewers

Palisade Brewery
  Palisade
Twisted Pine Brewing
  Boulder
The Eldo
  Crested Butte
Grand Lake Brewing Co
  Grand Lake
Boulder Beer Company
  Boulder
Tommyknocker Brewery
  Idaho Springs
Palmer Lake Brewing Co.
  Colorado Springs
Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company
  Glenwood Springs
Confre Cellars / Rocky Mountain Meadery
  Palisade
Rock Bottom Loveland
  Loveland
Jarre Creek Ranch Brewing
  Castle Rock
Rock Bottom Corporate Office
  Louisville
Bull & Bush Pub & Brewery
  Denver
Dry Dock Brewing Co.
  Aurora

About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Add A Brewer | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Log out | Feedback? | Copyright 2000-2008, RateBeer LLC