Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale

(RETIRED)

	Score
82		90
	OVERALL	Style

Formerly brewed at Left Hand Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Longmont, Colorado USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

bottling
unknown

on tap
available

Local Distribution

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RATINGS: 358 WEIGHTED AVG: 3.32 SEASONAL: Winter EST. CALORIES: 258 ABV: 8.6%

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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 Recent Top Raters Highest Score My Friends Rated By

highest score

4.8

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20

Dircap8 (1) - Georgia, USA - FEB 25, 2010 does not count

Loved it, bring it back! One of my favorite winter seasonals ever... very rich, complex taste. Delicious

4.7

AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20

Kevin (1976) - Colorado, USA - 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.

4.6

AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20

mribm (440) - Hurley, New York, USA - 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.

4.4

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20

jstraw (1665) - Chicago, Illinois, USA - DEC 8, 2008

Bomber at Jerrys. Mahogany with good, creamy tan head / Nose of sweet, spiced malts / Medium to full body, sweet, malty, and moderately syrupy, with good, subtle hop balance and long finish / Flavors of spun sugar, malt, toast, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, orange zest, and ginger / A very successful spice beer, which does taste like a holiday spice cake.

4.3

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20

snargles (23) - wouldntyouliketoknow, Maine, USA - 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

4.3

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

dnstone (1989) - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - MAY 2, 2012

Holiday spiced, cinnamon and ginger. Deep brown in color with descent head. Tastes like a ginger bread house! Notes: GABF visit a few years back

4.3

AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20

Likerighteous (120) - Pflugerville, Texas, USA - 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.

4.2

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

Cybercat (2471) - Georgia, USA - DEC 29, 2008

Pours a dark, nearly opaque, almost sable mahogany with a fine-bubbled, light tan head. Rich, malty aroma has an overtone of cloves and cinnamon and a hint of molasses. Flavor is malty and spicy, undertone of cloves and cinnamon, touch of sweetness and hint of licorice and cinnamon candy. Texture is very smooth, almost syrupy, and leaves a slightly sweet, slightly hoppy, cinnamony aftertaste.

4.2

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20

philbertk (1873) - Seattle, Washington, USA - FEB 7, 2010

Left Hand Brewing Company--Snow Bound Winter Ale--Ale Brewed with Honey and Spices--2007 Release--22 oz. Bottle--8.60% ABV--16 IBU’s. (4.25 / 5.0) Winter Ale . $6.25 Each. Lacy white head. Clear bright copper red color hazes dark amber red with mild sediment. Zesty mild hop nutmeg orange clove ginger cinnamon front. Tangy spice cocktail toasted caramel toffee fruit hint sediment mellowed body. Hot spice mild hop end. Sampled 8/29/2008.

4.2

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 16/20

aaronphazel (16) - Missouri, USA - DEC 17, 2008

22oz. bomber. mmmmm spicy honey and cinnamon. perfect tasty drink for the holidays.

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