3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle from South Bay Drugs: After cracking the cap off the bottle, there was an immediate gush of gaseous vapor and a steady flow of foam that made me react fast to pour into my glass and save the beer. Appearance is a dark blackish brown that is almost completely opaque while the foam creates a thick cushion of a pillow like head. The aroma is subtle with the closest resemblance to chocolate coated raisins and also too fig such as that in a fig Newton. Texture comes across as soapy because of the amount of foamy bubbles and this is even after I let the head simmer down to a layer of film covering, but I should also mention the texture is a bit milky since it a thick beer. Flavors are simple and don’t over power the taste buds and consist of lightly roasted malts, cocoa powder, cocoa butter and minor tasting of bitter hops that hide in the faint background, but become more apparent in the finish.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
(500 ml bottle from Downeast Beverage (labelled as "Winter Ale"), cellared for 10 mos. after purchase) Pours very dark brown with some lighter brown highlights. One finger of fairly sturdy tan head that recedes to about 1/8” and stays. Sweetish aroma of coffee, chocolate and raisin. Mouthfeel rather soft and light but still meaty enough – not watery. Fairly smooth. Nice light weepy rings of lacing. Flavor is dark and bitter chocolate upfront along with coffee. Sweeter flavors of dark caramel, chocolate and raisin emerge more as it warms. A nice really tasty beer with a decent bit of interesting complexity. ABV well-hidden.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle picked up at BevMo in San Fran for 2 bucks cheaper than I’ve ever seen a Nogne O here in Oregon. Pours dark brown with a small tan head. Smells heavily of caramel, toffee and some nuttiness. Very nice flavor of chocolate, caramel and some nice citrus hop backing. Very solid beer, would love to get some more of their stuff if it wasn’t so overpriced.
4.5 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
The aroma is of very complex caramel, with elements of both old ale and barley wine showing through. The appearance is very dark amber. The flavor is much like the aroma in being caramel-based with the maltiness being substantial but not overly sweet. An excellent ale all around.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle. "Winter Ale" Pours a beautiful black with brown highlights. Great nose: caramel, roasted coffee, roasted malt, caramel and nuts. Nice malty sweetness balanced by some hops. Finishes quite robust and dry. I really enjoy this brewery.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle from Chester Beer & Wine. Deep dark brown pour with a lingering tan head. Some nice roasted malt and dark chocolate notes evident in the nose alongside lesser notes of spice, vanilla and berry. Creamy, smooth and fullish mouthfeel .Rich, complex and sweetish flavour that displayed similar traits to the nose and well hidden alcohol. Some hop bitterness came into play towards the finish. A very tasty winter brew.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Deep brown/black with nice tan head. Roasty, chocolatey and smokey bacon-like tones in the aroma and flavor.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Dark and very foamy pour. Tangy and sweet aroma that stretches deep into the nostrils. Nogne Winter Ale tastes full, malty, and sweet, like a good, strong brown ale. There are dashes of strong wine, brown sugar, and grassy/peaty hops. A very enjoyable robust ale that tastes as good on July 30 as it would on December 30th.
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