Oppigårds Winter Ale

Brewed by Oppigårds Bryggeri
Style: English Strong Ale
Hedemora, Sweden

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

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Mahogany hue with a light haze. Persistent ivory foam spackle. Nicely balanced nose of English toffee, breadcrusty malt, spruce resin, strawberry jam, blood oranges, and peppery hops. Characterful puttylike yeastiness. Plentiful dextrins, to boot. Underlying plastic and red licorice. Soft and creamy on the tongue. Bottle-conditioned. Initially fluffy with dry breadcrusty malt coinciding with a bouncy base of toffee-drizzled nuts kissed with a drying spruclike hop whisper. Dab of roasty sharpness is artfully incorporated, exuding with just enough strength to enhance the delectably lush and clean base malt. Peppery, earthy hop bitterness is perfectly rigid and sports delicate leafy acid as well as complementary levels of resin. Remarkably ripe and luscious berrylike esters contribute juiciness and depth as well as contrasting vibrancy. Also some phenolics which lend character as well as vivacity, and beautifully contrasting dryness to the sturdy bread-laden malt. Closes with superbly clean dextrinous malt and an assertive push of earthy hop fervency. Aside from a bit too much emphasis on the resin/citrus, the aroma is a splendid showcase of fine-tuned malt. And awesome texture all around. This has all the qualities of a well-executed Rogue beer (particularly their Strong Ales), and is seemingly a nod to John Maier in all its characterful yeast (putty and pistachio), robust British hop signature and exemplary showcase of malt. A dead-on rendition.

[Thanks to omhper]. Orangish colour with a vey nice, frothy, foamy, creamy, moderate lasting and beautiful lacing off white head. Aroma is slightly caramelish, malty and mild hoppy. Flavour is moderate bittery at the beginning, fruity notes are present: orange and citrus hints; slightly caramel and a final with a decent bitterness and an average duration in the aftertaste. Carbonation is soft to medium. Body is medium to high. Texture is oily.

Bottle. Dark brown colour with a large head. Caramel and hops aroma. Bitter flavour of hops.

Caramel aromas and flavors. Hops balance out the malts. Overall a pretty good winter ale.

Bottle. Light to moderate malt aromas of roasted and nutty, pine and orange peel for the hops, light leather for the yeast, with hints of date, brown sugar, cardboard and a little skunkiness. Head is small, frothy, slightly off-white with fair lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is hazy yet sparkling, medium orange/tan. Flavor starts lightly sweet and moderately acidic, then finishes lighltly acidic and bitter. Palate is medium, a touch creamy with a lively carbonation. Hoppier than most Winter Ales, but the aroma works very well with the flavor in this English Strong Ale.

Dark fruit and slightly effervescent yeast in aroma. The flavor is malty and similar to the aroma. Very good ale, nicely thick body and good flavor all around.

(16.9oz bottle from Total Wine Perimeter Atlanta, GA). Caramel aroma with nice amount of spice. Busy carbonation formed nice head but collapsed like a souffle.Taste is malty with some hop bitterness and spice was not too overwhelming like some winter ales. Medium bodied. My first Rate Beer rating and a decent beer to start.

On tap. Pours with a clear copper hued body with a white ring for a head. Aromas are malty, bready, toffee, caramel, mild oxidation, herbal, earthy and woodsy hops. Malty overall. Flavors are nutty, malty, tea like. Caramel, toffee, watery, pretzel and nougat. Watery mouthfeel with mild carbonation. Lasting notes of stale pretzels.

(16.9oz bottle from Total Wine Scottsdale). Pours a clear amber color with tan head and active carbonation. Aroma has caramel, dark bread, some light spice. Taste is malty sweet with some hop bitterness and a touch of spice bite. Medium bodied with a spicy, bitter finish. Not bad. I could see myself drinking several of these during a game.

Bottle. Amber pour with a creamier than usual for the style white head. Aroma is slightly spicy with some alcohol. Taste is bittersweet. Palate is smooth and the level of carbonation is medium.