Redhook Winterhook

Brewed by Redhook Brewery
Style: English Strong Ale
Woodinville, Washington USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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This was stinky. It wasn’t skunked, but it was stinkyeasted. Cascade hopped, tinny first taste -- I suggest letting it sit and warm to get the ale flavor. The palate is actually on the higher side of 3, but not a 4. Some butterbread aftertaste. I was disappointed. Tastes like a bad Sierra Nevada brew.

Pours a deep sharp amber color. The head is initially strong, thick, tan, and ceamy with lacing (poured into a lager glass which may account for head). The aroma was very hoppy, piney (shrubber85), with some malt charactr. The taste is dominated by hop too, with a seconday malt character. Tastes like an amber/brown ale mixed with an ale of moderate hop bitterness (pale ale, esb). There is also some belgian sour/earthy smell and taste too it, maybe i’m misreading that. Palate is interesting on account of the carbonation.

Winter ales usually aren’t my favorite. This one was probably the best of the winter ales I’ve had but I still didn’t care too much for it.

clear copper colored with a small head. notes of spicey nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon in aroma. spicey at first with a bready malt finish. nice, but needs more spices. light-med bodied.

Red Hook Winter Hook in a 12 oz brown bottle. Pop the lid for an interesting spicy aroma. Dark brown yellow. Taste is not as spicy as the aroma. Can’t get over the spicy herb vegetable smell, though not unpleasant. Feel is a little viscous and strong lagerish. Not in your face with the alky. The only other English strong ales I’ve had are summit and weyebacher. Not as strong in the flavor area as those two but it don’t make it any less enjoyable. This attribute may even make it better. Some hopp or malt bite on the back of the tongue and it even lingers for a while but it is not like strong strong ale. It manages itself without too much trouble. It does seem to be a little less oppressive than the other strong ales. Finish is a medium bitter that is tolerable.

2002 bottling. This was disappointing. It has a mild aroma with some caramel and spice. In the mouth, this wasn't so much watery as thin, with weak flavors notably only for its metallic bitterness and lack of charm. It wasn't horrendous, but it is a weak cousin of proper English strong ales.

Pours a clear light orange-amber color. A small, fizzy white head quickly subsides, leaving behind a thin layer. Random flares of lacing coat the glass well. The aroma shows toasted caramel, toasted grains, and some mild floral hops. The flavor is essentially the same, with caramel, toast, drying grains, and some bitter floral hops. Pretty well balanced, but lacking real substance. Medium bodied, finishing clean and semi-dry. Decent beer, but a bit boring for my liking.

UPDATED: OCT 1, 2012 Not a bad winter ale; it’s just not as bold or richly flavored as some others. Has a pleasant roastiness with toasty notes of bread crust, nuts, and a nip of tar and char. Subtle brown-sugar and toffee sweetness. Easy-drinking beer.

Has a nice fruity hoppy aroma, light resinous quality with orange peel. Caramel and toffee sweetness, a bit malty. Clear light root beer brown, with thin off-white foamy lacing head. Medium bodied beer with heavy carbonation and resultant carbonic burn. Starts with mild caramel toasty sweetness and medium carbonic acidity. Hops come in quite strong with good fruitiness and a big hit of bitter. Not overly harsh, but a bit rough around the edges. After is a bit dry and bitter.

2008 seasonal. Clear dark amber pour with fair light tan head. Nose of citrus hop with a hint of pine. Some maltiness in the flavor but not much. Good as a hoppy esb, but not much of a ’winter’ beer...