Summit Winter Ale

Bottled. Opens and pours with a nice warm malty smell. Deep brown body, thin tan head. For its color, a closer sniff brings up a suprising whiff of porter type cooffee roast malts. And yup, a deep coffee roast in the tast. Drinks a heck of a lot like a porter. Then some honey seems to pop in, and then a bit of light spicing, more in the sage or allspice range (but then my miserable score on the Floosmoor 12 Days shows I can’t be judging spices). Off-style carbonation is a detraction, but otherwise, it’s a very good commercial beer.

I don’t know if it’s just my preference in general, but I can’t stand the taste of coffee so I could barely tolerate this beer, although there was some charm to it because it tasted different than what I’m used to but I think if I try any more English Strong Ales I’ll go with a higher scored brand to see if I just dislike the style in general.

Bottle. Very dark. Good - pretty sweet with plenty of crystal malt flavor. Somewhat rich flavor.

Pours a dark brown color with thick, frothy, tan head. Aroma is very mild with sweet malt, coffee and light chocolate. Taste is much the same but everything is way too muted and boring.

Pours dark reddish amber with a fully receding beige head. Aroma of dark crystal malt, rye bread, toffee, and cookie. Taste is sweet crystal malt, chocolate, and brown malt. Mouthfeel is medium/full bodied with soft carbonation. Soft and sweet with nice maltiness.

Bottle poured a clear dark brown with a small diminishing tan head. Aromas of coffee, bakers chocolate, roasted malt and nuts. Palate was medium bodied. Flavors of coffee, roasted malt, nuts and a hint of cocoa with a lingering bitter finish.

This beer poured a dark reddish-brown. There was a light tan head which was retained well. This beer smelled faintly of dark malt and coffee. When I took a sip, I got faint coffee notes with an aftertaste of chocolate. It is a bit subtle, but quite pleasant. Mouthfeel of this beer is (like the taste) understated. It isn’t watery; its substantial without being overly sticky. Drinkability is OK; I’d have another two of these.

On tap at the Happy Gnome. Deep chocolate brown in color with a lightly tan head of foam. Nose is mildly fruity and semi-sweet chocolate. More chocolate and some cinnamon in the flavor, with tart red fruits. Creamy mouthfeel with a prickly touch and slight roasty finish. All in all though it’s unexciting stuff, a grocery store brand english strong ale.