Winter Ale

Got a Winter Sampler pack of Summit from Hy-Vee and this was one of the beers included. Enjoyed Monday night before visiting Ribco for 1/2 off drafts.


Appearance: Plain chocolate brown color. Head forms a thin tan layer on the surface and mostly collects around the rim of the glass. Wet lacing does form after every sip but disappears after a minute or so. Relatively clear, no visible sediment floating.
Aroma: Mild aroma yet the unmistakable presence of roasted malts and chocolate primarily in the nose. Underlying sweet aroma, perhaps caramel and toffee, surfaces after the toasted nuttiness leaves complemented by a dark fruit such as figs, dates, and raisins.
Taste: Taste is also relatively mild, most of the flavor is thanks to the roasted barley. A bit of bittersweet dark chocolate and nuttiness add to the flavor profile. Licorice and doughiness additionally compliment the malted flavor. Slight presence of earthy, woody hops adds a bit of bitterness to the finish. Alcohol breath that warms the throat.
Mouthfeel: Leaves hardly any aftertaste. Velvet smooth and moderately full body that is broken up by prickly, active carbonation.
Overall Impression: Very drinkable winter ale. What I like about this winter ale is there is not a lot of spicing that overtakes the malt profile, which some winter seasonals have a tendency to do.



86/100