Big Sky Powder Hound Winter Ale

Brewed by Big Sky Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Missoula, Montana USA

Clear copper with a weak, beige head. Caramel notes, nutty, dried fruit, fennel, hops in the nose. Good body and a fairly thick texture. The flavor was spicy, citrusy. Pleasant but not exceptional.

12 oz bottle. Poured a deep garnet, beautiful really, with a small tan head which mostly disappeared. Aroma of grass, earth, lightly malty, definite barnyard smell there too - like decaying bales of alfalfa. Some caramel. Drinks like a sweetened iced tea. More maltiness. Hops come out in the finish. Creamy mouthfeel, medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Pretty original, and fairly decent.

Potent caramely, toasty aroma with earthy, bitter hops. Deep copper body, fairly clear, with a medium tight light tan head. Herbal body with sweet caramel and bread, light carbonation, reminding me of a sweetened iced tea. A few sips reveal classic dark fruits (cherry, plum, red grape) and nuts lurking beneath the initial toast and caramels. Vinous. The parts are all here but they don’t quite come together. Nevertheless, this is decent fare.

Nice brown, rusty pour with a ample off-white head. Flavor is well balanced maltiness, caramels, nuts, and a roasty feel. Finish is smooth and the body is rather rich. A solid seasonal from Big Sky.

Bottle courtesy of hopdog! Ruby body with a small tan head. Nose is malty and fruity with caramel notes, rich toffee, dark fruits, and brown sugar. It almost smells like a dessert. Can’t place my finger on it, though. Taste is malty and slightly floral. Some caramel and toffee notes along with ripened fruits and soft nutty flavors. Body is creamy and smooth. Mild carbonation with an overall medium feel. Finishes with more caramel, bigger fruit notes, light hops, light toffee and toasty malts. Touch of brown sugar as well. Nice!

Bottle. Clear, ruddy brown colored beer with a moderate sized off-white head. Nice lacing is left behind. Aroma is pleasant, some caramel malt, a touch of brown sugar/molasses. Light-medium bodied, moderate carbonation level. Flavor is much the same as aroma, perhaps a little drab, lingering hops in finish. Decent if not spectacular.

Bottle: Courtesy of DarkElf via trade. Malty aroma of caramel and toffee with a touch of hops and metal. Pours a very dark amber with a decent off-white head with some staying power. Flavor is a watery caramel up front and some light chocolate in the middle. Finishes with some weak nutty metallic hops. Rather mediocre if you ask me.

Bought this because it was on clearance at BevMo. Didn’t smell like much, sort of chocalatey I guess. Flavor is of caramel, toffee maybe some chocaolate, and a sort of musty, earthy flavor. Not bad, gives a nice warmth to the belly.