Blue Ridge (MD) Snowballs Chance

Brewed by Wild Goose LLC (Flying Dog)
Style: English Strong Ale
Frederick, Maryland USA

Name: Blue Ridge Snowball’s Chance
Date: January 26, 1997
Mode: Bottle
Source: DC
Vintage: 1996
Appearance: dark ruby red, whispy head
Aroma: rich spicy malt aroma
Flavor: rich malt flavor with lots of spicy floral hops, lingering bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Score: *4

Name: Blue Ridge Snowball’s Chance
Date: December 14, 1999
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Sandy Springs
Vintage: 1999
Appearance: dark amber, thin tan head
Aroma: big butterscotch aroma
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of esters

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Score: **4

The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Clear garnet-brown body with small off-white head. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, some peat, raisin, nutty. Taste is fairly sweet, molasses, caramel, some smoke, nutty, light toffee. Medium body, some stickiness.

(Bottle) Pours a dark amber-brown with a thin beige head. Okay tasting winter ale.

This beer rocks... Crystal clear, mahogany ale with a small, creamy, off-white head. Very good retention and sparse lacing. The aroma is nutty and chocolatey with notes of cinnamon and caramel. Malty, sweet flavor with some nice, astringent hops. Brown ale-like except it’s more full-bodied than most. Silky mouthfeel with medium carbonation. Lengthy, creamy, malty finish. World class Winter warmer from Blue Ridge! Underrated.

2004 bottle. Pours brown with a thin tan head. Smells of dark fruit, some earthy undertones, resiny. Tastes peppery and earthy with some tartness on the finish.

Nicely done, a deep chestnut bodied ale with a creamy beige head. The aroma consists of roasted malts, caramel, a hint of fresh apples, and a nutty bitterness. A bit of the modest abv does manage to sneak out as well. Nice rich malts, roasted and sweet, with a light bitterness, both nutty and earthy, to balance it all out. I like.

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Very dark brown color with a tall, but diminishing light beige head. Heavy malt and dark fruit aromas. Dark caramel, light chocolate, earthy dates and figs with a mild roasted malt scent, mingle in the nasal passages (7+). Smooth, full, rich and silk on the palate. Dry lightly roasted mocha flavors. Mild dry roasted nut flavors mix. Mild herbal hoppiness. Quite drinkable. A dry espresso linger.

Copper color with aroma of caramel malt, spice, nuts. Tastes caramel malty, nutty, with some finishing toffee and hops. Medium palate. Good, but not great.