Dogwood Winter Ale 2003 (Special Edition)

Formerly brewed at Dogwood Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Name: Winter 2003 Spiced
Date: November 29, 2003
Mode: Bottle
Source: Harry’s
Appearance: muddy brown, whispy head
Aroma: sweet licorish aroma overshadowing a hint of cinamon
Flavor: tons of overwhelming spice flavor, lots of clove and ginger
Overall: needs to age a year

Name: Winter 2003 Spiced
Date: June 25, 2006
Mode: bottle
Aroma: clove aroma fills the room upon opening the bottle
Flavor: the clove and ginger flavor still shoots up your nose upon the first sip
Overall: a few more years for this one

Name: Winter 2003 Spiced
Date: December 03, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta
Aroma: still the strong clove in the aroma, touch of cinnamon
Flavor: clove is getting stonger than ever in the flavor, the other flavors are mellowing out and the clove survives

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: ** /4

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

Hazy reddish-brown. Spicy aroma (cinnamon, nutmeg) with some breadcrusty dark malts. Similar flavour profile - nicely balanced with the spices accentuating the sweetness and vice versa.

Clear garnet with small beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, strong allspice, caramel, light chcoclate. Taste is mild sweet, strong spicy (predominantly allspice, some cardemom), some roasty chocolate and burnt caramel in the back half of the throat. Medium body. I didn't much like this -- too much spice, not enough hops or malt.

Bottle acquired in trade with kp (thanks!). Poured a deep amber color with a small sized off white head. Talk about a nice spicy aroma (I wonder how much more spicier it would have been fresh). Aromas of spices, peppermint, Christmas (not sure how else to explain, but the smell just reminded of Christmas), and chocolate. Tastes were on the watered down side and consisted primarily of lighter pine and light chocolate. Thinner body.

Dark rich brown with a thin ring of tan head. Musty highly spiced aroma, kinda reminds me of Old Spice cologne. Semi-sweet malty flavor throughout, mostly covered by a tremendous ginger, nutmeg and clove spice. Finishes dry and lightly acidic. Very similar to Anchor Our Special Ale. This could use some more balance and aging for the spices to mellow.

Well after aging for 2 years this is drinkable. I poured out at least 4 bottles when it first came out. The spices have greatly settled down. Still real big in the clove and nutmeg aroma and flavor, but now somewhat tasty and easier to swallow. Also had a regular version on this night (2 of them were opened) and they foamed all over and made a huge mess. The spice didn’t do it.

Bottle (1litre #437of2500). Shared with Sammy and DrJay, Sammy’s bottle. Huge gush on opening, I contained it and bled the swing-top cap for a couple of minutes before it was safe to pour ... which was maddening, because this one smelled great!. Poured very murky deep mahogany - some floaties, who cares - with a large foamy-creamy lasting off-white head. Rich, sweet, yeasty aroma of apples, apricots, sweet mulling spices, and yards of sweet yeasty roast caramel malt - terrific, this smelled like an honest-to-God Belgian to me. The taste was just as sweet, yeasty and fruity as the nose, but there was a building counterbalancing bitterness to it - like biting into an apple core - and some nice eartip warming alcohol too. Had a smooth, thick, sticky-syrupy mouthfeel, perhaps a tad light-bodied, but overall one of my favourites of the evening, a real winter warmer! Thanks again for sharing, Sammy - and are sure this isn’t the 2003 Special Edition?

Thanks to KP for sharing this one. Dark brown color. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is brown sugar, dark fruit and sweet. Medium bodied winter ale. Malts are fruity and sweet. Lots of brown sugar and molasses. Lots of apples cider and spice flavors as well. Very nice winter ale. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.