Dogwood Winter Ale 2003

Formerly brewed at Dogwood Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Atlanta, Georgia USA

[Sampled October 2004] An unclear orange beer with an off-white head. The aroma is of oranges and peach. The flavor is a little old and dusty, but with notes sweet flavors of alcohol, malt, oranges, peaches in the over ripe end.

Name: Winter
Date: October 30, 2003
Mode: Draft
Source: Twains, Decator, GA
Vintage: 2003
Appearance: opaque brown, thin whispy head
Flavor: rich malty flavor, chocolate covered bananas, rich essence of ripe fruit - figs and dates - well blended

Name: Winter
Date: July 09, 2006
Mode: liter bottle
Vintage: 2003
Appearance: nice lace
Aroma: still can’t get much of an aroma
Flavor: flavor is still very rich with lots of chocolate and some sweet ripe fruit that ripens as it warms

Name: Winter
Date: August 18, 2007
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Vintage: 2003
Score: 3.7 to 4.0
Aroma: sweet ripe fruit and milk chocolate aroma
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, lots of fruity character, still a bit of caramel sweetness although it is drying out a bit
Overall: chocolate covered caramel candied fruit treat

Name: Winter
Date: January 10, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: GMoT tasting
Vintage: 2003
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma, ripe fruits
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, lots of sweet fruity esters
Overall: holding very well

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Abbey Dubbel? Hey, it wasn’t a bad beer but it was no dubbel. Muddy chestnut brown. Aroma is chocolatey, slightly nutty with cherry and blackberry notes. Flavour has a lot of milk chocolate...this might be a sweet dessert porter but abbey dubbel?

(1 Litre bottle, #6/2500, thanks growler) Big beige head, brown-black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, caramel, some cinnamon, cherry, light formaldehyde. Taste is medium sweet, chocolate, grape/raisin, some cinnamon, alcohol, light apple. Light-medium body, some effervescence.

Bottle acquired in trade with SpringsLicker (thanks!). Bottle best before date of 04/04/04. Poured a dark and muddy brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, caramel, light smokiness and I swear I was smelling some cinamon. Tastes of chocolate, prunes, raisins, and caramel. Moderate sweetness.

Pours a robust dark brown with a thick light tan head. Lightly nutty and sour roasted malt aroma with some Belgian yeast character. Bready malt flavor with subtle chocolate notes. Doesn't quite have the complexity of its Belgian counterparts, but this is a good dubbel and another nice version of Dogwood Winter Ale.

Bottle... Clear, very dark ale with a ruby glow against bright light. Chocolate, vanilla, toasted nuts and a suggestion of green apple in the aroma. Malty flavor with gobs of chocolate and cashews. Balanced nicely by good hopping. Medium-bodied and fizzy. Short, crisp, chocolatey finish. First time I’ve tried this beer, but I doubt the cellaring did anything but good. I really hope Dogwood makes their rumored comeback. Thanks to growler for providing the bottle!

22oz bottle Thanks Crawford-pours a dissipating light tan head and hazy ? color. Aroma is fruity, medium malt, husky. Taste is syrupy, fruity, medium malt-toffee, husky, bitter/flat hops, some tannins. Big.