El Toro Yo Winter Ale

Brewed by El Toro Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Morgan Hill, California USA

12oz bottles shared courtesy of Josh. We did 2 vintages. My notes will reflect the ~2 year old bottle that was far superior to the newer one. Poured a medium and cloudy amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of dark fruits, some nuttines, and caramel. Tastes of dark fruits, cherries, caramel, and nutty. Had a lighter tart and sour finish that I really dug. Tart cherries.

Thanks to goldtwins for sharing this. Pale amber-red beer, thin white head. Aroma is a little bit boozy. Lightly nutty and a little bit sweet. Lightly chewy with a bit of orange peel and caramel. Softly sweet. Lingering caramelly candyish flavour. Meh, it’s okay.

Poured a lightly hazed amber color with a small beige head. Light caramel malt aroma with notes of spice, esters and alcohol. The flavor was sweet and malty again with some spice and light alcohol.

[Various vintages, unknown but recent] Poured hazy chestnut color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of oxidized sherry, caramel malts, dark fruits, nuts, and alcohol. Taste of caramel malts, roast, nuts, tart cherry, and more dried fruits, with a bit of alcohol leading way to a dry finish. The older vintage seemed much more oxidized, and the ratings reflect that, as it had a lot more character than the newer batch. Thanks Josh!

Bottle pored brown with a tan head. Aromas of licorice, figs, and spices. Palate is on the heavy side but acceptable in a winter ale. Flavors of nuts, figs, raisens, and spices with a bitter finish.

Thanks to Josh. Pours a deep hazy amber with a smaller bubbly off white head. Aroma of gummy candies, cherries, caramel some nuts and dark fruits. Flavor of tart cherry notes, dark fruits, toffee, carmel and nuts.

Draft. Amber color with an off-white head. Sweet malt aroma and flavors. A bit of vanilla. Fairly clean and easy to drink, but not outstanding.

Sampled at Toronado 2009 Barleywine Festival. Pours hazy copper with thin off white head. The aroma has a bit of a cherry cough syrup sensation then it moves toward figs and a bit of sweet malts. The taste is fruity to start but lacks much in the way of depth or rich dark fruitiness I’d expect for a beer at a Barleywine Fest. Seems pretty darn dry and thin in body from beginning to end.