Elysian Bifröst Winter Ale

Brewed by Elysian Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Seattle, Washington USA

Nicely hopped winter ale with a somewhat bitter finish. Balanced with a sweet maltiness. One of the top 4 winter beers among 20 sampled last night.

Relatively pale to medium amber brew with some foam and lace, nice piney aroma with that great bittersweet balance that Centennial hops provide. Clean pretty much, but obfuscated in the middle somewhere is a touch of "rancio", like someone thru a balled up hunk of sourdough and/or a big ol’ porcini mushroom in the fermenter or somethin’... some sort of English yeast I’m guessing. I like it, it’s got character.

22 oz. bomber. Pours a clear brilliant amber with a dense, lasting head. Lemon/hop nose is fairly strong. First taste packs a hop bite with a sweetish piney character. Finish trails off into slow, sweet, warming glow with just a tang of hops left behind. I liked this year’s batch over the last couple.

On tap a the Dog and Pony in Renton. This is not your standard winter warmer that is largely defined by the malt. The alcohol level is up in the right range but the hops are saying this beer has wandered into IPA territory. All in all, a surprising but very good beer.

Draft at the Dog and Pony. Wow, this is amazing stuff. Not really an American Strone, more of an IIPA in malty clothing. Pours a clear, golden brown with a thin white head. Plenty of crisp herbal & noble hops on the nose. Fairly thick and chewable body but nothing exceptional for a winter beer. Big hoppy flavors predominate in the palate and especially in the finish. This is another great effort from Elysian, if slightly mislabelled. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to be a little surprised.

22oz Bottle Pours out a gold topped with a very nice off white head. Aroma is nothing great, but the tast is very good. Thanks Indiana_Red for this.

Bottle pours a clear medium amber with a full, creamy, lasting off white head. Heavy thick lacing. Not much in the way of aroma, light grain, some sweetness, like a wet grocery bag, almost pilsnerish. Flavor is pretty bitter but sweet light malts as well. Not so much hopps aroma/flavor but plenty of IBUs. Nice smooth soft palate. Easyon the carbonation, surprising for the nice head on it.

22 oz. Bottle:Clear copper color with a full off-white head. Mild spicy aroma with a strong that packs way more flavor than the aroma leads you to believe. Flavors of alcohol, anise, caramel, and sweet hairspray. The finish is pretty strong and bitter but is followed by a prolonged sweetness. Powerful. Thanks Indiana_Red!