Gearys Winter Ale

Brewed by D.L. Gearys Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Portland, Maine USA

Clear, light copper color with a small white head. Sweet malt aroma with a touch of butterscotch. Light malt flavor with not nearly enough hops to call this an IPA. Buttery aftertaste takes a lot away from this beer.

Deep copper with big, white head. Aroma of malt, hops, slight fruit and black pepper. Tastes malty, with subdued hops, slight spicy florals. Medium, non-inspiring finish. This one reminds me a little of a spicier Sam Adams BL.

Clear amber/copper coloured body with a very thin white head. Aroma of light malt with very little else, no spices nor malt detectable. Light to Medium-bodied; Small toffee and caramel flavours but no hops nor malt detected at all. Aftertaste shows just the same, no spices, hardly any malt and a few bits of caramalised sugars. Overall, not an IPA whatsoever and hardly a good beer. I was less than impressed with this one. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased at Norm’s in Vienna, Virginia today on 31-December-2004 - Happy New Year!

I even checked the brewery site, but this isn’t an IPA with a "hearty hop finish." Medium amber, slight head. Slightly buttery light malt nose. Malt, not really defined in any way, slight butter flavor their, and a bit of undefined hop bitterness. I expect more from these guys, especially because their pale ale was one of my early favorites. Too bad.

Part of winter beer binge for Christmas Eve 2004. Pretty average winter beer. I wasnt blown away but I could see myself drinking a couple of these on a cold winter night trying to light my fire

One of the more perfect IPAs that I’ve had. I settled into this one while contemplating the onset of a winter night and the telling chill that comes before a day that is forecast for snow. I stepped out to observe the night on the neighborhood in which I grew up in while I sipped this from a pint glass bought in Montreal. I consider where I’ve been and what I’m doing, and how I’m not the person I was when I was growing up, yet in some ways hope to retain myself from then and still am that person. Hints of orange, just the right amount of hops. I’m proud of Maine, proud of Portland, for this beverage I just sampled. It’s not my hometown, but I feel allegiance to it from summers spent on the Maine coast nearby. Returning back from the ethereal, this is a damn satisfying beer. Goes well with almost any feeling you have in the depths of winter. Refreshes with that corn-sweet pleasure that you had when you drank fresh Pepsi as a kid at a restaurant. Best tasting with the full aroma, in a glass rather from the bottle. Delicious, and good for the season.

eh... another ordinary winter brew... bready, fruit with background eatrhiness... but nothing too exceptional here...

Bottled. Pours a clear gold with almost no head. What little carbonation that surfaces as bubbles appears nearly white. Nose is semi-sweet, with light hops and earthy spiciness along with mild fruity tones. Lighter hop bitterness in the flavor with more of the semi-sweet malts and light fruit tastes. The spiciness is there throughout. Lingering even after the finish. The body is medium and slightly chewy with light bitterness. The finish is moremalts, light caramel, hops and that previously mentioned lingering spice flavor. Pretty good stuff, though!