Ithaca Winterizer

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Ithaca, New York USA

Winterizer is a clear, red-brown beer with a small, tightly-packed, off-white head that fades off pretty quickly. (SRM 18?) There are a few big rainbow bubbles. It smells of nutmeg and pineapple. In the mouth, it is a medium-body ale-- a bit watery, a bit soft, and a bit chalky at the end. The flavor almost has a hint of sweetness. It’s lightly bitter-- the hops are so subtle that they’re hard to place. The flavor is like pineapple, fading to ginger. The after taste is short. Pretty unique. If I brewed this at home, I’d be pumped. [On tap at the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, NY] Ithaca Winterizer is a slightly hazy amber beer with no head, save for a few white bubbles. It has a resiny aroma that seems slightly fruity, with a possible hint of peach. It has a medium-light body that’s metallic and sharp. It’s a little bitter and a little sweet. There is a wooden flavor and something funky that I can’t quite place. The spices come through in the aftertaste. I feel that this keg may have been sitting around for a while. [app: 3/5; aro: 3/5; pal: 2/5; fla: 2.5/5; ove: 2.5/5]

12 fl. oz. bottle from Lubiere. App.: deep copper with a light tan head. Aroma: plenty of spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and ginger), a bit of chocolate and vanilla in back. Palate: med.-light body, med. effervescent carbonation. Flav.: there are the spices again and some dried fruits. Kinda sweet. Not really my thing...

12 oz bottle in variety pack. On label says it’s "A Strong Holiday Ale" so I’m assuming it’s got a decent ABV, tho it’s not specified. As stated in other reviews, has plenty of flavors that go with Winter brews, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. I’ve had lots of winter ales that overpower with those flavors, and that takes away from the brew IMHO. This has all those flavors, but does not overpower. Another good brew from Ithaca.

One bottle. A reddish hue to this beer with an avg. size tan head. Aroma was of cinnamon and nutmeg as was the flavor which grew fuller as the beer warmed. I enjoyed this much more than other winter beers in the past.

Appearance is fine - dark brown with red and orange highlights. Tan head starts thick diminishes rapidly. Aroma of malt and Christmas spices - nutmeg and cinammon. This continues on into the palate, which is sweet and sticky and good.

(bottle - 12 oz) Ruby red color with a medium off-white head. Aroma is strongly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Flavor abounds with those spices. Lots of cinnamon and cookie dough at the front with a spicy clove and nutmeg middle and a very sweet gingerbread finish. Real nice winter beer.

2003 edition. This is a classic Christmas ale, with the requisite spices (ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon). Pours deep red with a minimal off-white head. Ginger dominates the aroma. The flavor is strongly spiced with ginger and nutmeg dominating, and cinnamon and brown sugar notes. Not sure why this spice combination is so popular, as I find it masks any malt or hops character otherwise present. On the other hand, this example has a nice mouthfeel and is certainly at least the equal of most other similar offerings. Thanks Dan (jah noth) for the bottle!

Head is initially small, frothy, light brown, mostly diminishing. Body is dark amber. Aroma is moderately malty (cookie, caramel, grain), with notes of allspice, clove, and brown/candy sugar. Flavor is moderately sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, heavily bitter, slightly husky. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, slightly metallic. I typically like these winter spiced beers, but this one has problems. Mostly adequate aroma I suppose (thanks primarily to spices, though), but some of the same problems as the Nut Brown with regards to cleanliness (poor water? poor malt extraction? dunno)...the aftertaste and mouthfeel make me cringe. Unbalanced (too much spice bitterness paired with the acidity, flimsy malt). Not a brewery I'm interested in exploring further, but I enjoyed giving it a shot.