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Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
76
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3363.32/5.03.31/5.0Winter8.6%83.2Lager glass, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
Fight cabin fever! Made with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, hops, yeast, honey, orange zest, and other spices.

Editor’s Note: beginning in 2006, Snow Bound became the name for Left Hand’s strong winter seasonal beer made with honey and spices. It was previously known as XXXmas Ale. Below is the original XXXmas Ale description for reference.

XXXmas Ale is a spiced strong ale, using all natural ingredients to give it its festive nature. We brew this beer from a relatively high initial gravity to give it strength and body. This is (in our opinion) appropriate to a winter beer, and it helps to balance the numerous spices added. Honey is also added to increase fermentable sugars and give additional sweetness. Northern Brewer and Saaz hops are used sparingly, to allow the spices to evidence themselves. We add ground nutmeg, whole cloves, crushed cinnamon, orange zest and chopped ginger to spice the beer. Carbonation is kept low to accentuate the flavor of the beer and spices. It’s like a liquid cake. Brew water is relatively soft.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 legion242 (1577), Richardson, Texas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Nov 17, 2007  
A really nice winter warmer with just the right amount of boozieness. Warming for sure.


 WickerBrew (312), Chicago, Illinois, USA
2.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/55/102/512/20
Nov 16, 2007  
I had high hope for this, and the happy scene on the bottle made me even more hopefull. I didnt live up though, way too much nutmeg and cinnamon! Usually winters are some of my favorites, but this felt a little too thin as well. O well, at least the higher ABV made me forget my troubles


 zootfinster (179), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/56/103/513/20
Nov 15, 2007  
A nice amber pour with a medium spicy, malty aroma. Tastes much like the aroma with some noticeable hoppyness. Alcohol content noticeable but not overpowering. A nice brew for any night winter or summer


 anders37 (4607), Malmö, Sweden
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/514/20
Nov 14, 2007  
Bottle. Pours a dark amber color with a longlasting off-white head. Roasted spicy ginger aroma. Malty spicy flavor with some hints of citrus. Long spicy malty finish.


 sneagrams3 (1747), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/516/20
Nov 12, 2007  
Tasted 10/28/07. 22oz bomber. Filtered with a lively pour. Ruby hue. Spicy holiday aromas. Three fingers of off-white head. Nutty, almost juniper aromas. Caramel. Fresh with a mild burn. Full bodied with a good caramel malt backbone. Cinnamon and spicy piney resinous flavors. Cocoa and coffee acidity. Red fruity notes. Young and piney. Delicious.


snargles (23), wouldntyouliketoknow, Maine, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Nov 5, 2007  
Tried a version under the name xxxmas ale...amazing.a spicy gingery treat that if i’m not mistaken had a somewhat piney taste as well.truly original,Christmas in a bottle


 Gusler (2655), Tucson, Arizona, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/518/20
Oct 27, 2007  
The beer upon its pour form the 22-ounce bottle resides in the glass a somewhat hazy brown with nice highlights of ruby red, the light tan creamy head makes a nice two finger cap to the body, as it slowly fades, the resultant lace provides a tight seal upon the glass. Nose is sweet malt, many spices, fruity, crisp and pleasing, caramel also present, and a treat for the olfactory and ocular senses. Front has a spicy sweetness, touch of bittersweet chocolate, personable malt presence, top is medium in feel. Determined acidity at the finish, hops pleasantly spicy, spices continue their sweetness to the dry end, a bit of a tummy warmer, this winter warmer.


 RSRIZZO (1362), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
1.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/102/53/102/54/20
Oct 10, 2007  
Had this on 2/9/2004. Aroma reminds me of an apple stout I once brewed, it is a sweet cidery scent. Color is a deep amber with light carbonation and thin head. Taste is rich and cidery. Starting with a full body that turns sharp and goes down with a spicy feel. The finish comes on rich with a spicy sweetness that is backed by an apple cider like taste, this all ends with a bold bitterness that hangs on. Overall I don’t like it, you can drink it but its not much fun. This cider thing has got to go, they really need to rethink this winter brew and come up with something more Stout like. I do not intend to drink this one again unless they change the recipe.



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