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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?  
 RAYBOY01 (1828), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Apr 10, 2007    Updated: Apr 11, 2007
This winter warmer is very nicely brewed. The nose is largely Christmas-type spicing...cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, etc. The pour is a very attractive mahogany with a rocky tan head that lingers. First taste reveals a very upfront Christmas spiciness...nutmeg and cinnamon, mainly, but also clove licorice, and ginger. There is a prolonged sweetness in the finish...moderately carbonated...that ends with a moderate alcohol kick. This is literally a Christmas cake in a glass...perfect for the holidays...or on April 10th after a winter storm watch has been issued for tonight and rush hour tomorrow.


 boboski (1095), Alabama, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/103/513/20
Mar 28, 2007  
Dark mahogany pour with orange tints. Thin off white head, receding quickly down to a well retained thin and creamy top. Aroma is of sweet caramel malts, slightly scorched coriander, allspice, nutmeg, clove, banana pudding, orange zest and hints of brown sugar. Flavor is sticky sweet malts that near cloying. Spicing is muddled together, indiscernable now. A touch of hop bitterness pokes out. Toasted malts aplenty. An odd addition of pumpkin seed flavor creeps slowly in, very earthy. Cinnamon is noted as well. Palate is sticky, medium to medium-full bodied. Finishes spicy, pretty soft, with a delicate balance of dryness/sweetness.


 mgumby10 (1850), Jupiter, Florida, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/516/20
Mar 27, 2007  
Pours a murky brown, with a quickly dissipating light tan head. Smell is quite interesting and compex. Tons of different things to pick out. Graham crackers, nutmeg, clove, brown sugar, cinnamon, and if you breathe deeply a little ketchup. Taste is somewhat similar to the smell, big on the nutmeg and some clove. Cinnamon, brown sugar, and various other spices are all quite noticeable. Finish is fairly smooth and delightful. I dug this brew.


 CaptainCougar (5406), Rockville, Maryland, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/514/20
Mar 20, 2007    Updated: Mar 21, 2007
XXXmas Ale bottle sampled on 11/1/06: Pours a clear copper amber with a thin-lacing white head. Aroma of sweet caramel malt and cinnamon nutmeg spice. Body starts fairly full and caramely sweet, balanced with a good amount of spices and ginger toward a more bitter spiced, mild milk chocolate finish. A nice holiday beer.


 starfireming (309), Richmond, Virginia, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/56/102/514/20
Mar 15, 2007  
Clear dark brown body, off-white head. Smells of spices, palate is somewhat thin. Flavour is an overabundance of nutmeg spice with a little malt.


 5000 (2409), Hardened Liver, Washington, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Mar 6, 2007    Updated: Mar 7, 2007
Bottle: Brownish with copper highlights, moderate to large frothy head, light beige in color, dies somewhat quickly, spotty lacing.   Heavy spiced nose.   Licorice, nutmeg, and cinnamon are the stronger components in this one.   Softer elements of roasted malts, peated malt, and ash on the tongue, all while remaining fairly spicy.   Does have a little bit of burnt molasses feel to it.   Moderate body and mouthfeel.   Strong spicy finish, sweet but not cloying.   All the components combine to make one big lingering spiced up finish.   A bit of citrus peel and ginger emerge after the finish.   Good Winter offering.


 maniac (2628), Richmond, Virginia, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Mar 6, 2007  
On tap at Capital Ale House - Downtown. Clear deep ruby body with a small creamy tan head. Sweet molassas aroma with a light spicy foreground. Sweet molassas and caramel flavor with a lot of spice. Dominated by nutmeg and some light coriander


 radagast83 (1289), Fairfax, Virginia, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/514/20
Mar 5, 2007  
Bomber. Snowbound. Aroma is that of spice and malts. Flavor is sweet, malts, chocolates, and spice, though the spice flavor was a bit lighter than I expected.



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