Left Hand Snow Bound Winter Ale

Formerly brewed at Left Hand Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Longmont, Colorado USA

Bomber. Definite spice in the nose. Nutmeg, cinnamon and orange zest are all evident. Similar to Great Lakes Christmas in that way. However, there is something that I am not overly enamored with in the aroma; perhaps it is that after enjoying many brews this holiday season with similar aromas, that I have tired of it. Very dark body whose red hues and clarity can only be seen when held up to light. Large tan head that is lasting, with excellent lace. Plentiful visible carbonation. Initial mouthfeel is strong; tastes like it smells. The alcohol initially is borderline harsh. Plenty sweet, although not cloyingly so. I wish I had a Lakefront Holiday Spice to do a side-by-side with. This brew had many similar qualities but just doesn’t come together as well. I can’t really isolate a reason for it. In a holiday beer, I look for either warming qualities or spices and with this brew you get both. Tastes considerably more alcoholic than Corsendonk Christmas Ale, even though that brew is nearly a full percent higher in ABV. It comes down to the fact that Snow Bound just isn’t as delightful as Lakefront Holiday Spice. It’s not quite sweet or fruity enough to balance the harsh alcoholic bite. It’s a pretty decent brew nonetheless and it’s 75% style percentile is about right.

Coppery brown, creamy light tan head. Spiced nose of ginger, clove, and nutmeg, with a soft underlying wave of spruce, toast, and even touches of chocolate mint. Flavor is all the above with loads of spiced sweet malt that rounds out with a light citric hop bitterness. Medium to full bodied, medium carbonation, spicy, malty finish. Good X-Mas beer that never seemed too over the the top...

Dark brown color with a fairly large head. Strong aroma of ginger, followed by an even stronger flavor of ginger. The cloves stand out, but the rest of the spices kind of mingle and muddle into the background. A little sweet caramel. Not bad, but definitely must like ginger to enjoy this beer.

Copper color with a quickly fading head. Spicy good nose, BUT my friend is having a Jacobite, and he sure has the better end of this. This has a nice malt leafyness to it though. Finish is crisp, not terribly strong, but has a good blend of spice with mild hops. When the head is gone, this has a very very nice glassy look to it, very picturesque.

2003
Dark, ruby red body. Thin, white head. Some lacing.
Honey, clove, nutmeg, orange and some bubblegum in the aroma. Slightly fruity.
Honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and a Saaz bite dominates the flavor. Alcohol is evident but not overwhelming. The orange comes through in the finish.
Smooth and rich mouthfeel. Very German palate.

Mahogany pour with a big and nice creamy head filled with large bubbles. Sparse and spotty lacing. Musty malt aromas with a bit of hops and spice. A little earthy as well. Big spice, maybe cinnamon and nutmeg in the flavor. Malts back that up, though they are light. Creamy, spice filled palate, full bodied and finishes with a bit of cinnamon. Good winter. Thanks acrodizer!!!

22 oz. brown bomber bottle. No freshness date seen. Poured out a deep reddish brown color, with a faint tan head. The head falls back to a thin ring of foam around the rim of the glass. Aromas are of honey, cinnamon, coriander, orange peel. Flavors are of orange peel, honey, spices, sweet malts. Medium mouthfeel, decent body. Slick on the tongue. Sweet, with a hint of orange peel. Finishes rich, slick, & smooth. About time someone made a decent winter ale. Too bad I could only find one of these treats.

Bottle
Pours a dull, tea-like brown. Nose of strong spices, most notably cinnamon and nutmeg. A bit of orange lies in the background. Flavor is a rounding out of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and a touch of orange. A bit thin and blunt in the finish, but it’s fine. Palate is a tad too watery; I’d like more assertiveness. I’ll have more of this; quite good.