North Coast Wintertime Ale

Undated bottle purchased recently. Probably a year old, maybe two. Hazy copper pour with a slight off-white head. Aroma is malty — cookie and caramel with notes of fruit and allspice. The flavor is moderately sweet and lightly bitter, perhaps because of the age of the bottle. The body is medium with a watery texture, though there is also a slight chalky texture in the finish. Very little carbonation, again perhaps because of its age. Slilghtly tart finish.

Found this in Indy recently, no idea how old it is. I am assuming at least a year, if not more. Pours a dull, coppery brown with a filmy, tan head. The nose is malty goodness anchored by a healthy dose of burnt caramel. Notes of cinammon, butterscotch and plum as well. The body is chewy for a 5% beer. The malt has developed a great caramelly flavor, toffee like. Cherry and plum notes linger. Finishes a bit thin, but overall this is pretty wonderful.

Had this beer on 10/15/1998. Color is a deep hazy amber with good carbonation and a light head. Aroma is a rich sweet malt scent. Taste is lighter than it looks. Starts with a heavy body that goes down very easy. Finish is a light malt flavor backed by a nice hop flavor and a mild bitterness. Good brew, may be a bit light for Winter but I like it.

cloudy amber with a thin head. caramel aroma with a little floral hop, cookies, and yeast. medium viscous body. bitter caramel taste with a light citric spiciness. finishes fairly dry and bitter. nothing outstanding but well balanced and drinkable

Date: 01/25/1997
Mode: Bottle
Source: total beverage, DC

cloudy dark amber, whispy head, rich malt and floral hop aroma, rich malt flavor with well balanced spicy floral hops, long bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4
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The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Deep copper body, slight haze. Well-retained off-white head. The aroma is pretty hoppy, held in check by light and sweet cookie malts, light yeast, allspice, cinnamon, dark fruits. The flavor is unexciting, hopped well but too spiced to really enjoy the hops. Malt is sweet, actually the whole beer is very sweet. Mild acidity bites in a light-medium bodied palate. Finishes lightly bitter, sweet then drying signifigantly, caramel lingering.

Bottle. Powdery brown sugar aroma with nutmeg and toffee. Sweet. Nutty with light fruit. Body is red with a tiny beige head. Nutty, woody, slightly smoky (!) taste with lagerish fruitiness pushed back a level. Nutmeg is a little too strong in the mix. Touch of citrus/floral. Body is medium, aftertaste reminds of a brown ale. This needed more; more body, more fullness, more oomph - flavor was nice, but as it is, forgettable.

Nice pour and presentation. In the nose, there’s some dough, citrus and spice (coriander or nutmeg). Some very mild pine with some citric flavors in an acidic foaming medium to light medium body, fairly bitter