Opa-Opa Steakhouse Winter Strong Ale

Impressive Winter Warmer -- announced as a Winter Lager at the Brewpub, but ale is what I tasted when I sampled, to my highly attuned and educated tongue. Beautiful hazed copper appearance and strong malt nose gave this beer a bit of a separation from other microbrews. It poured flat, no problem, but tasted a bit flat too, almost puddled on the palate, but otherwise a very tasty beer from a brewery that specializes, so it seems, on making the ordinary -- not in this case. Well done.

Date: 01/04/2007
Mode: Growler
Source: Ale Atlanta

dark amber, scant head, sweet fruity caramel malt aroma with light spices including a hint of cinamon, sweet malt flavor, lots of nice cinamon, almost a candy sweetness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Growler sampled on 1/4/07: Pours a hazy dark caramel with a decent-sized off-white head. Has a sweet cinnamon and nutmeg gingersnap spiced dark caramel malty aroma. Palate starts rich and malty sweet with a very nice winter spice balance of cinnamon, honey and ginger. An enjoyable winter brew.

Dark hazy amber color with white head. Aroma is malty with some spruce. Flavor is malts with lots of spruce.

Growler: The beer poured a very hazy copper color with a small off-white head. The was fruity with notes of peaches and browned apple flesh. Hint of wood showed in the back. The flavor was fruity as well. Some more apple flavors. The finsih was semi-dry with a light to medium body. Light spice on the finish with a nice warming sensation.

Orange hazy body with thin lacing offwhite head. Aroma is pie crust, cinnamon, sweet spice. Flavor is spice, citrus, caramel. Smooth palate.

Thanks to hopdog for this… Appears a hazy light gold with a small white head that slowly fades out. Smell is of peach, apricot, spices…nutmeg, oak, vanilla. Taste is of the same aromas. Nicely blended in a creamy blended brew. Mouthfeel is sugary, oaky, slightly fruity, and well balanced.

Thanks to hopdog for landing this growler for a mid week tasting. Pours a lightly hazy golden amber with a medium off white foamy head. Aroma of minced meat pie, even the crust with some citrus. Flavor along the lines of the aroma, various spices, some peppermint.