River Horse Belgian Freeze Winter Ale

Brewed by River Horse Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lambertville, New Jersey USA

Not sure what this beer is supposed to be, it smells acrid, pours from the bottle with almost no head, and is pretty much black.

(bottle - 12 oz) Dark, ruby pour with a small amount of tan head floating on the top. Rather roasty and malty aroma with some candy, toffee and hops mixed in as well. Very inviting. Flavor begins very sweet and cloying with a big candy flavor. The middle is bitter and coffee-like with some malts and caramel thrown in to boot. The finish is kind of spicy and yeasty with some sweetness as well. The alcohol is well hidden. A little thin but other than that a quality cold weather beer.

Bottle sample enjoyed at the brewery in Lambertville, NJ. Pours to a deep brown color with a tight white head that fades, and a soft carbonation. Aromas of sweet malt, chocolate, candy sugar, and spicy yeast flood the nose. The palate is soft and full on the tongue, with flavors of sweet malt, chocolate, earthy yeast, and candy sugar. Frostbite finishes sweet and malty up front, then ends with some spicy yeast flavors, and light hints of peppery alcohol. This beer hides its 8% abv well, and is dangerously drinkable. I enjoyed this one. Makes a nice after work beer to unwind with, or a good beer to match with a desert, or enjoy as a night cap.

Somewhat surprisingly sour finish: I start with this because its most prominent characteristic. Metallic and thin flavor, as well as aroma. Slightly malty - dry and slightly roasty cocoa but not much hop presence. The alcohol content isn’t obvious.

Medium red color with very minimal head - aroma of artificial sweetener, cherry syrup and brown sugar - thin bodied and flavored for the style - medium swet and roasty, a background sourness comes late - not terrible, but needs serious work.

I like this. It poured a giant head that didn’t settle very quickly. Nice dark colour, good depth to the malty body, and some subtle hoppy flavours. There was a nice plesent yeastiness to it, and while it didnt’ strike me as an above average belgian ale, it was very enjoyable.

A 12-ounce bottle pours a cloudy, medium brown ale with a tiny off-white head that leaves only light lacing. There is an odd aroma that resembles canned sauerkraut. The taste is equally peculiar with a sharp lambic, sour cherry tartness over a pale caramel and roasted malt backbone. Thin, unsatisfying body and lack of any discernable hop character or finish contribute to a poor rating. Perhaps I stumbled upon a spoiled bottle?

Excellent Copper coloring with huge brown head. Not my favorite of beer. A cross between a lager, with slight tartness of a lambic mixed with some caramel.