Rush River Winter Warmer

On draught at Coaches Sportsbar in downtown River Falls, Wisconsin. Pours a clear dark coppery amber brew with a creamy off-white head that has an excellent retention head that remains silky creamy with some sticky and good lacing. Aroma is very malty, characters of caramel, toffee and some candi sugar with a touch of flowery hops. Taste is smooth, slick and a little extra alcohol metallic texture with flavors of roasted caramel malt, toffee and some toasted marshmallow. Finish is semi-sweet with a lingering toasted malt and sugary marshmallow aftertaste. Very interesting and enjoyable winter brew.

On tap in Winona. Zero head whatsoever nothing at all to write home about. Would not ever try again.

Nothing special. Poured a dark amber with no head whatsoever. Aroma and taste of fruit juice with too much carbonation. barely any hop or grain character. Alcohol might hold up to a winter warmer but the taste was closer to a juicy juice. Would not buy again.

Tap at the Happy Gnome. Muddy water pour. Creamy and dense appearance, but bubbly. Ice cream melted into root beer. Nose of toffee and butterscotch. Heavy malt taste is uniform to start, simple and dragging. Tangy raspberries and caramel open up with time, offset by the dusted, hollow earthiness of merlot. Simplistic palate, teetering on the edge of offensive; very dull, and childlike.

Malty for sure. There is no hop character to this beer. It is very smooth as the description says, but the sweet malt flavor is one dimensional and lacks the fruit or vinous flavors of better Scotch ales. Dark brown with a thick head. Tap; Happy Gnome.