Smoky Mountain Winter Warmer

Brewed by Smoky Mountain Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Old Ale
Gatlinburg, Tennessee USA

This is one of the first old ales I’ve had and I must say it was delightful. Sweetish malt representation was not overpowering. Medium bodied.

Dark, with a very little head thanks to whoever poured it from the draught. Very nice use of the heavy alcohol (they told me it was well over 10%) because it slides down the palate. Complex taste and aroma to match.

12/22/07 Gatlinburg, TN Bartendeds state that this beer is strong and should be drunk with caution. Very similar to the Duck Rabbitt Baltic Porter in taste, and body. However, this was much more plesant on the palate because the alcohol didn’t jump out and tackle you. I enjoyed this and would get again.

Draught: This one pours a brownish dark amber color. Mine had very little head to it. I found the aroma to be a little thin, even after I let it warm up from its ice cold pour. I did get some spices and a bit of caramel malt to the nose. The taste came off as sweet. There was caramel malt sweetness to it, but it tasted overly sweet, almost like it had a half a spoon of sugar in it. There was a fair amount of spiciness and a hint of hops, but not near enough to cover up the sweetness. Just OK.

Pickled, fruity aroma - grapes. Sweet, raisins, bittering is mostly wood and alcohol and comes into the game late. Some blackberry and vanilla. Medium body overall - a little on the syrupy side when cold, thins out as it warms. Finishes out bitter with a little vinegar. Medium ruby brown and clear.

Winter ’06 batch. Draught, pours dark ruby color,with no head. Aroma is sweet smooth caramel malts with some spiciness and yeast. The flavor is sweet caramel, with a lot of berry fruitiness in the middle, and a finish that is quite warming, and slightly bitter.

On tap at brewery. Deep amber, thin head. Dried fuit aroma. Served too cold. Sweet malts flavor with maple sryup. Good hop balance. Rich stuff, not bad.

A deep amber pour with a thin tan head and foamy lace. A flavor that is sweet malt and an almost apple cinnamon spiceness. This beer fades into a bitter that is pleasant and lasting. A palate that is almost slick with carbonation that is a little much until the beer warms. The carbonation lets up and the flavors really start to come out. One of the better beers I’ve had from here.