Hale's Wee Heavy Winter Ale
Purchased from John's Marketplace in Portland, OR, at the tail end of a trip to the Oregon Brewers Festival. Served in a nonic pint glass. Appearance: A clear, deep brown/amber brew with orange highlights. No indication of yeast sediment in the bottle, even though the label claims this beer is "bottle conditioned." The head is nougat-beige and dissipates quickly, leaving only a ring of small bubbles. Smell: Brown-sugary sweet and very estery, with some earthy hops and a heady whiff of alcohol. Nothing smoky or peaty to back up the "Wee Heavy" name. Taste: Mostly a bready sweetness, like the inside of a glazed buttermilk doughnut. There's a bit of orangey hop flavor in there too, at the finish. Finishes drier than it starts. Not much in the hop department, aside from a tea-like bitterness at the very end. Still doesn't make me believe this is a Wee Heavy, though. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with excellent carbonation and a hint of alcohol warmth in the finish. A great example of the kind of mouthfeel a good winter warmer should have. Drinkability: Good mouthfeel, body and balance, with a good flavor that misses the mark that the label sets up for it. Hales Wee Heavy Winter Ale is a fine winter warmer but not much of a "Wee Heavy." Change the name and my numbers would become much more positive.