Josephs BrauFEST: part 4

Hello all, and welcome back for the fourth and final installment of Younge's Beer Review! This week, we have the likes of Joseph Brau Winterbrew, the bitchin' winter Doppel-bock. This is the 'seasonal' portion of the seasonal variety pack, and it packs the biggest punch.

The nose off the bottle is that of semisweet chocolate, not unusual for a Doppel bock. Pouring results in a crimson body, with a thick head that settles nicely into a thin disc of foam. In fact, the WinterBrew has the thickest head of each of the JB selections thus far. The first taste brings some interesting bittersweet to it. Dark chocolate, caramel tones, and English toffee are all present. There is a light bitterness to it as well, accentuated by the rather high alcohol content. At 7.5% ABV, this beer is one of the stronger one's I've sampled in awhile. The finish is mostly caramel, but the hops really come out as the temperature rises. It's not a bad combination, overall, and the WinterBrew deserves marks for creativity and flavor profile. However, the beer can fall a bit flat in places. The finish is a bit lighter than it could be, and the combination of dessert flavors tends to clash a bit at times. Even so, it is a very drinkable after-dinner beverage.

Score: 7/10

Until next time,
Happy Drinking!
-Devin