Coaster Critique: Rising Tide d’hiver

On the eighth day of Beermas:

Dhiver

Name: d’hiver

Brewed by: Rising Tide Brewing Company

Style: Spiced Ale

ABV: 7.5%

The beer pours a shadowy black-brown color that glows red-gold when held to the light, pour produced a thick khaki colored head that settled but never disappeared.

Smells like dark rye bread, caramel sweetness, a bit of citrus like orange zest and some delicate spice notes that I can’t put a name to.

Flavor is malt forward, burnt caramel, rye toast, and a nice blend of rye and saison peppery spiciness on the front end with citrus notes and more spice towards the finish that again I can’t place a name to, not cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger the normal holiday ale spices but something else, whatever it is it works. Medium to full body with a finish that is a dry with a lingering spice flavor.

Overall a delicious holiday ale, I had to go to Rising Tide’s website to find out the spice I must have been tasting was anise, which I’ve never been a fan of in beer but I enjoyed it here. Rich and full of flavor with a higher ABV, d’hiver is a nice seasonal offering that just asks to be sipped on a cold New England evening.

Cheers!

Chaddah

The 12 Days of Beermas 2014

Day 1: Samuel Adams – Old Fezziwig Ale

Day 2: Goose Island – Festivity Ale

Day 3: Magic Hat Brewing – Snow Roller

Day 4: Shipyard Brewing Company – Gingerbreadhead

Day 5: Traveler Beer Co. – Jolly Traveler

Day 6: SoMe Brewing – Cinnamon Toast

Day 7: Ridgeway Brewing – Reindeer’s Revolt

Day 8: Rising Tide – d’Hiver

Day 9: 21st Amendment – Fireside Chat

Day 10: Southern Tier – 2XMAS

Day 11: Castle Brewery Eggenberg – Samichlaus Classic

Day 12: Anchor Brewing – Our Special Ale 2014

Also check out my Prior Beermas adventures:

The 12 Days of Beermas 2013

The 12 Days of Beermas 2012

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.