On the eighth day of Beermas:
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 11: Castle Brewery Eggenberg – Samichlaus Classic
Day 12: Anchor Brewing – Our Special Ale 2014
Also check out my Prior Beermas adventures: