Icicle Creek Winter
Ale
Review Date 4/28/1997 Last Updated 1/4/1999
Try?
Re-buy?
This is a substantial beer. This is a rich, malty beer.
This is a very tasty beer. I tasted Icicle Creek a bit late, five or six
months after it was released for the 1996 Holiday season, but a hearty
beer such as this (I'd call it an old ale/winter warmer) is not so easily
tamed by such a relatively short period of time. It has a deep ruby color,
light to minimal head, and VERY malty, rich palate. A bit of doppelbock-like
roasty maltiness is present too, perhpas from the use of dark German
malts? A bit buttery too, indeed, it reminds me somewhat of Geary's
Hampshire Ale, though no Ringwood is employed here. Alcohol is readily
perceptible here too. This beer is very much in the English vein. Next
winter, I simply must obtain more of this exceptional brew.
Update: January 4, 1999: I'm sipping a bottle of Icicle Creek on a very cold winter's night. It's still a malty delight, chock full of chocolate flavors and a touch of hop bitterness in the finish (more than I recall from past tastings). Doesn't seem so much to fit in the old ale/winter warmer category, but still a really nice brew.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
