F7-01-01-07: West Oak Winter Ale

Label inspiration: the picture is a "callback" to my first beer (label) and shows one of the two snowstorms we got in a matter of a few weeks (almost 4 feet in 2-2.5 weeks).

From Mr. Beer's Winter Seasonal Ale:

ABV- 6.5%   SRM- 40   IBU- 66

“Our Dark Strong Ale combines pale, crystal, chocolate, and wheat malts with liberal doses of Chinook and Amarillo hops. The complex and creamy malt profile provides steady support for the assertive bitterness. The American Ale yeast included (Safale US-05) keeps the flavor profile clean, with just a hint of fruit. This rich, rewarding treat is reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate, but is not for the faint of heart – it is black, bitter, and packs a punch!”

1 Can Dark Strong Ale HME
1 Packet Safale US-05 Dry Ale Yeast

Brewed batch on December 19, 2010. Had a new fermenter from Mr. Beer so I sanitized that one and made the winter ale in that container. Just used the large extract can with the yeast provided and let it sit for a few weeks.

Bottled beer on January 3, 2010. Tasted the beer. Didn’t taste too great. Tasted like it was bad. Put one beer in the fridge.

Tasted the beer that I left in the fridge on January 23, 2010. Tasted ok, very strong and flat.  I thought it was going to taste bad, but it was ok. 

Put beer in refrigerator on January 24, 2010. We’ll see how it tastes in a few weeks.

Tried my third winter ale on February 18, 2011. A lot better! We’ll see how good it gets in the coming weeks. I’m almost ready to get my taste-tester Brandon to try it. "Taste Tester #1" enjoyed it.

OVERALL SCORE: 7 of 10