When I was at the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant, in San Francisco, recently, I tried not only the Fleishhacker Stout but also the Pumpkin Spice Ale. Unfortunately, I was unable to find very much information about this beer so this review will be a little shorter than my standard reviews.
Where I Found It. I had this beer at the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant in San Francisco, CA.
Serving Type. When I sampled this brew, it it was served from the tap into a pint glass.
Appearance. The head is a light, off-white, tan color but does not last very long. The color of this Pumpkin Spice Ale is a nice bright orange color that is complementary to the fact that this is a pumpkin ale. This beer is crystal clear.
Smell. The aroma of this Pumpkin Spice Ale is slightly sweet, malty, and mild. The bouquet has a just a hint of pumpkin pie spices such as nutmeg, cloves, and a dash of cinnamon. There is another sweetness present like that of concord grapes but in a good way as if it will be refreshing. I also noticed the grape-juice-like scent in the Beach Chalet stout, which makes me wonder what is causing that scent.
Taste. The pumpkin pie flavor is very subtle and is by no means in your face. There are flavors of a dash of nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon alongside some cloves. I also experienced a vanilla flavor but not as strong as a cream soda. There is definitely malt sweetness present and the balance is in favor of the malt over the hops. After a while, the slight vanilla flavor takes on a light caramel flavor.
Mouthfeel. The mouthfeel is smooth with a slightly spicy aftertaste. This pumpkin ale is a light to medium bodied ale. It is not too watery and not too thick.
Drinkability. This is a wonderful beer to try especially if you like a pumpkin ale that is more subtle than in your face. Personally, I prefer to have the pumpkin spice flavors to be pronounced. It is quite possible, however, that this batch has mellowed over time.
Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score. The overall rating is calculated exactly the same way as Beer Advocate.
Appearance (20%): 4.0
Smell (20%): 3.5
Taste (40%): 3.5
Mouthfeel (10%): 3.5
Drinkability (10%): 3.0
Overall: 3.55
Information
Alcohol by volume: unknown, I’ll guess 5.6% like most of their other beers
Snow Cap Ale is winter seasonal beer available from October to January from Pyramid Breweries, which is located in 5 locations on the West Coast. Both the brewer, Pyramid, and Beer Advocate list the style of this beer as a winter warmer. Pyramid goes on to say that this beer is crafted in the British tradition:
A rich, full-bodied winter warmer crafted in the British tradition of holiday beers. This deep mahogany colored brew balances complex fruit flavors with a refreshingly smooth texture, making Snow Cap a highly drinkable and desirable cold weather companion.
I heartily agree with the assessment that Snow Cap Ale is a great cold weather brew. This beer contains a hefty 7.0% alcohol and when you drink this beer you know, from both the taste and the affects, that it is strong.
Pyramid should be commended for listing so much detail about Snow Cap and their other beers on their website. If you’re a home brewer, you can use some of these details to approximate a clone recipe or at the very least use it for inspiration. For instance, this beer contains the following malts: 2-Row Barley, Caramel 80L , and Chocolate Malt. And the following hops: Nugget, Willamette, East Kent Goldings. Pyramid lists Snow Cap as having a gravity of 17.3 degrees Plato or about 1.071 specific gravity. With 7.0% alcohol by volume, the final gravity should be about 1.018 specific gravity.
Where I Found It. I picked up a 12oz bottle 6-pack at a Beverages and More in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Serving Type. When I sampled this brew, it it was served from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance. The head had a nice cappuccino color but the head did not last too long. The color of the Snow Cap Ale is a very dark amber or a mahogany wood finish. Although mostly opaque due to the color, the beer was clear and not cloudy.
Smell. The aroma had an earthy smell with an essence of roasted chestnuts, which, if you have not had them, are sweet, roasty, and starchy. I also sensed a hint of banana and cloves and this makes me very curious about the yeast that was used. The hop bouquet was slightly spicy and smelled like an evergreen tree, possibly a douglas fir. I’m not certain right now which of the 3 hops would contribute to that type of bouquet.
Taste. When I tasted Snow Cap Ale, it reminded me of a beer from New Belgium Brewing, either 1559 or 2-Below. It had a roasty-burnt taste but not a bad burnt taste maybe like flambé. There was also a flavor of cloves. This is a 7.0% alcohol beer and I tasted the alcohol astringency in the beer. The hop bitterness was well balanced and not overhelming at all.
Mouthfeel. Snow Cap Ale felt like a full-bodied beer with an appropriate amount of carbonation. The aftertaste had a lingering bitterness.
Drinkability. This beer was surpisingly smooth and drinkable beer especially in colder weather. Snow Cap Ale, however, is not a session beer. It is strong and one is enough. Despite the fact that I prefer other winter seasonals, this is a top notch winter warmer that I would drink again.
Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score. The overall rating is calculated exactly the same way as Beer Advocate.
Appearance (20%): 4.0
Smell (20%): 3.5
Taste (40%): 3.5
Mouthfeel (10%): 3.5
Drinkability (10%): 3.5
Overall: 3.6
What Others Thought
It is always more enjoyable to share a beer with friends and family. As part of this blog I plan on not only reviewing the beer myself but also gathering feedback from others. Below is what Liz, Erin, and Patrick thought about Snow Cap Ale.
Liz
Appearance. Coffee dark. Frothy head.
Smell. Coffee grounds.
Taste. Rich, smooth, roasty, sweet.
Mouthfeel. Creamy.
Drinkability. Yes.
Erin
Appearance. Dark brown, clear, amber. 5.0
Smell. Coffee, chocolate, hops, and wood. 4.5
Taste. Coffee, choclate, hops, woody but not as strong a sandalwood, cream soda. 4.0
Mouthfeel. Smooth. 4.0
Drinkability. Very good and smooth but not a strong finish. 3.5
Patrick
Appearance. Very dark brown, coffee color. Samll, tight head. 4.0
Smell. Alcohol, banana, cherry. 3.0
Taste. Sweet, no hoppiness, strong. 3.5
Mouthfeel. Astringent with tight bubbles and a bitter finish. 4.0
Drinkability. Drinkable. Not a session beer. Goes down easy. 3.0
Caption from the Bottle
The following caption is found on the neck of the bottle:
It’s not winter without it. Snow Cap is a complex ale that is mahogany in color and deliciously smooth. Drink it while you can because when the snow’s gone so’t the Snow Cap.
Information
Alcohol content: 7.0% alcohol by volume
Malts: 2-Row Barley, Caramel 80L, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Nugget, Willamette, East Kent Goldings
Gravity: 1.071 specific gravity or 17.2 degree Plato
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