Beer Review: Penn Nut Roll Ale

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 5.5 percent

Appearance: Penn Brewery's Nut Roll Ale has a body that's golden brown in color. The head of the beer was white and somewhat thin. This serving was out of a growler. So, the second glass I had featured a more prominent head, but still with weak retention. There was also plenty of carbonation. The odd thing was the bubbles didn't rise towards the crown of the glass. They grouped on the side of it.

Smell: If you ever go to a family function around this time of the year and come across a nut roll you'll know exactly what I mean. It had an aroma of sweetness, yet it was roasty and nutty. There was a lot of sugar, cinnamon and toffee, but there was also a hint of caramel malt and nuts to spice things up.

Taste: A few things that I didn't pick up in the aroma were the presence of nutmeg and vanilla. Well, they came across fairly well on the tongue. These two were needed to bring this beer together. The cinnamon added some extra zing on the finish and added that winter warmer essence you look forward too in these seasonal beers. It was really close to actually tasting like a nut roll.

Overall Rating: 

I'm not so sure you can classify this brew as a winter ale, as its tastes and aromas are more in resemblance of a brown ale. Yet, it still is a good drink for the holidays. Especially for those of us that enjoy this dessert with our families. This is definitely one of those beers that falls under my "Pie Theory." Which reminds me. I really need to write a post explaining that a bit more.

Monday Rant: Don't Be Stubborn

This week's edition of the Monday Rant segment is pretty much a dissection of myself and my own thoughts and feelings towards beer. Especially those beers most of us appreciate when we start to get out our sweaters and sweat pants for the cold winter months.

I've been overly loud when it comes to voicing my appreciation for the winter warmers and by that I mean I've voiced my disdain for them. Maybe it's just because I've had too many warmers that have been too spiced-up and overly strong for my palette. Over the years, I've noticed that quite a few of them seem eerily similar to each other in aroma and taste. It's rare that I find one that stands out. Don't get me wrong. There are good winter ales out there to be consumed. I just don't notice a lot of them.

To make a long story short, I came across one of those rare stand-outs this past weekend. I acquired a growler full of Penn Brewery's Nut Roll Ale and my world was rocked.

The name of the beer was almost enough to sway me into trying it. I love nut roll and enjoy having a few slices of one every year around Christmas. It's pretty much a staple on the tables of my family's holiday socials and in many other households around Pittsburgh. If you're not up-to-speed on the nut roll thing, then you can learn all about it by reading some of its Wikipedia entry.

This beer had a wonderful aroma of cinnamon and a smooth nutty taste that lingered as it warmed. I can't forget about its slight honey essence, too. Such a fantastic drink. Such an amazing start to the winter warmer season for me. I'm actually excited to come a cross a few new ones as more continue to hit the shelves of our local distributors.

There's only one request I have. There needs to be a winter ale named/themed after one of the great Christmas classics that appear on television (If there isn't one already). If there is, I want to get my hands on it.