This week on for our brew review we’re taking on RJ Rockers First Snow Ale. This is RJ Rockers’ Winter seasonal brew, and unfortunately, we weren’t all that impressed. We felt that the ale didn’t have enough character on its own to combat the overwhelming spice notes. We’re not really fans of spiced beers overall, but even considering that, this winter brew didn’t live up to our expectations. Check out the video for more details.
Christopher George & Mike Cathcart
Why shouldn’t the mug or glass be chilled? You mentioned it but didn’t give a reason.
I personally am a huge fan of the First Snow. It’s one of my favorites of all of our beers, next to Son of a Peach and Buckwheat.
There are two reasons why you shouldn’t chill a glass or mug. First, when beer hits a frosted glass condensation from the glass will dilute the beer. Second, the cold glass acts like a giant ice cube, chilling the beer well below ideal serving temperature.
The First Snow already had one strike against it for us in just being a spiced beer. Generally, I don’t like my beer to be flavored with anything but hops and malt. Still, as I said in the review there are some winter/spiced ales that I think are well-done. I just found the First Snow to be a little too weak as a beer to handle those heavy winter spices.
But of course, everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
“Generally, I don’t like my beer to be flavored with anything but hops and malt”
Reinheitsgebot. When beer tasted like beer.:)
Generally the colder the beer, the less you can taste.You miss more of the complex flavors. A good Belgium beer can actually be ruined by chilling it too much.
Very interesting. I had no idea, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it. No wonder I only do administrative stuff for the brewery! Haha.
bought a six of the pale ale yesterday. Why is RJ Rockers so hard to find in the grocery store? Is there a better place with wider (more then one type) selection? If so where?
Oasis over on 295 near Fuddruckers has all of their styles, and a decent selection of beers overall. I don’t really know why our local grocery stores don’t carry more of RJ’s stuff.
thanks. I’ll have to give the place a visit
Carriage House Wines also sells six-packs, at least they did last time I was in there. That’s normally where I go to grab my Box of Rocks after work.
The grocery stores are a hit-or-miss. Sometimes they have the stuff and sometimes they don’t. :/
Yeah, it’s funny, Ingles in Boiling Springs sells some of the individual bottles but no six- or twelve-packs.