The American Brown Ale that has been an Oakshire winter-staple since 2008, is available now. In an updated format for 2020, the Ill-Tempered Gnome can be found in 16oz. 4-packs across the Pacific Northwest and Colorado. Always the harbinger of the darker months, Ill-Tempered Gnome remains a popular cooler-weather choice for both IPA and Amber drinkers alike and was previously only available on draft and in 22oz. bottles. This year’s new 16oz. cans feature a fresh and festive label design with Gnorm, the ill-tempered gnome, glaring at you, and daring you to drink this malty and roasty ale. Ill Tempered Gnome weighs in at 6.8% ABV.
This is a wonderful brown ale with the expected Winter spices, but also a more hop forward approach. It is not too bitter, but the hops do shine and balance the malt backbone. The burnt caramel flavor is nice and dry. Roasty, malty and resinous, we had to stop ourselves from chugging this beer it was so good. Control, aliens, control… review details needed…
Some of you Winter Ale purist humans may not like the hop flavor being a little more prominent than you are used to, but we feel the resin flavors from the hops do compliment the Winter spices. All of the malty flavors you would expect in a Winter Ale are still present and since pine is a typical aroma found in a Winter Ale, it only makes sense to be able to taste the pine as well.
If you are already a fan of Ill Tempered Gnome from previous years, fear not humans, the expected flavors are all there. You already know how wonderful this beer is. Overall, this is a great beer and we hope we get to drink more soon.
Terry Bunch
