Winter Seasonals
Mark West
Originally Published in Vol. 2, Iss. 2 (Dec 2008/Jan 2009)
Brrr, it’s cold! It seems only weeks ago I was grilling out, driving with the windows down and wearing my sexy short pants. Now we’re already just a few days too far into the long, cold winter season.
There are many nice things to look forward to in these coming months. The holiday season is upon us. Who doesn’t like the holidays? Then there’s snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing … the list goes on.
Of course, if you’re not into big family gatherings or wearing four layers of fleece and flannel to be able to bear a few runs on the slopes, the months can seem long. The days are filled with slushy, sloppy roads, shoveling walkways and the incredibly dry air because, well, everything is frozen.
Nothing quenches the dry indoor winter air like an icy cold beer. Winter seasonals are a fantastic way to make the tougher parts of winter just a little bit easier to deal with. Many varieties of winter seasonals embody the aromas, spices and flavors of the holiday season. Others are bold “body warmers” that use heavy, dark malts that feature roasted, chocolaty, full-bodied flavors. Still others warm you up on the inside with a higher alcohol content. I call that, “putting on my beer sweater.”
We’ve pulled just a few of these winter varieties off the shelf for a tasting. They run the gamut of styles and flavors, but no matter what the individual brewery’s idea of a “Winter Seasonal” is, they all aim to make these cold months just a little warmer.
Fort
Dogfishhead Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
They Say:
“A strong ale brewed with a ridiculous amount of pureed raspberries (over a ton of ‘em!). This beer features label artwork by Tara McPherson. If you really want to know, the average 12-ounce serving of Fort has 415 calories.”
I Say:
“Strong ale” is putting it mildly. This robust beer pours golden amber and as cloudy as any beer I’ve seen. The off-white head diminished quickly. An overwhelming phenolic (medicinal) aroma dominates a hint of fruity esters. The flavor is similar to the aroma, but adds a definite bite of alcohol and a lingering astringent aftertaste. The flavor is complex and probably not for the casual beer drinker. To put it mildly, it’ll put hair on your chest. I bet this beer would mellow very well with age, given the proper cellaring conditions.
Snow Cap Winter Warmer
Pyramid Breweries
Portland, OR & Berkley, CA
They Say:
“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 Say:
The dark ruby, clear and effervescent body quickly encouraged me. It was well carbonated, producing a caramel-colored medium-loose head. It even left lots of lacing in the glass. The aroma is of rich berries and caramel over hints of tart phenols. The flavor starts off roasted and sweet but finishes very phenolic and somewhat astringent. I had hoped for a more pleasant aftertaste. Short of that, it was a pretty impressive beer.
Winter Warmer Barley Wine
Upland Brewing Co
Bloomington, IN
They Say:
“A full-bodied, brown ale with a rich chocolate taste created from roasted chocolate and caramel malts. Topped with Czech Saaz Hops to give it a spicy flavor and aroma.”
I Say:
Another deep brown, hearty-looking winter ale. It hosts a thick caramel head. I thought it strange, though, that it had an almost non-existent aroma. Very faintly, I did detect just a mild sweetness. It had an impressively smooth and creamy mouth feel. Like I expected from the aroma, there was very little evidence of hops in the flavor profile. What I did taste was a mild roasted flavor, slight sweetness and just a hint of bitter in the aftertaste. The flavor is not very complex and very drinkable. I could probably drink this all evening, but it wouldn’t be what made the evening special.
Winterbraun Ale
Lost Coast Brewery & CafÉ
Eureka, CA
They Say:
“A full-bodied, brown ale with a rich chocolate taste created from roasted chocolate and caramel malts. Topped with Czech Saaz Hops to give it a spicy flavor and aroma.”
I Say:
Another deep brown, hearty-looking winter ale. It hosts a thick caramel head. I thought it strange, though, that it had an almost non-existent aroma. Very faintly, I did detect just a mild sweetness. It had an impressively smooth and creamy mouth feel. Like I expected from the aroma, there was very little evidence of hops in the flavor profile. What I did taste was a mild roasted flavor, slight sweetness and just a hint of bitter in the aftertaste. The flavor is not very complex and very drinkable. I could probably drink this all evening, but it wouldn’t be what made the evening special.
St Benedict’s Winter Ale
Stevens Point Brewery.
Stevens Point, WI
They Say:
“St. Benedict of Nursia lived in the late 5th to early 6th
centuries. Legend has it while living in solitude, he was befriended by a raven that later saved his life. He is most remembered for writing the Rule of St. Benedict that, among other virtues, teaches humility. Inspired by this Rule we humbly offer St. Benedict’s Winter Ale, a hand-crafted ale using generous amounts of dark roasted malts and the finest noble hops for a robust warming flavor.”
I Say:
This beer pours out dark copper and clear. A spicy fruitiness hits your nose immediately. The caramel-colored head came on strong but diminished a bit quickly. The color of the beer was a bit deceiving to the mouth feel. It seemed a bit thinner than I expected. Spices probably include cinnamon and perhaps some nutmeg, but there is certainly a hint of sweetness and balanced hopiness. The flavor is well balanced and bold. It’s spicy, sweet and bready with a slight hint of alcohol.
