Stylin’ & Profilin’ is a brief look at different beer styles that will help you learn whether they’re right for you. Ultimately, words can’t truly turn you on to a solid craft beer. You have to smell, taste, and savor each sip to truly discover if it’s one you’ll come back to in the future. But the background info obtained in this post won’t hurt anything either.
What is a Winter Beer?
Seasons inevitably change. And as the darkness sets in earlier and the nip in the air becomes more brisk, so does the style of beer we crave. The session ales and light lagers that complement summer so well are quickly replaced by the warmth of thick, full-body strong ales and specially-spiced Christmas ales designed to accentuate the holiday season and keep us toasty when Mother Nature says otherwise.
But what is a Winter Beer? Affectionately known as Winter Warmers, these beers present a large malt presence both in flavor and in appearance. Their colors range from brownish red to pitch black. In these particular styles, the bitterness delivered by hops is low but balanced, but that hop character can stand out in some cases.
Several English versions of Winter Warmers do not contain spices, but those that are spiced follow the “wassail” tradition. Wassailing has been associated with Christmas and New Year as far back as the 1400s. It was a way of passing on good wishes among family and friends. Wassail is an ale-based drink seasoned with spices and honey and this combination was popular before hops became the “spice” of choice in traditional beers. American varieties of Winter Warmers have a larger presence of hops in both bitterness and flavor, although malt-forwardness truly defines these particular brews.
Many great offerings light the marquee for Winter Beer supremacy and, ultimately, it’s going to come down to personal style preference and overall drinkability that will truly define your winter go-tos. Personally, my favorite winter offering, the one that first introduced me to these particular styles as I was transitioning into craft beer, still tops my list and makes the colder months much more bearable. Anderson Valley Winter Solstice came into my life almost by accident and instantly had me hooked. I pulled up a stool at a neighborhood bar on a snowy Saturday evening and asked the bartender what he recommended. He could’ve recommended a variety of other options, but he went Solstice and, as the old saying goes, the rest is history.
Winter Solstice is Anderson Valley’s take on the Winter Warmer, featuring an amber hue, rich mouthfeel, and creamy finish. It contains notes of toffee, spice, and caramel. The brew complements a snowy night accented by crisp winds almost perfectly.
Take my word for it, Solstice is a great place to start. But there are many others offering similar styles with exceptional quality. In addition, Winter is a great time to find and enjoy stouts and roasty porters, too. The overall profile of these beers, just like all craft beers, can be enjoyed year-round. However, there’s a certain quality in these beers that makes them pair with winter in exceptional fashion.
Get to know more winter beers:
As always, it doesn’t end here. Keep your options open, allow some variety into your world, and you’ll soon discover that special Winter Warmer you’ll hope Santa leaves under the tree for you Christmas morning.
‘TIS THE SEASON TO SHARE! What’s your favorite Winter Beer?! Tell us about it in the Comments Section Below!
4 thoughts on “Stylin’ & Profilin’: What Is a Winter Beer?”
The Harpoon Winter Warmer has been my go to for the past few years, but I gave the Winter Solstice a try for the first time this year. It is by far the best winter beer I’ve ever had.
I’ve had several others and many I’d go back to again, but none of them have jumped over Solstice. That’s going to be a tough spot to take!
Personally, I love the Southern Tier Old Man. Easily one of my favorite seasonal beers, aside from Snow Melt from East End Brewing that is. I love hearing “first time” stories about craft beer, it’s great to look back and see what got each of us into craft beer. Great post, keep up the great work!
Thanks Brian. I just picked up a case of Old Man for a Friendsgiving beer exchange. Also a very solid option. Locally, yes, Snow Melt is a tremendous go-to, as well as Full Pint’s Festivus.