’Tis The Season

Similar to children who can’t wait to open their presents on Christmas morning, many beer aficionados have a giddy anticipation for the numerous winter beers that begin to avail themselves over the last months of the year. Snowy scenes adorn bottle labels, festive names are created and breweries attempt to present exciting creations for the holidays.
As I made mention last week, these November/December beers go by many different names: the style is actually winter warmer, however some call them holiday beers, others Christmas special brews, and some denote them holiday spiced selections. Whatever their title, brewers from all over have offered winter specialties for the gathering of family and friends over the holidays. The beers created for the cold winter months were made with strong flavors and higher alcohol levels, hence the name winter warmer.
The most traditional contributions were from English German brewers. The time-honored brews were created containing higher levels, and possibly better selections of malt. They were hearty, typically sweet, and made to be savored and enjoyed slowly.
A beer that might underwhelm the ever-changing and challenge-inviting American beer palate, Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome is a classic winter warmer and should be revisited. This ale is available nearly everywhere, and at 6.0 percent ABV, should succeed in warming you this winter.
Served in the large, clear 18.7 fluid ounce-bottle, the label artwork is happy, inviting, and winteresque. A designation of 2015/2016 is shown at the top, just under the Sam Smith’s signature flower symbol. The label exclaims, “Blessing of Your Heart You Brew Good Ale” – W. Shakespeare. Coming from The Old Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England, you can almost feel the old beer world as you sip this one.
The winter welcome pours up a clear orange amber color with a large, white, fluffy head of foam. Rings of lace begin to form almost immediately as the head drops. A snowy layer of foam stays on top of the beer as it is drained. A spicy hop/fruit smell bleeds into a sharp honey and butter on warm bread accent and a slight notice of mineral water that can be found with some British beers.
Toasted malt flavors cross the mouth, accompanied by grain and butterscotch before a dry, flowery hop essence is found in the aftertaste. This is definitely one of those brews that need to warm up a bit in order to get the best taste from the ale.
Winter Welcome can be a tad harsh at the outset if too cold, but once it warms, the flavors are malty, tasty and wonderful. Of course, with a rise in temperature of the beer, you also might notice a rise in alcohol presence, and a fuzzy feeling all over!
This beer feels moderately thick, with some carbonation, but it also quite slick over the mouth, creamy and soft. Samuel Smith is archetypal in the beer industry; all of their selections are solid. This is the standard for an English winter warmer, no spices or fruit additions, just a flavorful ale with a warming effect for the holidaze. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.