Great Lakes Brewing Winter Ale

Brewed by Great Lakes Brewing (Ontario)
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Etobicoke, Canada

Dark ruby with thin cola like head that keeps a lacing on the side of the glass. Aroma is sweet and malty with a fruit hint, and a mildly astringent wine aroma as well. Flavour lacks the wine in the aroma. Malt spice flavour. I can’t really pick out the spices too well, honey is present. There is a light citrus acidicness and the body is relaxing. I want another bottle! This is the best beer from this brewery that I have had so far.

Bottle from the brewery. Deep red/brown pour, with a thin film of a head. Aroma of mulled wine and grated ginger. Initial taste of subtle citric sharpness gives way to traditional mulling spices. A tingle of ginger on the tongue pleasantly finishes off the sip. Strong malt backbone, and very little bitterness. I would recommend starting this one chilled and drinking slowly, as different sides to the beer develop as it warms. Another solid brew from Great Lakes.

Spicey, pit fruit aroma, auburn, tiniest of heads. Some of the flavours are allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardomum, brazil nuts, and christmas pudding. Medium bodied, very complex really well balanced. Terrific! Very impressive offering, keep up the good work. Thank You Ralph.

Veyr good but too sweet and that made it too alcoholic for me. It was nic einc olour and shape, and nice foam.

[139-20061209] Bottle. Sweeeeet cookie icing, almost floral scent. Clear, brown body with no bubbles and an off-white head. Spicy (but not hot) flavour with background notes of ginger, cinnamon, plum, pot-pourri and a little Christmas pudding. Medium body with a nice feel. Very interesting complex flavour and not too thick. (8/3/7/3/14) 3.5

[990B-20071217] Tap @ C’est What (Toronto, ON). Cinnamon and ginger aroma has a hint of apple Life-Saver candies. Clear, dark red brown body with quick off-white bubbles. Flowery apple cinnamon and mild spices flavour. Medium body is a little watered down but still has an astringent finish. Nice, winter theme definitely present. (8/2/7/2/14) 3.3

On tap at Bar Volo. Served in an English Pint with an overwhelming white head. Smell was somewhat floral with a minimal hint of bread. Mouthfeel was fairly thin. Taste was of orange peel and mostly doughy yeast. Nothing really complex here. A decent beer, not something I would prefer to drink twice, but could.

Tap at C’est. Reddish-brown with a small head. Smells vaguely of fruit and spice with forward malts and a decently dry finish. A little bit on the generic side, not enough body or overall flavour to really bring home the theme. No major flaws, at least.

Smells of sweet sweet banana. Golden brown in colour. Weak dissipating head. banana in flavour, much like that banana medication (you know the stuff) with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. Strangely sweet aftertaste. A very nice dessert beer.