Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale

Bottle given to me for my B-day from my neighbors. Pours orange amber with an off white head. Faint aroma of caramel and spice. Medium bodied with somewhat prickly carbonation. Initial flavor of caramel and cinnamon, with some spicy hops to balance things out mid palate. Moderate sweetness. Finish has just a hint of dryness. As with most exported British Ales, this probably much better fresh or on tap.

Bottle. Nice festive feel to the label. Pours reddish with a light head and a malty piney aroma. Taste is much the same, nice balance of hops and malt. Very nice.

550 ml bottle. Clear and very pale orange-brown with a nice slightly off-white head. Sweet malt aroma of dull licorice. Mediumj body and very smooth. Pretty strong malty character--slightly burnt carmel and sweet pine. Finish is hearty malts that linger. Good but I expected more from a Sam Smith.

Brown bottle (2007-2008). Aroma of caramel malt with apple or pear. Amber color with vigorous white head that laced. Medium body with near creamy carbonation. Flavor is caramel/toffee with floral hop and spicy fruit. There’s a lot going on here. The finish is both dry and sweet, and there is balancing bitter (English floral type). I’d say apple is almost always present.

07-08... Amber color with a light, thin head. Aromas of sweet malt and brown sugar. Medium body with a nice mouthfeel. Lighter than I expected but very good nonetheless.

2007-2008 edition. Pours a sparkling amber color with a moderately full, off-white, pillowy head; longevity is decent and lace is minimal. Nose is nice but subdued with notes of granola, almonds, light brown sugar, light pomme fruit, and hints at toffee. Flavor is similar with a decent noble hop present being a bit dry and spicy; other notes include toffee, hints at chocolate, nutty cereal, and light apple. Palate is lively, nearly medium, and drying a bit with a smooth finish. Ends somewhat quickly with bittersweet notes of spicy hops, toffee, and a nutty presence. Not a bad ESA for the winter but it just doesn’t compare the American versions of winter ales, lacking body and assertiveness. Quite drinkable, just not overly enticing.

crystal clear amber with a decent off white head that settles into a thin film. nutty toffee apricot aroma sweet toffee apricot with a very light bitter backdrop. dry bittersweet slightly fruity toffee finish with a hint of chocolate. medium body...body seems a bit thin. moderate but almost fizzy carbonation. at first i thought there wasnt enough carbonation then it gets all fizzy and weird. damn aritficial carbonation. overall not a bad beer. not bad with widmers 4 year old cheddar.

Bottle. Pours a nice looking copper amber body with nice head. Aroma is sweet malt, light hops, musty. Flavor has a somewhat strong metallic feel to it, not too bad but odd with some spices and sour and sweet fruit. Nice mouthfeel.