Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale

An unusual take on the style. Pours a yummy clear crimson gold, little head, slight effervescence. Nose dominated by coppery malts, honey, caramel, malts of all shades, some oaky characters. Hops used predominantly to balance malt sweetness. Not overpowering, a nice change of pace. re-rate 2007:Pours a lovely caramel amber with a quickly receding clear white foamy head, leaving a small ring and thin patina of bubbles on the surface. Aroma is full of caramel and biscuit, a slight roastiness. Not too thick on the palate, flavors of graham crackers, mild spiciness, a relatively well bittered lager-like hop character, nice crisp finish like rice cereal along with pretty strong buttery diacetyl with a lingering minty bitterness. Seems to land somewhere between an old ale and an IPA. Not bad.

550 ml bottle. Coarse, mostly lasting tan head over a clear amber to light ruby colored body. Light sweet toasted malts, mild hops, and notes of caramel and nuts in the aroma. Full malty taste. Notes of wood and roast with a nice hoppy edge. Body is medium plus. Malt-sweetness and lingering hops in the finish. Nice all over.

Pours a clear ruby with a little bit of head that leaves a little bit of lace on the way down. Nose has a touch of pine and surprisingly (for a 6% ABV) I am getting alcohol. Taste is rather dry. I don’t think I have had a beer this dry before. Seems a bit woody, kind of like sucking on a piece of oak. For a winter warmer, I am not feeling very warmed. Mouthfeel is standard. Drinkable, sure. But I think there are better of the style out there. Overall, a disappointment I’d say.

English version of a Belgian X-mas ale. Light amber with a white head, Aromatic spicy nose. Cinnamon malt and barley flavour. Nice palate spicy swallow...good stuff.

A Mes rate: Odd sized 550ml bottle from the Bottle Shop. Nice dark red/ amber appearance with a decent creamy head that is sadly very short lived. Very nosable beer. Almost Belgian in character. Lots of dark fruit malt, bread and plenty of spice too. Pleasing toffee and alcohol notes too. Definite Jamaican ginger cake too. Flavour is pretty much identical with a pleasing sour note in the finish that turns bitter and has good length. Lovely warm alcohol notes too. Much more than I would expect considering the abv. Pleasant lick of pineapple too. Much as I hate to admit it I have to say ot’s pretty tasty.

Name: Winter Welcome
Date: January 01, 1995
Source: Three Dollar Cafe
slight yeast aroma, dry from start to finish

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Score: ***+/4

Name: Winter Welcome
Date: November 13, 1997
Vintage: 1997
Appearance: light amber, whispy head
Flavor: light carmel flavor, slight bitter finish

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4

Name: Winter Welcome
Date: November 24, 1999
Mode: Bottle
Source: Sherlocks, GA
Vintage: 1999
Appearance: clear amber, lots of tiny bubbles, long lasting fine cream head, drippy lace
Aroma: butterscotch aroma with a touch of hops
Flavor: smooth malt flavor, hint of butterscotch, sliqhtly spicy bitter hop finish

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Score: **4

Name: Winter Welcome
Date: December 09, 2000
Mode: Bottle
Source: Sherlocks, GA
Vintage: 2000
Appearance: clear amber
Aroma: sweet carmel malt aroma with a touch of floral hops
Flavor: solid malt flavor with lots of butterscotch essence, light bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Score: **4

Name: Winter Welcome
Date: January 20, 2002
Mode: Bottle
Source: Sherl

Bottle. Slightly sour start, later on sweeter, a little bit malty. Average creamy white head, mostly lasting. Red-orange coloured body. Bittersweet start, long duration on the palate. An oily-creamy texture, flat carbonation and an medium to full body. Indeed a full bodied beer.

[547-20070818] 550mL (w/ ducttape, jerc). Caramel malt aroma. Clear, amber brown body with a long-lasting creamy off-white head. Very alcoholic caramel malt flavour with some spices. Medium-full body. Strange kick is not initially pleasant.