Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: English Strong Ale
Tadcaster, England

550 ml, 2005-2006 label. Clear orange-copper with a large and lasting head. Aroma is caramel and spicy vegetal herbs. Flavor is caramel, toffee with some dry spicyness, and light fruit flavors - apple, grape. Soft medium palate is smooth with a dry finish. Great balance, with lots of malt flavor that is dried out quite nicely by some spices and hops.

The aroma is the best part of this beer, and is one of my favorites all around. Cookie malts, some dough and some brown sugar is what I could come up with, and the sum is greater than its parts. Slightly acidic and metallic finish take away from the pleasantness, but its a great one to stick your nose in.

I liked this one. So far I think this is the best I’ve had from Samuel Smiths. But then again, I’ve only had like 4 beers from them. Has a nice brown/golden color to it. Taste has a little bit of a sweet flavor to it. But it’s not an overpowering sweetness. It’s very nicely balanced. Has a nice smooth aftertaste. Good job Samuel Smith!

2006-2007 Vintage - Amber pour into a thin foamy head with lingering lacings. Malty caramel and slight hoppy aroma. Taste of warm cider & roasted chestnuts.

2008-2009 vintage poured from a 550ml bottle into dimpled mug Aroma - Caramel, toffee, with a slightly grassy aroma Appearance - Clear copper with 2 finger white head. Flavor - Malty with notes of toffee,notes of winter fruit with a bit of grassy hops toward the end. Palate - Light to medium. Easy on the carbonation. Slow on the finish. Overall - Too bad this ESB is a seasonal. Like all the other Samuel Smith’s products, this is an excellent example of the style that it’s patterned after. Very tasty, very drinkable.

Pours a copper color with a thick, ivory head. Smells of fruity caramel. Makes me think of eating fruit with a caramel dip. Quite pleasant. There is the slightest of a bite upfront, but immediately vanishes and is replaced by the same caramel/fruity flavor. The finish is quite pleasant, not very bitter or spicy at all...very sweet. Carbonation is strong but it does not take away from the overall mouthfeel. Not too thin, not too thick. This is a highly drinkable brew. I could easily sip this one down and move on to the next...if they came in six packs and were a bit easier on the wallet. Overall a great brew. It wouldn’t hurt if it was a tad bit stronger as in other winter warmers, but it gets the job done. Will definitely have this again. Reviewed on: 02-20-2007

This is not what I expected from a winter ale, but the full body and balance for the brew was a nice change from others. This English is solid, but still drinkable, with a slight bitter, grassy twang a few moments after the sip. My only complaint is I wanted to be intised a little more because I didn’t get much aroma, though there was nothing out of place. Overall, one of the better Winter brews that won’t bloat you. Drink up.

Spicy with fruit undertones. Hard to find fresh here in Mi. Good hop flavor and nice Belgian lace.