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Weyerbacher Winter Ale 3.16 360

Weyerbacher Winter Ale

Percentile
62
overall

bottled
common

on tap
available

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3603.16/5.03.16/5.0Winter5.6%50English pint, Trappist glass
Commercial Description:
At Weyerbacher we have created a Winter Ale that is a must for any malty beer lover. Winner of a Silver Medal in the 1998 World Beer Championships, Weyerbacher Winter Ale is brewed with deep-roasted chocolate malt. The taste predominates with a warm, roasty flavor, balanced out with a slightly dry finish. It is smooth but not cloying, with a warming belt of alcohol (5.6% ABV). Although winter ales predate history, they are believed to have their origin in the pagan celebrations of winter solstice. Later, when monasteries produced the local brew, winter ales were made each year to commemorate the birth of Christ. Back then, winter ales were brewed full-bodied as a source of nutrition for the upcoming winter months. Today, winter ales are typified by their seasonality, their rich, malty flavors and by their deep, dark coloration. Generally available November-March, Weyerbacher Winter Ale is the perfect libation for a winter meal, with good friends, or beside a warm fire fending off a cold winter night.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Frank (1076), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/57/103/512/20
Dec 6, 2005  
Dark brown garnet--pretty much what I would generally expect in a brown ale--w/ a nice creamy head of small and medium sized bubbles. Nose is mostly roasy w/ some spicy earthy hints. Rather on the sweet side which actually plays well against strong earthy elements. Full bodied w/ a slight bight from the carbonation. Slightly tart, lightly bitter and lingering finish. I rather like this but it leaves me wanting for a more complex malt profile.


 HogTownHarry (4037), Toronto (Harbourfront), Ontario, Canada
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/512/20
Dec 6, 2005  
Bottle (12oz). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and tupalev - two bottles from me and blankboy. Poured deep mahagony with a smallish off-white head. Aroma is mild - candyish vanilla, light roast malt, slightly funky. Taste slight roast malt, vanilla, pepper - starts sweet, gets a bit sour yet candyish. spicy, doesn’t know what it wants to be. Mouthfeel is watery but syrupy. Ehhh.


 jefcon (1009), Arlington, Virginia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/516/20
Dec 3, 2005  
Sweet malts on the nose. Chocolate, oats and yeasty aromas; some cinnamon. Plently of heft to the beer in the glass, as it is a deep brown with a tinge of red around the edges. Spice cake/gingerbread flavors tickle the tongue, while the finish to the beer is dry and light. Great malts, very festive, and no sense of the alcohol. A clean brew, if a bit thin. I view 1845 as the hallmark for English Strongs, and this effort is a bit more conservative with alcohol and spice, but much heavier on the chocolate malted elements. A different approach, and a successful one.


 Sregnar35 (732), Rotterdam, New York, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/514/20
Dec 1, 2005  
On tap at Mahars. This was interesting. Started off as other english strong ales, but finished with a great dry, cocoa powder flavor, really nice.


 DougShoemaker (2856), Toronto, Canada
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/513/20
Nov 30, 2005  
Chocolate aroma, with treacle and malt, auburn, small tan head. Sweet malt, spices, woody notes also. Light bodied, sweet, with a dry bitterness. Pretty good.


 Immy (1912), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
1.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
3/102/54/102/56/20
Nov 12, 2005  
Thanks to gputty for this one. Pours a clear dark brown, mild tan head. Metallic nose, a bit of smoke and chocolate. Flavor follows suit, I just can’t get by the metallic taste and smell. Watery mouthfeel. Not what I call good. Maybe we got a bad batch? Dunno, but I really did not like this.


 shadey (1501), Rochester, New York, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/518/20
Nov 10, 2005  
Black colored pour with no head. Aroma is rich and sweet with some mild roast. Flavor is more chocolately. I like this. Why such crappy ratings?


 cvillebeer (134), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/513/20
Nov 9, 2005  
Alright, it’s been a year since I had this so let’s see. Almost the same color as the porter I just had, smells malty, slight hops and just a wee bit fruity. Flavor is more chocolate malt, and nicely mostly dry. Not bad.



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