Editor’s Note: This column is sponsored by Georgetown Square Wine and Beer (10400 Old Georgetown Rd.).
This column was written by Georgetown Square Wine and Beer customer Garrett Cruce. Follow his beer travels on Instagram.
Winter ales in November? If you read my pumpkin ale article, you know there’s a tendency for craft breweries to get their seasonal product out before the actual season begins.
Not unlike red cups at Starbucks or holiday music in stores, we have another seasonal slightly out of season.
I’m thrilled though! Unlike pumpkin beers in the heat of summer, winter ales in the chill of Autumn can really warm you. Since we’re beginning to see winter ales in store, let’s look at some remarkable examples of the category.
Winter ales used to mean heavy, high-alcohol affairs such as barleywines or strong ales. Today, they tend to be brown ales, known more for their malt flavors than hops — with spices added. We’ll look at four stand outs that you can already buy:
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale (Boonville, CA) ABV: 6.9%
Anderson Valley’s charming labels, featuring their iconic bear in deer antlers, hint at the warming beverage inside. This ale is billed as a classic winter warmer, but I think it has staying power beyond the winter holidays.
There’s a typical maltiness that you might expect from a brown ale, but that is followed by a warming sweetness. Though the spice is in the aroma, it’s downplayed in the flavor. Drink this all winter, if you can.
Long Trail Brewing Co. Sick Day IPA (Bridgewater Corners, VT) ABV: 6.8%
Long Trail is one of those craft breweries from New England that I had only previously seen on Instagram. Now that they’re here, I can’t get enough.
This IPA is a sneaky one for the winter ale category. Normally, something as hoppy as an IPA wouldn’t fit the bill, but the hops in this beer are offset by darker malts that bring a balancing coffee-like toastyness. This is a great IPA and winter ale.
21st Amendment Brewery Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale (San Francisco, CA) ABV: 7.9%
21st Amendment first caught my attention in 2010 with their perennial favorite: Brew Free or Die! IPA. Since then, they have added consistently delicious beers to their lineup. Now a winter mainstay, Fireside Chat is a distinctly American version of the traditional strong ale, evident in the sweetness and slight alcohol flavor.
The spice in the name is apparent all the way from the aroma through to the finish. This one will keep, so buy it now and put it away for a snowy day.
Harpoon Winter Warmer (Boston, MA) ABV: 5.9%
In 1997, when I was first exploring craft beers, Harpoon’s IPA was a staple. That winter I came across their Winter Warmer and discovered that I loved a good spiced ale. From the start, the aroma is pure cinnamon and nutmeg.
The spice continues in the flavor just enough to make a straight brown ale into a holiday beer. This is a simple, but rewarding classic craft beer. Buy this one now and serve with your Thanksgiving feast.
Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale (Frederick, MD) ABV: 7.4%
This seasonal beer from local favorite, Flying Dog, has the attributes of a classic strong ale. A mild hop bitterness is balanced by the cookie smell of malt in the aroma.
The flavor is dominated by a malty sweetness, which comes from the English malt and the 7.4% ABV. This is an old-fashioned winter warmer strong ale despite the fun, irreverent packaging.
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