Winter Welcome Ale
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

Winter Welcome AleWinter Welcome Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #107
ABV:
6%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,778
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 11.96%
Reviews:
1,258
Ratings:
2,475
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 09, 2024
Added:
Jan 29, 2001
Wants:
  43
Gots:
  269
This seasonal beer is a limited edition brewed for the short days and long nights of winter. The full body resulting from fermentation in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’ and the luxurious malt character, which will appeal to a broad range of drinkers, is balanced against whole-dried Fuggle and Golding hops with nuances and complexities that should be contemplated before an open fire.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bditty187:
Photo of bditty187
Reviewed by bditty187 from Nebraska

3.03/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2004-2005

Just as damn boring as the years before. I only drank it because it was part of Crescent Moon's "Winter Beer Tour." It lacks any sort of richness and it is far to clean. At least it wasn't light-struck.

---

2003-2004
(3, 3, 3.5, 3, 3.5 = 3.25)
Reddish-bronze hue, clear, the white head, which was small, faded quickly to a soapy collar. No lace. Well, this is my first S.S. Winter Welcome that has not been lightstuck and you know what, I’m still disappointed. The nose does nothing for me… vague sweet malts, caramel, clean, airy… indifferent. The palate is lightly sweet upfront with a mild bite of alcohol in the middle, peppery-like, the sweet, lightly toffee completes the finish. The hops bitterness is perfect for what S.S. is trying to accomplish. Rather clean. Rather mellow. Medium body, mild carbonation, and slightly tacky mouthfeel… it is drinkable but boring… average. I’d like to see more maltiness, a stronger punch; this is a winter warmer after all. Worth trying once a year… now I have… see you next year.

---

2002-2003
(3.5/3/2.5/2.5/3 = 2.85)

As soon as I opened the 550ml (clear) bottle I could detect a fairly noticeable note of skunk… damn. I aired it out a moment in my mug… then I could detect some lovely sweet maltiness, maybe some caramel. Brownish-orange hue with an off-white head. The complexity of flavors was minimal, some sweet malt, butterscotch, and some underlying sourness. This beer is surprisingly average. I got annoyed at the tacky mouthfeel it created. Maybe I’ll try it again later this year... I did and the second bottle (from another source) was far worse. Will my third try be the charm?
Oct 23, 2002
More User Ratings:
Photo of Lexluthor33
Reviewed by Lexluthor33 from New York

3.54/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Color of golden leaves with a small head and a consistent lace.
Aroma of malts and fruit.
Hey, my reviews have a repetitive description but I just go with the main flavors and try to stay away from making stuff up.
Taste was malty, dark fruit hints and just a creamy feel that was silky and smooth.
Medium body, medium carbonation and really well balanced.
Mar 09, 2024
 
Rated: 4.12 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Mar 07, 2024
 
Rated: 3.76 by Plonk from Alabama

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.02 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Jan 30, 2024
Photo of barndweller
Reviewed by barndweller from California

4.73/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Delighted to see this beer again this winter. Fresh 4-pack of 12oz. bottles. Delicious nut maltiness with a nice hop dryness. Balanced. Not too bitter, not too sweet. Extremely British flavor. Makes me want real cask ale. Just right for a rainy weekend in L.A. watching football on TV.
Jan 20, 2024
Photo of dcat151
Reviewed by dcat151 from Georgia

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pour is amber with a good amount of head that dissipates relatively quickly. Aroma is very malty with some biscuit notes. Taste is malt-forward with some fruit and yeast flavors. Feel is a typical ale with moderate carbonation. Overall a solid ale.
Jan 05, 2024
 
Rated: 3.82 by sewerchewer from New York

Dec 31, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by petewheeler from Maryland

Dec 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.17 by Anacross from Oregon

Dec 25, 2023
Photo of ANIMOUL
Reviewed by ANIMOUL from Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 550ml bottle into a pint glass; no known birth date. Pours translucent amber with initial foamy head that slowly recedes. Everything is subtle in this ale - sublte hops, spices, bitters, etc. However, very enjoyable and love seeking every year.
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

4.29/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 ounce bottle poured into a nonic pint glass.

L: Clear amber body, 2” white head
S: Fruity British Ale Yeast aroma, biscuit malt.
T: Very malty, sweet biscuity malt and fruity yeast flavors, a bit herbal, light bitterness to finish.
F: Medium-weight body, smooth with a drying finish.
O: Very good, in my opinion.
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

3.77/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Clear amber, good head.

Smell: Mineraly, malt.

Taste: Very mild sweetness, toffee, mineraly, gets a little more sweet as it warms.

Overall: A sedate winter beer, no wacky spices or strong sweetness, just a moderately malty ale with a little sweetness. Easy drinking.
Dec 16, 2023
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

3.71/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear amber, dense off-white head, great retention, rings of lace
Caramel, dark fruit, and earthy nose
Caramel and dark fruit malt flavor, some earthy hops, sweet and just slightly bitter finish
Medium light bodied, but a little sticky, lower carbonation, clean
A pretty good strong/sweet bitter, I like a little bit more bitterness
Dec 10, 2023
Photo of ATL6245
Reviewed by ATL6245 from Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Clear amber, fluffy off-white head with good retention.

Aroma: malty and earthy. Herbal.

Flavor: Malty and spicy. Restrained bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied & soft. Moderate length finish.

Overall: A very approachable Winter Warmer. Well balanced between malt and hops elements. Has a low malty sweetness but also low bitterness. Spicy. Alcohol is very well hidden, hardly notice this is 6%. This is a good intro to WW beers for newer enthusiasts. It doesn't have the alcohol warming you might expect but it drinks nicely.
Dec 09, 2023
Photo of MaddDoGG5150
Reviewed by MaddDoGG5150 from California

4.17/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a clear, bright amber color with a bright white, sticky foam head.

Aroma: Dark fruits (plum), earthy, sweet caramel.

Taste: dark fruit and raisins directly up front, carmel malts in the back. A bit bready and earthy in the background. The flavor characteristics are well balanced, complimenting each other, and finishes with a moderate bitterness.

Overall: This is quite the treat. Gives me the sensation of kicking back in a cozy, quaint little British pub, drinking winter ale, without leaving home. 4.5 out of 5 for me.
Dec 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.95 by mamaraza from Texas

Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.65 by dd53grif from Michigan

Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by Dethark from England

Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.64 by Beecham from California

Nov 14, 2023
Winter Welcome Ale from Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 2475 ratings