Winter Warmer
Big Al Brewing

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From:
Big Al Brewing
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 10.08%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
13
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 20, 2016
Added:
Dec 26, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Nov 20, 2016
Photo of Wijibo
Rated by Wijibo from Washington

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Malty, dark, not bitter, some lacing. Not enough carbonation for my taste. Ok, but not worth seeking out.
Jan 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by jrob21 from North Carolina

May 13, 2015
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.63/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I had this on-tap in a pint glass at Special Brews in Lynnwood, WA.

Appearance: deep, rich brown hue with a haze-free body. Head is a thin layer of tan foam which didn't have too much retention. Great color, though.

Smell: light and sweet with a nice caramel character and perhaps even a little chocolate. Quite nice.

Taste: nutty, bready, caramelly and a little bit of spice; nutmeg or cinnamon perhaps. There's a biscuity character here which reminds me more of an amber ale; perhaps not my favorite characteristic. Not bad, but probably not a go-to for me.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a very satisfying creaminess. I like it.

Overall: a few good qualities, but it doesn't really suit my palate well. Others might find this tastier; it's definitely on the amber-ale end of the winter warmer spectrum.
Jan 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by tastymug from Washington

Dec 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Braz from Washington

Aug 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Asics from Washington

Apr 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Hopmodium from Washington

Jan 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Naamandroid from Alabama

Jan 18, 2012
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Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Poured a deep brown with good carbonation and a tannish cap

S: Some nutmeg, chocolate, caramel

T: Has chocolate, nutmeg, roasted malt, cinnamon notes

M: Has a nice toasty, warm mouthfeel. Well carbonated and pretty tasty

D: Overall very drinkable and tasty. I thought it was very good for the style
Jan 31, 2011
Photo of dragonWhale
Reviewed by dragonWhale from New York

4.4/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
on tap at the Skep..dark red with an offwhite cushion of head. Little bit of lacing.

Smells of chocolate and toffee, with a little bit of and pine citrus to accompany it.
Tastes wonderful, creamy and thick, bit of chocolate and caramel, solid hop bitterness and flavor (pine and citrus, sure). The alcohol is noticeable but not dominant. At 7.5%, dangerously drinkable, a very good beer.
Reading the two previous reviews, I wouldn't doubt that the recipe may have undergone a little change. I recommend it..
Jan 13, 2011
Photo of ScreamForMe
Reviewed by ScreamForMe from Washington

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Not much head on this one - poured into a pint from the tap.

Roasty and very porter like. The alcohol is fairly well hidden. The warming took place once I was done.

I don't know if I'd consider this a winter warmer. A decent beer but nothing special.

Next review!
Dec 30, 2009
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in straight pint glass. Poured a very deep, dark brown, almost black with mahogany edges. A thick deep tan head dissipated at a medium pace and left light to moderate lacing.

A neutral and balanced (almost subdued) malt aroma floats into the nose with a slight roasted scent at the end. There is a big roasted flavor to this beer, followed by an unwelcome hit of coffee and some spicing.

The body was good, very full and coating without being too dense. Drinkability was very good, I've had more than one of these on several occasions lately.

Overall, while I like this beer a lot, it seems to be much more of a porter than a traditional Winter Warmer.The alcohol seems a little low and there's not the spice aspect I expected. Certainly a wonderful beer, worth effort to try, this beer would have gotten a higher numerical score if the brewery called it by a different name.
Dec 26, 2009
Winter Warmer from Big Al Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 13 ratings