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Winter Ale
Alaskan Brewing Co.
- From:
- Alaskan Brewing Co.
- Alaska, United States
- Style:
- Old Ale
Ranked #47 - ABV:
- 6.4%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #23,733 - Avg:
- 3.68 | pDev: 13.59%
- Reviews:
- 383
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 17, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 03, 2001
- Wants:
- 45
- Gots:
- 128
English Olde Ale. Traditionally malty with the warming sensation of alcohol, Olde Ales are brewed in the fall as winter warmers.
Brewed in the style of an English Olde Ale, this ale balances the sweet heady aroma of spruce tips with the clean crisp finish of noble hops. Its malty richness is complemented by the warming sensation of alcohol.
Alaskan Winter is made from glacier-fed water, Sitka spruce tips and a generous blend of the finest quality European and Pacific Northwest hop varieties and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field and from the more than 90 inches of rainfall we receive each year.
22 IBU
Brewed in the style of an English Olde Ale, this ale balances the sweet heady aroma of spruce tips with the clean crisp finish of noble hops. Its malty richness is complemented by the warming sensation of alcohol.
Alaskan Winter is made from glacier-fed water, Sitka spruce tips and a generous blend of the finest quality European and Pacific Northwest hop varieties and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field and from the more than 90 inches of rainfall we receive each year.
22 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bumchilly25:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Jmsandberg17 from Missouri
4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can pours a light orange-brown color with a substantial, fizzy head of light sand-colored foam that retreats to a thick ring and an island in the center. Smells of rich, bready malts, caramel, and dark fruits. Very rich, layered malt flavor with substantial notes of bread, spice, grains, fruit, and herbs. Full-bodied with a moderate caramelly sweetness, moderate herbal-grassy bitterness, notable alcohol heat and flavor, a bitter herbal aftertaste, and a fizzy carbonation mouthfeel with the notable high alcohol feel as well.
This was a tasty and interesting beer; I believe the first I've had in the style. Would have again.
Mar 17, 2024This was a tasty and interesting beer; I believe the first I've had in the style. Would have again.
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota
4.1/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - A clear, bright orange body, short white head, fading to a minimal cap and no lacing to speak.
S - The nose is primarily honey, grass and a bit of minty pine, presumably from the tips.
T - Open is full of honey sweetness, banana bread mingles with herbal notes and grassiness through the middle, and a subtle savory pine hit and dry hop bitterness in the finish.
M - Fairly slight weight, soft carbonation, clean finish.
O - A nice old ale that is easily drinkable, pleasant, and tasty.
Mar 03, 2024S - The nose is primarily honey, grass and a bit of minty pine, presumably from the tips.
T - Open is full of honey sweetness, banana bread mingles with herbal notes and grassiness through the middle, and a subtle savory pine hit and dry hop bitterness in the finish.
M - Fairly slight weight, soft carbonation, clean finish.
O - A nice old ale that is easily drinkable, pleasant, and tasty.
Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota
4.03/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
4.03/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours crystal clear light copper with a thick white head that leaves generous lacing. Aroma is rich caramel malt, spruce, and a hint of European noble hops. Flavor follows the nose, sweet up front with just enough bitterness from the spruce and hops to balance things out. Feel is light bodied and lightly carbonated. A bit more carbonation would improve this IMO. Overall, a very fine beer. Will seek out again.
Jan 09, 2024Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours red orange with a fluffy white head. Smells of caramelized grain and some fruit. Tastes of bright fruit and sweet grain. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.
Sep 26, 2023Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
3.94/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a clear, medium orange color with a strong off white head. SRM of 12. (3.75)
Aroma: Moderate aromas of amber malt, dark fruit, blackberries, sweet grape with some chocolate. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong flavors of amber malt, dark fruit, blackberries with some sweet grape and chocolate underneath. Bready malts and malty. Some spruce off the end. (4.00)
Feel: Medium-bodied, smooth, bready, malty mouthfeel. Low carbonation. (3.50)
Compared to Deschutes Jubedale 11/2022: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More dark bread malt and chocolate. Less pine and citrus bitterness. Smoother and breadier.
Compared to New Belgium Holiday Ale 11/2022: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More dark bread malt and chocolate. Less cranberry and cinnamon. Smoother and maltier.
Compared to Sam Adams Winter Ale 11/2023: Pours darker, milder head, stronger aromas. More chocolate, spruce tip bite. Less bread, spice. Sweeter.
Overall: A very nice and drinkable Winter Warmer. Nice amber malts, dark bread and chocolate flavors with some spruce. Malty, but not too sweet and lower ABV so drinkable. I don't appreciate as much from the spruce tips as this one leans more malty than spiced. Enjoyable. (Rating: 3.94)
Nov 29, 2022Aroma: Moderate aromas of amber malt, dark fruit, blackberries, sweet grape with some chocolate. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong flavors of amber malt, dark fruit, blackberries with some sweet grape and chocolate underneath. Bready malts and malty. Some spruce off the end. (4.00)
Feel: Medium-bodied, smooth, bready, malty mouthfeel. Low carbonation. (3.50)
Compared to Deschutes Jubedale 11/2022: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More dark bread malt and chocolate. Less pine and citrus bitterness. Smoother and breadier.
Compared to New Belgium Holiday Ale 11/2022: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More dark bread malt and chocolate. Less cranberry and cinnamon. Smoother and maltier.
Compared to Sam Adams Winter Ale 11/2023: Pours darker, milder head, stronger aromas. More chocolate, spruce tip bite. Less bread, spice. Sweeter.
Overall: A very nice and drinkable Winter Warmer. Nice amber malts, dark bread and chocolate flavors with some spruce. Malty, but not too sweet and lower ABV so drinkable. I don't appreciate as much from the spruce tips as this one leans more malty than spiced. Enjoyable. (Rating: 3.94)
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
3.68/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light copper color with a minimal head that lasts quite a while. Aroma of grasses and wheat. Taste is full of fall spices and malts. Sweet and refreshing.
Nov 07, 2022Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
4.15/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Lots of sediment, smells like beer and spruce, taste is bitter with sweet malt and spruce/hops battling it out for the aftertaste. Very easy to drink, with a bitter pine aftertaste that isn't just hops
Nov 02, 2022Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The tips are there and it has a decent malt flavor, I mainly enjoy the crushability of this beer, the lower abv makes it a smidge easier to drink a couple more of these than say some of the sprice tip IPA'S. I would have this again
Oct 15, 2022Rated by procession7 from Netherlands
3.21/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
3.21/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
This beer was flat! Little to no carbonation. Very disappointed.
Dec 23, 2019Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle. Label is stamped 'BEST BY 030920 A23'.
Amber colored body, with a bit of murky clarity. Engenders a skiff of off white head. Leaves rings and spots of lacing.
Aroma is malty with berry and spruce.
Taste is thick with toasted malt and a sweet bitterness from the spruce. Hops come through in the last half.
Thinner than medium mouth feel. Very good carbonation.
A malty and spruce beer that is a reminder of an evergreen forest in the winter. The spruce makes it somewhat crisp.
Dec 21, 2019Amber colored body, with a bit of murky clarity. Engenders a skiff of off white head. Leaves rings and spots of lacing.
Aroma is malty with berry and spruce.
Taste is thick with toasted malt and a sweet bitterness from the spruce. Hops come through in the last half.
Thinner than medium mouth feel. Very good carbonation.
A malty and spruce beer that is a reminder of an evergreen forest in the winter. The spruce makes it somewhat crisp.
Winter Ale from Alaskan Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
894 ratings
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