Lead Dog
Yukon Brewing

Lead DogLead Dog
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From:
Yukon Brewing
 
Yukon, Canada
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
7%
Score:
89
Avg:
4.01 | pDev: 8.23%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
73
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 17, 2021
Added:
Jul 12, 2004
Wants:
  19
Gots:
  18
How could we survive the Yukon winters without a winter warmer? Well, I guess Yukoners have been doing it for many years before we showed up, but this Olde English Ale has to make the whole thing a little more bearable.

This brew is not for the faint of heart; it doesn’t leap out and bite you (most Lead Dogs are better trained than that), but it will most certainly sneak up and knock you for a loop if given the chance (this character might be more comparable to that of the Malamute and Husky!).

Brewed to be high test, 7% alcohol by volume, the beer nonetheless drinks very smooth; the product of a careful blend of six different malts, and 2 months of aging after fermentation. The dark chocolate appearance is reminiscent of a porter, and the slightly darkened creamy head tops the look. But the first sip lets you know that this beer can be consumed, in quantity if desired (or required?), without leading to an overly full gullet.

Intricate malt flavours predominate, with a medium mouth-feel and a very light bitter. This ale promises to take the chill off after running the team in the crisp January nights.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mlkluther:
Photo of Mlkluther
Rated by Mlkluther from Canada (AB)

4.25/5  rDev +6%
One of my favs. Great smokey malt flavour. Love this beer!
Nov 23, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of altstadt
Reviewed by altstadt from Canada (BC)

3.7/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear dark red-brown color. Poured a short head which collapsed to a patchy skiff in less than half a minute. Moderate level of mixed size bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Left no lacing.

Medium roasted malt smell with some sweet fruit I couldn't identify. Some bread dough yeast smell. Swirling the glass kicked up a strong barnyard that disappeared in seconds, leaving behind a lighter barnyard that was edging closer to horse blanket.

Starts off with a very mild malt flavor that quickly grows to match the flavor level suggested by the scent. Some lightly sweet dried fruit, like Christmas pudding, shows up. The aftertaste starts off with the dried fruit and malt, and then the bitters take over as the malt fades. At this point there is also a distinct alcohol flavor and heat, which I don't normally notice at this ABV level.

Mild tongue tingling. Quickly foams up to a cream sensation only for a second as the bubbles grow just a bit more textured. A little bit of alcohol heat that was not expected. A touch of astringency in the aftertaste to match the bitters that show up.

Very pleasant drink. The dried fruit flavors add a bit of complexity, but not as much flavor to explore as some others in this style. On the other hand, this makes it easier to have a couple more without blowing out the taste buds. Nice mouth feel, but it would have been a bit better if the creamy stage had lasted longer. Needs to dial down the barnyard.
Jan 17, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by rare_bird from Michigan

Dec 03, 2019
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle thanks to Derek. Medium brown pour with a smallish, foamy head. Big malty aroma and taste. Touch of hops adds light bitterness and some savory notes.
Nov 29, 2019
Photo of LocalBeerGuy
Reviewed by LocalBeerGuy from Canada (SK)

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
a very well made English Ale easy drinking about 2 and 1/2 of head great smell hints of dark fruits little dark coffee in it
and beer that you should not be driving after a few or one.
Mar 30, 2019
 
Rated: 4.72 by Vylo from New Jersey

Jun 30, 2018
Photo of motrhead
Reviewed by motrhead from Canada (BC)

4.77/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Dark and delicious. My favourite beer in the world so far. Yukon Brewing claims it is an Old English Ale, but it could almost be a Porter. So much flavour! I think I need another!
Mar 26, 2018
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one was poured into a snifter. The appearance was a black color with a slim glazing of an off white foamy and bubbly head that dissipated rather quickly. Light speckled lacing ran all around my glass. The smell was a bit roasty, a little bit of rich caramel coated nuts and a light running bitter coffee all combine to enliven my nose, definitely English by nature. The taste was roasty and sweet through the nuts and caramel backed up by the bitter coffee to balance. Light chocolate came in as well. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body as I found myself sipping this. The carbonation was there but nothing overbearing. A nice bitter invasiveness rolls over my tongue. Overall, I really liked this beer.
Jun 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.08 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Feb 26, 2017
Photo of Lucaskowalik
Reviewed by Lucaskowalik from Canada (AB)

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 341mL bottle into a snifter.
L- Poured black with a reddish-brown hue and an off-white head.
S- Strong smell of chocolate and alcohol with more discrete notes of caramel and what seems to be blackberry.
T- Chocolate and caramel with a pleasant alcohol warmness and malty finish
F- Very warm from the high abv.
O- I really like this beer and is probably my favorite winter warmer as well as offering from Yukon Brewing.
Jan 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by kelvarnsen from Canada (ON)

Jan 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by SmithyAlan from Canada (QC)

Sep 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by mikebu from Canada (AB)

May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.24 by ILOVEHAM from Canada (BC)

Feb 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.68 by pirfle from Canada (AB)

Jan 16, 2016
Photo of Back_in_the_Saddle
Reviewed by Back_in_the_Saddle from Vermont

3.82/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Twist off cap bottle, I poured this into a pint glass.
The appearance was a muddled brown haziness with a slim cap of a white head that quickly dissipated. Lacing was extremely stringy and barely there.
The smell had a light caramel to toffee maltiness colliding with a decent bready to toastiness. Light malty cherries slide in for the balance. Light smoky to roastiness warms under my nose.
The taste was malty sweet with a balance of the cherries, smoke and roastiness. Caramel/toffee/bready/toastiness slides back in for the balance. Lingering malty/smoky/toasty aftertaste slides into the finish.
The mouthfeel was about a light to medium on the body with a decent sessionability about it. Carbonation felt good. Maltiness clings to my tongue but isn't burdensome.
Overall, not just one of the better beers by them, but also good for the style. I recommend this over some of their other beers.
Nov 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.95 by Rutager from Canada (BC)

Jul 13, 2015
Photo of Bunman3
Reviewed by Bunman3 from Canada (AB)

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I really love the smoky subtleness of this beer. It really replicates that "English Pub" feel - lingering foamy head, delicious smell, roasted/smoky malt with minimal carbonation. This is a wonderful, balanced winter warmer that sticks to tradition. Lead on, lead dog, lead on.
Jun 20, 2015
 
Lead Dog from Yukon Brewing
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 73 ratings