Winter Warmer
Lancaster Brewing Company

Winter WarmerWinter Warmer
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From:
Lancaster Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Old Ale
Ranked #44
ABV:
8.9%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,804
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 12%
Reviews:
191
Ratings:
424
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 13, 2024
Added:
Nov 10, 2003
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  91
Our classic Olde Ale delivers a complex malt flavor and blend of British and American hops. True to its name, this beer finishes with a nice warming alcohol flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Bdel34:
Photo of Bdel34
Rated by Bdel34 from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev 0%

Dec 24, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can

Pours a clear dark brown color with ruby highlights. Cream colored head that fades. Aroma is a little boozy and fruity - dark cherry, plum. Similar taste, starts a little sweet but finishes more balanced. Medium bodied, slick mouthfeel
Jan 13, 2024
Photo of DavetotheB
Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
From a 12oz can (can message: Howler) dated "10724" (best by mid April 2024?) into a pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazy deep dark red. It's essentially opaque unless you put a bright light behind it. Half finger of tan head. Really poor retention and lacing.

Not getting a ton on the nose. Maybe some sweet bread malt and a hint of spice on warming.

Sweet caramel and some dark fruits on the taste. Also noticeable alcohol.

Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Alcohol aftertaste.

Not sure what they're aiming at here. If a big abv malty beer with strong alcohol taste is the mark they hit it.
Jan 02, 2024
 
Rated: 3.08 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jul 09, 2023
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

4.37/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Winter Warmer from Lancaster Brewing. Four-pack of 12 oz cans for $8.75 (Including tax) at Adamstown Beverage. On room temperature shelf at store, stored at 34 degrees F at home. Bottom of can stamped “IT’S A PACK 13023”. Reviewed 03/07/23 (Review 3133). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol. Served at 55.5 degrees F. Final temperature 60.8 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First Pour - Medium Amber (SRM 12), hazy.
Body – Brown (SRM 30), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, translucent and red amber.
Head: Average (Maximum 3.7 cm, aggressive center pour), high density, wheat, quickly diminishing to an undulating 0.4 – 0.6 cm crown and a thin cap.
Lacing – Fair. Narrow band of tiny bubbles with several short, blunt stalactites
Aroma – 4.5 – Sweet malt and “dark fruit”. No yeast, no hops. No ethanol (8.9 % ABV, according to the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – Begins slightly sweet with weak “dark fruit”. No yeast, no hops. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Slight gastric warming but no ethanol flavor. No spices!
Palate – 4 – Medium; approaching syrupy; soft but lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Pretty good example of an Old Ale – not overbearing but a bit lacking in complexity. Easy drinking, thanks to NO SPICES!
Jul 03, 2023
Photo of Hayesbro
Reviewed by Hayesbro from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark opaque dark brown, nearly black, with a brownish medium-sized head. Not much aroma. Complex flavor, raisiny with a good mix of sour, sweet and bitter. Some maltiness. Medium body and easy to drink for the AbV. Underrated here, I think. This one comes across a bit like a fruity Belgian quad.
Feb 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by rrmagee

Jan 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Icemann383 from New York

Apr 22, 2022
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle
Bottle Date Code: 28416 (10 oct, 2016 ?)
Consumed on: 2022-apr-03
Glass: Tulip Snifter
Temp at Pour: 47 F


Look:
Deep and opaque (sorta cloudy) mahogany with a 2" khahi head. The head reduces to a .25" creamy but pockmarked cover.

Smell:
Deep malts with toffee. Some stone fruits and vinous notes. Hints of molasses. Substantial earthy undertone.

Taste:
Taste pretty much follows the smell. The malts and the earthiness are both more pronounced. Hops nip at the end as things dry out some.

Feel:
Rich and lightly carbonated with a slick feel. Medium bodied that leans towards the fuller side. Nicely warming.

Overall:
Time has been kind to this well-done Old Ale/Winter Warmer (this particular bottle is at least 5 and half years old). This is a very nice sipper on a cold night. The absence of added spices is appreciated.
Apr 04, 2022
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

3.79/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2022-03-05
12oz can served in a tulip. Bottom of the can says "THaT TiME 13622" but I don't know what that means. Received as a gift from @jonphisher.

Pours a dark, murky brown with a smallish head that collapses to little more than a ring. Edges of the beer are surprisingly clear light brown. Might be fair to call it a very dark tea color. Also, seems like there is plenty of active carbonation. Smell also has something tea-like about it, but my first thoughts were dates and plums. Fairly mild aroma overall.

Taste is definitely leaning in the dates/raisins/figs direction. Has an earthiness that cuts the sweetness pretty effectively. Alcohol is noticeable but not dominant.

Mouthfeel is thick and chewy without being sticky. Overall, nice beer.
Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.49 by adamstef

Mar 01, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

3.81/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Chestnut colored body, clear; full, active carbonation; thick, billowy head, light tan colored. Pleasant smell; light cocoa and roasted nuts; slight booziness on the nose; dried wood. Great flavor; fruity and vinous notes riding atop a light malt base; mild sweetness; raspberry. Medium body; some sweetness yet more dry overall; touch of alcohol warmth and dryness.

This is a nice old ale / winter warmer, not too sweet or boozy and presenting a rather bold fruitiness within the taste.

Pouring temperature: 44 °F; canning data: THAT TIME 13622
Feb 23, 2022
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.99/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown body under an average size tan head that disappeared in a flash leaving light lacing. Distinctive earthy aroma; picking up molasses, dark fruit and caramel. Hops are subtle on the nose but hold more sway on the palate. Malts still dominate the taste with notes of dark fruit, nuts, toffee, molasses and dessert wine. Hops add balance as well as an herbal touch. Full bodied, lightly carbonated mouthfeel. Sweet, lingering finish.
Jan 28, 2022
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

3.91/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer woulda been damn near perfect if it had any sorta appealing smell to it. Even so, this is truly one of the better winter warmers I’ve had. I’ve had several beers from this brewer, and they are definitely on my watch list.
Jan 02, 2022
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.42/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Jonphisher for this one. 12oz can (coded That Time 13622. shrug) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a very dense, but still lightly translucent, dark brown color with 2/3 inch of tan head that had low-moderate retention and no lacing.

The aroma was the expected lightly sweet and very lightly roasty malts. Maybe just some light, floral hops.

Very similar on the tongue, with the addition of a bit of alcohol heat, especially at the back.

The body was smooth, maybe a touch light for the style, even, and had a sweet finish to go with the slightly lingering heat.

Drinkability was very good, a great beer for the cold stretch we're having here in the Fourth Corner.

Overall, a nice take on the style, wort grabbing, and another nice beer from this brewery.
Dec 29, 2021
Photo of jonphisher
Reviewed by jonphisher from New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Crystal clear ruby hued beer, the head reced fairly quickly and leaves just a ring a slight hints of off white here and there in the middle of the glass. No lacing.

On the nose I pick up red berries; strawberries and raspberries, toffee, spice; clove like is the best I can do, a hint of wood or oak (though it isn’t oak aged), and faint aroma of cocoa.

Taste is more of the same red berries, nondescript spice, as it warms the cocoa note also comes out on the finish. The malt depth is so good on this beer and I’m having a hard time describing it so I’ll just say that it is rich and full but in no way cloying or sweet.

Medium body, lower carbonation allows this beer to be drank very smoothly. Lingering sweet malts coat the tongue, low but noticeable bitterness. The perfect warming sensation, you only get it well after the sip is drank, comes from the inside and works it’s way up.
Dec 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

Dec 18, 2021
Photo of Spade
Reviewed by Spade from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A delicious example of the winter warmer/old ale type of beer. Somewhat dark brown color with a red tint and thin off-white head. Complex malt flavor with some sweetness to balance out the 8.9% alcohol. An old favorite of mine that's in classic form this year.
Dec 18, 2021
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.12/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A clear glass Imperial pint mug has been nearly filled by a joint effort of two 12 oz. cans. Half an inch of the glass shows next to nothing where a biege head briefly appeared. The color of the ale is brown, bright but not translucent. The little aroma this action produced is a little malty and less yeasty. There's no evidence of spices which are usually added to this style. It drinks rather rich and smooth, with an ideal amount of carbonation. There's none of the overbearing cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and the like which are frequently used when the word "Winter" is on a label. This is a real nice strong brown ale. Malty, as it should be, but with enough hop presence to be complex and multidimensional. The alcohol makes a good contribution, as it is most noticed more by the esophagus after passing nearly undetected by the palate. Kudos on a well made Olde Ale. Another plus gleaned from the label after the review: "Benefiting Wolf Sanctuary of Pa". That doesn't change the review, but it does insure more of this will be purchased.
Mar 07, 2021
Photo of gestyr
Reviewed by gestyr from Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nice! Pours a ruby red with a thin head that goes away (I wonder where it goes?) rapidly. It smells of malt, toffee and dark fruits. The taste is very similar to the smell. There is a definite alcohol warming in the back of the throat without it being over powering. The body is medium and invites you to sip slowly. Overall, a good treat on a cold day.
Mar 06, 2021
Winter Warmer from Lancaster Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 424 ratings