Winter Warmer
Granite City Food & Brewery

Sampled in Sioux Falls:

This is a Barelywine.

Dark brown hue, if not black, I was surprised at how dark it was, the head wasn’t formed well, sparse beige bubbles around the edges and very wispy in the middle. Like all of GC’s beers it was served too cold and the aroma could not reach its full potential. Very hard whiffs indicate hints of alcohol, sweet malts, and not much else. Warmth did not turn up the volume, sadly. The palate doesn’t have the required depth of such a big barelywine, sweet maltiness upfront with light alcohol notes in the middle with sweet yet dry chocolate finish. The end of this beer is much better than the start, it is long and relaxing, lingering sweetness from the malts, the hops are absent in taste, little in the way of bitterness. It is not cloying in sweetness, hints caramel, toffee, and chocolate. This beer lacks a little depth; the alcohol is largely absent in the taste… that is impressive. It is very drinkable for the power it has. Medium in body, a little slick with largely absent carbonation, appropriately so. Kisses of hops are found in the finish. This is a solid barelywine, a very good offering for a chain brewpub and kudos to them for even brewing it. Worth getting if you’re at GC. Served in a wine glass.

The seasonal winter warmer pours a light black, almost looks like a dark roasted coffee. The scent of medicine and strong alcohol prevail, no head present. A strong taste of licorice with the medicine/caramel taste provide a huge warming sensation. This is a great winter brew. This is a night cap beer as the palate is flat after a couple of these, the brewery says this is at 9% ABV, but my guess is it's a bit higher! Served in a wine glass due to the high ABV...perhaps they don't want their patrons guzzling these, a darn fine brew!