Winter Ale
Wachusett Brewing Company

Winter AleWinter Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Wachusett Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
6.1%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 13.22%
Reviews:
92
Ratings:
163
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 05, 2023
Added:
Dec 12, 2001
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  20
This savory Scotch Ale has smoked and special malts. Our oldest, strongest, & most complex seasonal ale.

Availability: Nov – Jan
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cortez:
Photo of cortez
Rated by cortez from Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

Sep 12, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
It's back again and in cans. Surprised I never reviewed this from way back in the day but it can now be found in the '23 Winter mixed 12 pack.
Notes:

Wachusett Brewing Company

Winter Ale

A fairly standard Winter style brew, big toasty malt, sweetness upfront, slight cinnamon, burned and roasted nuts. Crisp and light body for such dark malts but very smooth. The malty ale flavors are not lost within the spices. Balance and style is right.

3.40
Feb 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.53 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

May 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

May 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by PJCarnell from Massachusetts

Feb 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.36 by Mcb99d from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Gary01453 from Massachusetts

Dec 25, 2017
Photo of Holderness
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts

3.62/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice clear brown, with a two finger off white head and moderate lacing. Classic amber ale smell: mostly malts and caramel. Tastes fairly similar to the smell, but with less caramel notes.
Hints of scotch, salt, and nutmeg forms a nice backbone to this brew that is very light on the mouthfeel given the style.
Jan 20, 2017
Photo of mromagna
Reviewed by mromagna from Massachusetts

2.97/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
It's got a nice copper color. I mistakenly thought Winter Ale would have lots of spices which was my fault. This set me up for an expectation that wouldn't be met. Smoked malt is very subtle like many others have mentioned.
I thought is very drinkable, but it didn't leave a strong impression to have another. Although I generally like some Wachusett offerings I had to rate this as average.
Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by canarycommotion from Massachusetts

Nov 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.12 by Ian_B from Massachusetts

Feb 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by kmfoley1975 from Massachusetts

Feb 08, 2015
Photo of far333
Reviewed by far333 from Connecticut

2.52/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pale, honey colored with a low head of off-white foam that settles out quickly. Nearly no aroma, indiscernible. Very average flavor of butter scotch malt,faint toffee, some subtle notes of smoked malt. Slick mouthfeel leads to a tingly finish. Very average beer.
Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.06 by smaddock from Massachusetts

Jan 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by ale207 from Maine

Dec 26, 2014
Photo of porterman66
Reviewed by porterman66 from Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
It's just a Scottish ale with no spices as is often the case in Winter Ales and that is not a bad thing at all. A good balance of hop flavor with maltiness as well (I think). I'm not going to try to sound like I know what I am talking about but this just tastes good.
Dec 25, 2014
Photo of brother_rebus
Rated by brother_rebus from Maine

2.64/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Amber. Malty. Sweet-ish. Medium body. Poor after taste. Lighter than most winters.
Dec 21, 2014
 
Rated: 2.72 by imax615 from Massachusetts

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by JeremyScott from Massachusetts

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by darcange from Massachusetts

Dec 12, 2014
Winter Ale from Wachusett Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 163 ratings