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Winter Ale
Fremont Brewing Company
- From:
- Fremont Brewing Company
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #38 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #16,897 - Avg:
- 3.87 | pDev: 8.79%
- Reviews:
- 69
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 03, 2024
- Added:
- Jan 07, 2010
- Wants:
- 17
- Gots:
- 22
Formerly Abominable Ale
This is a tasty Winter Ale to snuggle up to, released for the winter months when snow blankets the terrain of the mind and the body craves warmth and, let’s be honest, it’s dark and wet most of the time so your beer better be damn good. Winter Ale is dark like the weather with roast chocolate and warm malt flavors balanced by Noble hop aroma and subtle hoppy spice. Warm up to it. Because Beer Matters!
47 IBU
This is a tasty Winter Ale to snuggle up to, released for the winter months when snow blankets the terrain of the mind and the body craves warmth and, let’s be honest, it’s dark and wet most of the time so your beer better be damn good. Winter Ale is dark like the weather with roast chocolate and warm malt flavors balanced by Noble hop aroma and subtle hoppy spice. Warm up to it. Because Beer Matters!
47 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by shelby415:
Rated by shelby415 from Oregon
3.85/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 15, 2016
3.85/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 15, 2016
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Pours a rich, dark brown and quickly, a light brown head forms and slowly settles to a lid, leaving rings of lacing behind
Aroma: Holiday spices, freshly baked brown bread, dark fruit notes, toffee, light earthiness, and dark caramel
Taste: Dark caramel smothered bread comes on quick and strong and start to develop as layers of dark fruit creep in with plums and figs leading the charge. Toffee lays the foundation in the middle as notes of clove and nutmeg present themselves and earthy notes swirl around in the backdrop, peeking in from time to time. Closes with more caramel, bread, and spices with no alcohol detectable
Mouthfeel: Full, smooth, medium-high carbonation, and soft and smooth on the finish
Overall: This is some tasty stuff. A new one fore me but knowing these folks’ reputation, I dove right in for a 4pk and glad I did. It’s a nice winter ale with a great balance of malt, dark fruit, toffee, caramel, and spices that come together really well and all help sculpt this delicious Imperial Winter Ale. Check it out
Feb 03, 2024Aroma: Holiday spices, freshly baked brown bread, dark fruit notes, toffee, light earthiness, and dark caramel
Taste: Dark caramel smothered bread comes on quick and strong and start to develop as layers of dark fruit creep in with plums and figs leading the charge. Toffee lays the foundation in the middle as notes of clove and nutmeg present themselves and earthy notes swirl around in the backdrop, peeking in from time to time. Closes with more caramel, bread, and spices with no alcohol detectable
Mouthfeel: Full, smooth, medium-high carbonation, and soft and smooth on the finish
Overall: This is some tasty stuff. A new one fore me but knowing these folks’ reputation, I dove right in for a 4pk and glad I did. It’s a nice winter ale with a great balance of malt, dark fruit, toffee, caramel, and spices that come together really well and all help sculpt this delicious Imperial Winter Ale. Check it out
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 10/27/23; drank 1/18/24 @ Roadrunner Lodge.
Opaque dark brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head; strong, frothy tree-rung lacing remained.
Root beer, mild chocolate & faint cream notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Root beer & mild chocolate flavors up front; mild fresh earth & booze heat notes on the finish.
Robust, sweet & boozy. Good; not great.
Jan 24, 2024Opaque dark brown appearance.
A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head; strong, frothy tree-rung lacing remained.
Root beer, mild chocolate & faint cream notes in the nose.
Thick, creamy mouthfeel.
Root beer & mild chocolate flavors up front; mild fresh earth & booze heat notes on the finish.
Robust, sweet & boozy. Good; not great.
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Winter Ale from Fremont Brewing. From @muchloveforhops3 in BSBIF #1, 16 fl oz can. Reviewed 11/01/24 (Review 3216). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Stamped on bottom of can “PKG 10/04/23”. Stored at 34 degrees F at home. Served at 61.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 63.5 degrees F.
Appearance 4.
First pour: Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body: Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, ruby and translucent.
Head: Large (Maximum 6.7 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density quickly opening up, short retention, dropping to a jagged 0.5 – 1.1 cm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing: Fair. Wide partial band of near microscopic to small bubbles.
Aroma: 4 - Begins with faint spiciness and toasted malt. No hops, no yeast, no alcohol (8% ABV).
Flavor: 4 - Begins mildly sweet with a hint of spice and graham crackers, followed by light chocolate. No hops, no yeast. Weak gastric warming. Ends just a touch bitter.
Palate: 4 Medium; weakly syrupy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 – Not as over-spiced as most winter warmers, this allows the base malt bill to drive the flavor with a helping hand from the hops – probably the best winter warmer I’ve had. Thanks Doug!
Jan 11, 2024Stamped on bottom of can “PKG 10/04/23”. Stored at 34 degrees F at home. Served at 61.1 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 63.5 degrees F.
Appearance 4.
First pour: Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body: Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, ruby and translucent.
Head: Large (Maximum 6.7 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density quickly opening up, short retention, dropping to a jagged 0.5 – 1.1 cm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing: Fair. Wide partial band of near microscopic to small bubbles.
Aroma: 4 - Begins with faint spiciness and toasted malt. No hops, no yeast, no alcohol (8% ABV).
Flavor: 4 - Begins mildly sweet with a hint of spice and graham crackers, followed by light chocolate. No hops, no yeast. Weak gastric warming. Ends just a touch bitter.
Palate: 4 Medium; weakly syrupy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 4 – Not as over-spiced as most winter warmers, this allows the base malt bill to drive the flavor with a helping hand from the hops – probably the best winter warmer I’ve had. Thanks Doug!
Rated by Bloodbuzz99 from Georgia
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from Canton St
Dec 24, 2023Reviewed by Orca from Washington
4.03/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Re-reviewing this one as it’s been about a decade since I last reviewed it (back when it was called Abominable Ale).
16oz can (packaged 10/3/2023) into a tulip. Pours a deep dark mahogany brown with a 1-finger khaki head.
Aroma is loaded with dark stone fruits, molasses, and caramel—rich, malty and complex.
Taste follows nose. Rich, warm and malty countered by a nice bitter hoppy presence. Dark fruit, brown sugar, and a hint of holiday spice.
Mouthfeel is medium to heavy and slick—this beer has really solid body and lives up to the “winter warmer” style as something to be enjoyed next to a blazing fire.
Overall, such a great balance here and probably the reason this is such an effective inspiration (if not the actual base beer, as I’ve recently been informed) for some of Fremont’s most heralded barrel-aged offerings.
_____________
Previous review (from 2/27/2013)
3.86/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz can picked up during a recent tour of the brewery, poured into a tulip. An aggressive pour yields a pretty minimal head that dissipates quickly to a thin film and a ring of foam. Color is dark root beer brown, no light gets through the glass.
Aroma is sweet, malty, with notes of dried dark fruits. A nice spicy smokiness I can't quite identify.
Taste is roasty w/ chocolate & caramel malts and a nice crisp hoppy bite on the finish. Some spices linger on the palate. Maybe a little smokiness here too.
Mouthfeel is coating, medium bodied, finishes bitter. Lingering aftertaste.
Overall, a solid winter warmer that I could see enjoying w/ a big cheeseburger or maybe a pot roast.
Oct 22, 202316oz can (packaged 10/3/2023) into a tulip. Pours a deep dark mahogany brown with a 1-finger khaki head.
Aroma is loaded with dark stone fruits, molasses, and caramel—rich, malty and complex.
Taste follows nose. Rich, warm and malty countered by a nice bitter hoppy presence. Dark fruit, brown sugar, and a hint of holiday spice.
Mouthfeel is medium to heavy and slick—this beer has really solid body and lives up to the “winter warmer” style as something to be enjoyed next to a blazing fire.
Overall, such a great balance here and probably the reason this is such an effective inspiration (if not the actual base beer, as I’ve recently been informed) for some of Fremont’s most heralded barrel-aged offerings.
_____________
Previous review (from 2/27/2013)
3.86/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz can picked up during a recent tour of the brewery, poured into a tulip. An aggressive pour yields a pretty minimal head that dissipates quickly to a thin film and a ring of foam. Color is dark root beer brown, no light gets through the glass.
Aroma is sweet, malty, with notes of dried dark fruits. A nice spicy smokiness I can't quite identify.
Taste is roasty w/ chocolate & caramel malts and a nice crisp hoppy bite on the finish. Some spices linger on the palate. Maybe a little smokiness here too.
Mouthfeel is coating, medium bodied, finishes bitter. Lingering aftertaste.
Overall, a solid winter warmer that I could see enjoying w/ a big cheeseburger or maybe a pot roast.
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin
3.77/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a saddle brown with a three finger head that settles into a nicely sculpted layer of foam. Aroma is highly reminiscent of tea. Hazelnut and pine profiles are also noticeable to me. Taste is moderate, with spruce and very, very faint notes of ginger are present. My senses also detect hazelnut again. An interesting and easily drinkable brew. ABV is barely noted.
Oct 18, 2023Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
3.85/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A Tavour Treat. Pours a dark brown color with a minimal head that lasts quite a while. Aroma of figs, dark fruits and roasted malts. Taste is dark fruits and spices. Smooth and creamy.
Dec 13, 2022Reviewed by WayneManor from Washington
3.49/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: NIce color brown/black. Pretty head at first doesn't stay at long
Smell: Very plain smell
Taste: I don't taste any christmas spices or fruits. Just lots of malt and hops
Feel: A little thick
Overall: I like Fremont and wanted it to be better. First few tastes were pretty good, after that just average.
Nov 27, 2022Smell: Very plain smell
Taste: I don't taste any christmas spices or fruits. Just lots of malt and hops
Feel: A little thick
Overall: I like Fremont and wanted it to be better. First few tastes were pretty good, after that just average.
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana
4.24/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - the beer was darker than expected, almost brownish in color. Carbonation was visible.
Smell - It certainly smelled like Christmas with notes of pine and ginger.
Taste - the initial taste was very chocolate forward with notes of ginger and spruce. I it was a little dry with a slightly better finish. It left me wanting more!
Mouthfeel - the body was almost sticky with light carbonation, and a medium body.
Overall - I really enjoyed this one with its winter elements.
Nov 25, 2022Smell - It certainly smelled like Christmas with notes of pine and ginger.
Taste - the initial taste was very chocolate forward with notes of ginger and spruce. I it was a little dry with a slightly better finish. It left me wanting more!
Mouthfeel - the body was almost sticky with light carbonation, and a medium body.
Overall - I really enjoyed this one with its winter elements.
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
4.25/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Review 1721
Imperial Winter Ale
Fremont Brewing
Winter Ale
Date: 10/29/2021
I need to switch it up; that last beer was something special. Served in my Hamm's Chalice, the temperature is 40 degrees. The pour created a frothy and creamy light tan one-fingered head with excellent retention. The slow dissipation left some lacing on the glass. The color charts around SRM 24, dark used motor with ruby hues.
I smell toffee, caramel, cinnamon, and molasses. Nosing further in the glass, I detect earthiness, leather, chocolate, pine, juniper, floral, a touch of phenols, and sage. The malt profile is toasty, char, and cereal.
I taste coffee, chocolate, caramel, molasses, raisins, earthiness, leather, pine juniper, bay leaves, floral ester, and tobacco. Sipping and whishing around, I savor rich toffee, cinnamon, cloves, char, a hint of smoke, and a slight phenolic finish.
The mouthfeel is tannic and warming. The body is medium-plus, medium carbonation, and has a lasting finish.
This winter warmer has depth and complexity with a firm malt backbone. The subtle spices and malt profile makes for delightful beer to sip on during a snowy afternoon in Idaho.
Mar 20, 2022Imperial Winter Ale
Fremont Brewing
Winter Ale
Date: 10/29/2021
I need to switch it up; that last beer was something special. Served in my Hamm's Chalice, the temperature is 40 degrees. The pour created a frothy and creamy light tan one-fingered head with excellent retention. The slow dissipation left some lacing on the glass. The color charts around SRM 24, dark used motor with ruby hues.
I smell toffee, caramel, cinnamon, and molasses. Nosing further in the glass, I detect earthiness, leather, chocolate, pine, juniper, floral, a touch of phenols, and sage. The malt profile is toasty, char, and cereal.
I taste coffee, chocolate, caramel, molasses, raisins, earthiness, leather, pine juniper, bay leaves, floral ester, and tobacco. Sipping and whishing around, I savor rich toffee, cinnamon, cloves, char, a hint of smoke, and a slight phenolic finish.
The mouthfeel is tannic and warming. The body is medium-plus, medium carbonation, and has a lasting finish.
This winter warmer has depth and complexity with a firm malt backbone. The subtle spices and malt profile makes for delightful beer to sip on during a snowy afternoon in Idaho.
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
3.78/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.78/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz. can. Dark brown, big khaki head. Smells of brown bread, toffee and caramel, with a hefty dose of herbal hops. Tastes nutty and toasty with equal parts sweet toffee and bitter hops. Medium heavy, but drinks pretty easily. A very well balanced strong malty beer. Doesn't taste like a bucket of sugar. Nice.
Feb 12, 2022Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
4.09/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16oz canned 11-23-21, opened 2-6-22.
2+ finger beige head, some came over the top...great retention and early sticky lacing. Dark brown beer, opaque and with some floaties. Fully laced. Coffee, toast, chocolate, and a faint herbal hop aroma - rich nose. Coffee, bitter chocolate, and some dark fruit flavor that wasn't apparent in the nose. Full body and mouthfeel with low-plus carbonation. Malty and rich with a welcome touch of bitterness in a lengthy finish.
Feb 06, 20222+ finger beige head, some came over the top...great retention and early sticky lacing. Dark brown beer, opaque and with some floaties. Fully laced. Coffee, toast, chocolate, and a faint herbal hop aroma - rich nose. Coffee, bitter chocolate, and some dark fruit flavor that wasn't apparent in the nose. Full body and mouthfeel with low-plus carbonation. Malty and rich with a welcome touch of bitterness in a lengthy finish.
Winter Ale from Fremont Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
244 ratings
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