Home for the Holidays
Wolf's Ridge Brewing

Home for the HolidaysHome for the Holidays
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From:
Wolf's Ridge Brewing
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #107
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
86
Ranked #27,314
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 18.4%
Ratings:
14 | reviews: 7
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 08, 2025
Added:
Dec 07, 2020
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
This version of the Winter Warmer uses the finest spices to create an air of the familiar and celebration in every glass. Brewed with cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, and molasses.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Blogjackets:
Photo of Blogjackets
Rated by Blogjackets from Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Nov 10, 2022
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.07 by Curt3 from Ohio

Dec 08, 2025
Photo of DDiFran
Reviewed by DDiFran from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a GLBC Christmas Ale chalice. Born on 10/23/24 so it’s fresh
Nice amber with a touch of haze. Lots of head. Good looking beer
Smell is orange and cinnamon. All good
Taste is well balanced between orange cinnamon hops and malt
Feel is sturdy but not chewy
I thought this was a really well done winter warmer. Reminds me of GLBC before they over did the honey and made it too sweet. This still tastes like beer. Nice job!
Dec 28, 2024
Photo of MikeD1234567890
Reviewed by MikeD1234567890

1.54/5  rDev -58.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
So disappointed in this product given the price but another example of too much spice that wasn’t fermented correctly so it tastes skunked. DONT BUY
Dec 15, 2024
 
Rated: 3.84 by lsudduth from Ohio

Feb 03, 2023
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Reviewed by Historiker from Ohio

4.34/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured a deep amber. Pretty clear, with a 2" fluffy head with good retention and sticky lacing. Really beautiful beer.

The smell is something special. Oranges are the first and most notable aroma, and unlike other winter warmers, it doesn't smell artificial. Paired with the aroma of molasses, caramel, honey, and spices, it smells like the holidays without smelling like every other holiday beer. I also appreciate that this isn't ginger-heavy, which tends to be the lazy go-for for too many breweries.

Taste is really enjoyable. Again, orange is prominent, but it reminds me of when my uncle would send us fresh citrus from Florida for Christmas. Its a clean, fresh flavor. There are a few other winter warmers with orange notes, but they tend to taste artificial. Not this one. Cinnamon is next, and it compliments the citrus beautifully. Caramel and toffee are in the background, along with some ginger and spices. This is nicely balanced. At 20 IBU, it's not sweet, but it isn't at all bitter. Just a really enjoyable beer.

Mouthfeel is on the full side of medium. Nice carbonation - noticeable without being over the top. Smooth.

Every winter, I buy between 20-40 Christmas beers and winter warmers as singles. Many are old favorites, but there are always new ones. Some of them are real let downs, and some - like Home for the Holidays - I wish I'd bought more of. This is a really nice brew, and it's on my nice list for next year.
Dec 22, 2022
Photo of KT3418
Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I liked the feel on this one more compared to say, Brew Kettle's. The flavors were a little more prominent and coated the tongue a little better too. I think this is one of the better Ohio winter warmers, especially out of Columbus.
Nov 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by travelguy from Ohio

Sep 12, 2022
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Reviewed by UrbanCaveman from Ohio

3.11/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 oz can, poured into a nucleated teku at ~40 degrees F.

L: Poured a clear deep russet red, and formed a few fingers of off-white head with great retention.

S: Rather muted, with some soft spiciness and caramel malt.

T: Caramel malt hits first, with a barrage of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, and allspice following. Not much else is present, at least at first while the beer is still cold. Doesn't really change as it warms, either.

F: Medium of body and fairly sticky.

O: Not my favorite Wolf's Ridge offering, I'll definitely say that.
Dec 23, 2021
Photo of BB1313
Reviewed by BB1313 from Ohio

4.11/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Canned on 10/7/21. 12oz can poured into a tulip.

Pours a deep amber with ruby and mahogany hues; nice clarity and transparency; fluffy khaki head that fades leaving solid bubbly retention and sticky lacing.

The aromas have caramel, toffee, orange and honey. Some toast. Subtle spice. Malts are there.

The flavors have a very nice spice profile. The spices are clean and balanced. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger come through. Some chocolate coming through. More caramel and toffee. More orange peel. This one has a solid earthy bitterness. Low sweetness. Malts do their thing. Finishes somewhat dry. Alcohol basically goes unnoticed.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with moderate to active carbonation. It's sharp and smooth.

This is a really nice "Holiday Ale". It's pretty clean, crisp and refreshing for the style. Nice spice profile. The craftsmanship is on point and really takes this one to the next level. The execution is impressive. There's something "simple" and subtle about this one that makes it extremely enjoyable. The "simplicity" and their attempt to not go overboard with the spices really pays off. Less is more sometimes. It drinks like a "real beer" and not a "spice bomb". Well done. I really like it.
Nov 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by mpolewan from Ohio

Nov 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by JoeLacy from Ohio

Nov 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.52 by prototypic from Ohio

Dec 13, 2020
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Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.71/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This was the December 7th beer from the advent pack I bought from my local beer store just around the corner. It poured a clear dark amber with no head and no lace. The scent had bold pine and xmas potpourri notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with pine, holiday spices and booze presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a decent beer.
Dec 07, 2020