Winter Wander
Whitewater Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Whitewater Brewing Company
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
European Dark Lager
ABV:
5%
Score:
+9 ratings needed
Avg:
3.62 | pDev: 0%
Ratings:
1 | reviews: 1
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 13, 2025
Added:
Oct 27, 2025
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
23 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

3.62/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
473 mL can from the LCBO; no canning date and served barely chilled. One of six brews in Whitewater's 2025 Winter Adventure Pack.

Pours an opaque ebony brown colour, capped with nearly two fingers of soapy, light tan-coloured head that deteriorates within the next three minutes or so. A snaking band of messy lace circles the perimeter of the glass, with a tight collar and filmy cap lingering on the surface; looks fine so far. Roasted malts on the nose, with notes of black coffee, toasted nuts, burnt grains and just a touch of cocoa.

It's a flavourful, but it does come off a little too bitter/acrid, at least for a dark lager. I'm tasting toasted bread, burnt grains and coffee grounds, with a slight metallicity underneath; suggestions of molasses and burnt sugar add some sweetness to the mix. Finishes with hints of dark chocolate, coffee and toasted nuts, followed by a roasty, bitter aftertaste that persists longer than I'd like. Light-medium in body, with mild carbonation that brushes weakly across the tongue; smooth mouthfeel, and easy enough to toss back.

Final Grade: 3.62, a B grade. Whitewater's Winter Wander is not bad, but it's not great, either. Not sure what 'kind' of dark lager they were going for here: It's not exactly a schwarzbier, but sorta maybe-kinda leaning a bit in that direction (vs. a dunkel, or a Czech dark). None of those are great fits, which is why I've added this to the catch-all Euro Dark style. I actually like the coffee/dark chocolate bitterness - it'd work great in a stout, but comes off as overbearing in the context of a dark lager.
Nov 13, 2025