Winter Ale
Summit Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Summit Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #74 - ABV:
- 6.1%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #23,491 - Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 10.43%
- Reviews:
- 284
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 22, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 08, 2001
- Wants:
- 16
- Gots:
- 102
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good


Notes:
OG 14.6° Plato
36 IBUs
Malts: Harrington, Caramel, Carafa II
Hops: Willamette, Fuggle, Tettenanger
36 IBUs
Malts: Harrington, Caramel, Carafa II
Hops: Willamette, Fuggle, Tettenanger
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by German-Helles from Wisconsin
3.81/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.81/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
This is a 12oz. bottle poured into a Summit pint glass. Pours a very dark brown, cola color. There is a very nice two finger cap of creamy tan foam that left very nice lacing on the side of the glass as it receded. there seems to be very little carbonation.
The aroma is light but very nice. Malty hints of coffee and cocoa nibs.
The taste is a bit dry, bitter, from the coffee notes there is a hint of sweetness.
The feel is smooth, and as I said the carbonation is light.
This beer is good, I think they did a good job. I like the low bitterness, slight sweetness, and the slightly dry finish.
Nov 30, 2019The aroma is light but very nice. Malty hints of coffee and cocoa nibs.
The taste is a bit dry, bitter, from the coffee notes there is a hint of sweetness.
The feel is smooth, and as I said the carbonation is light.
This beer is good, I think they did a good job. I like the low bitterness, slight sweetness, and the slightly dry finish.
Reviewed by mngermanshepherd from Minnesota
4.03/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.03/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a thin head, nutty brown colour. Tastes more like cardboard - dry finish and taste, some light coffee, cocoa and malt round it out. Finish is dry but smooth, not much (if any) bitterness to speak of.
Nov 17, 2019Reviewed by defunksta from North Dakota
3.73/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.73/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a dark cola color with a light-colored tan head. SRM of 21-22. (3.75).
Aroma: Aromas of silky chocolate, brown malt, molasses, syrup, rich caramel, with slight toffee, roasted espresso, and nuts. (3.75)
Flavor: Flavor follows the nose with less chocolate, but still predominately brown malt profile with a creamy milky tail. A stronger balance of sweet malts, cream, syrup, espresso, with a light black cherry finish. Finishes smooth and not too sweet. No appreciable bitterness, but just a touch from the roasted cocoa or pine. (3.75)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Good carbonation. Leaves a hint of red hoppy citrus on the palate. (4.00)
Compared to Bitteschlappe: It pours a darker color. It has less roasty and bitter profile. Therefore, it has a smoother malt profile. Less bitter.
Compared to Odell's Isolation Ale 12/4/20: Pours a darker color. More creamy chocolate and caramel. Less toasty brown bread and toffee
Compared to Trader Joe's Winter Ale 2020 (doppelbock) 12/10/20: Pours a similar color with a slightly darker hue. More cocoa, roast, pine, silky caramel. Less brown bread, toast, molasses, syrup, smokiness. A lighter body with less alcohol and sweetness. Dryer and cleaner.
Compared to Trader Joe's Dark Lager 1/25/21: Pours a similar color. Stronger aromas/flavors. More brown malt, syrup, molasses. Less dry cocoa and toast. More malty and less bitter. Similar, but better than TJ dark.
Overall: A pretty good Winter Warmer beer. I think it could use more of a hop & spice profile as compared to some of the others I've had of the style. Sort of simple and malty. Still a good wintertime-drinking beer without being too sweet. (Final Rating: 3.73)
*Compare to any average doppelbock or Winter Warmer
Nov 10, 2019Aroma: Aromas of silky chocolate, brown malt, molasses, syrup, rich caramel, with slight toffee, roasted espresso, and nuts. (3.75)
Flavor: Flavor follows the nose with less chocolate, but still predominately brown malt profile with a creamy milky tail. A stronger balance of sweet malts, cream, syrup, espresso, with a light black cherry finish. Finishes smooth and not too sweet. No appreciable bitterness, but just a touch from the roasted cocoa or pine. (3.75)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Good carbonation. Leaves a hint of red hoppy citrus on the palate. (4.00)
Compared to Bitteschlappe: It pours a darker color. It has less roasty and bitter profile. Therefore, it has a smoother malt profile. Less bitter.
Compared to Odell's Isolation Ale 12/4/20: Pours a darker color. More creamy chocolate and caramel. Less toasty brown bread and toffee
Compared to Trader Joe's Winter Ale 2020 (doppelbock) 12/10/20: Pours a similar color with a slightly darker hue. More cocoa, roast, pine, silky caramel. Less brown bread, toast, molasses, syrup, smokiness. A lighter body with less alcohol and sweetness. Dryer and cleaner.
Compared to Trader Joe's Dark Lager 1/25/21: Pours a similar color. Stronger aromas/flavors. More brown malt, syrup, molasses. Less dry cocoa and toast. More malty and less bitter. Similar, but better than TJ dark.
Overall: A pretty good Winter Warmer beer. I think it could use more of a hop & spice profile as compared to some of the others I've had of the style. Sort of simple and malty. Still a good wintertime-drinking beer without being too sweet. (Final Rating: 3.73)
*Compare to any average doppelbock or Winter Warmer
Rated by Philip3shady from Minnesota
4.28/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Malty, has lots of coffee flavor. Very little bitterness, not overly sweet. Easy to drink.
Apr 14, 2019Reviewed by GStone899 from Minnesota
3.82/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.82/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Really solid winter Ale. Caramel, vanilla, toasted oats, spices with a dry finish. Summit has stepped up their game with the last few beers I have tried from them.
Apr 11, 2019Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia
3.46/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz can into a willi becher pint glass.
L - Pours a dark brown/black color with a nice white head. Looks kind of like a cola.
S - Smells of spices with some maltiness.
T - Taste matches the smell, has a nice sweet maltiness with some spice.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Decent winter ale.
Feb 24, 2019L - Pours a dark brown/black color with a nice white head. Looks kind of like a cola.
S - Smells of spices with some maltiness.
T - Taste matches the smell, has a nice sweet maltiness with some spice.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Decent winter ale.
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas
3.75/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle. Brown color with off-white head. Smells of roasted malt and spices. Medium feel. Big malty body with some spice from the hops. Very good!
Feb 02, 2019Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.02/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle into glass. Best by date stamped on bottle neck is '03 21/19.
Clear, amber brown colored body. Bottle pour produces a one finger off white, pillowy head. Each sip leaves an oily sheen with a few spots of foam.
Aroma of toasted malts, which also includes deep dark coffee, caramel, cocoa, and very slight dark fruit.
Taste is very similar to the smells, with toasted and bready malts, that give rise to other flavors of coffee, cocoa, caramel, and dark fruit. The hops add some pepper.
Medium plus mouth feel. Good carbonation. This is a comforting beer.
Long time favorite since the late 1980's. Always looked forward to its seasonal release. Just a good, solid beer with its comforting complex malts and touch of hops.
Nov 18, 2018Clear, amber brown colored body. Bottle pour produces a one finger off white, pillowy head. Each sip leaves an oily sheen with a few spots of foam.
Aroma of toasted malts, which also includes deep dark coffee, caramel, cocoa, and very slight dark fruit.
Taste is very similar to the smells, with toasted and bready malts, that give rise to other flavors of coffee, cocoa, caramel, and dark fruit. The hops add some pepper.
Medium plus mouth feel. Good carbonation. This is a comforting beer.
Long time favorite since the late 1980's. Always looked forward to its seasonal release. Just a good, solid beer with its comforting complex malts and touch of hops.
Reviewed by rickyfinn from Minnesota
3.94/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours very clear dark brown. Cocoa smell dominates. Tastes cocoa. Thick cocoa feel. Overall, cocoa impression. Very good cocoa ale with the lingering image of hot chocolate. If you drank hot chocolate as a kid, this ale will bring back memories.
Nov 03, 2018Reviewed by ipeters1017 from Wisconsin
4.84/5 rDev +29.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.84/5 rDev +29.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours a deep, clear ruby with a thin off-white head. Good retention and lacing. Smells primarily of earthy hops and spices. Taste is much more complex, with raisins, molasses, coffee, a slight spiciness and a bitter finish. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy and lightly carbonated. Very tasty, smooth and satisfying. Always one of my favorite winter beers.
Nov 09, 2017Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.52/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Unfortunately, the season has passed for this one, but even if it hadnt, it still wouldnt be my favorite. this is sort of the craft beer of the old school, malty amber ale, brewed with just a little more body and hops for the cold months, but the craft beer movement has evolved beyond this now i think. deep amber in color, brick red even, with a short lived white head. some nice toasted grain and nutty malt sweetness to this, fairly earthy and substantial in both nose and taste, without as much overall caramelized sweet weight as anticipated. a hint of maple, coffee cake, and toffee, all without spices or adjuncts from what i can gather. sort of english, also sort of hoppy, with a little more bitterness than we usually see in amber ale types, its hoppy as it goes down for sure. medium body, relaxed carbonation, sturdy beer and likely someones favorite, but i look for a little more in my winter beers these days. summit is near and dear to me because they often embody and preserve the old school in their beer, but this one seems tired to me. not the best of their seasonal offerings, but still quite satisfying and enjoyable in the right context, which will next occur sometime in november...
Mar 19, 2017Reviewed by ThorSon from Minnesota
4.14/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is a very interesting beer. Its like nothing I have ever had. I had it poured in a glass at Toasted Frog in Fargo. Summit is a great brand by a great Brewmaster, who started making Summit before craft beer really took off. I had it with a chicken risotto and it was great. Its hard to identify all the tastes that are going on, coffee, toffee, caramel, and malts. Just because of the taste alone, you gotta try it, you won't be disappointed.
Jan 25, 2017Reviewed by Dms844 from Minnesota
3.8/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look, dark amber with a thin head.
Good, interesting smell, toffee and caramel.
Add subtle coffee notes to the taste.
The feel is refreshing, not to heavy, good beer to sip on and enjoy the different flavors.
Dec 22, 2016Good, interesting smell, toffee and caramel.
Add subtle coffee notes to the taste.
The feel is refreshing, not to heavy, good beer to sip on and enjoy the different flavors.
Winter Ale from Summit Brewing Company
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
600 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!