Winter Ale
Summit Brewing Company

12oz bottle into a 16oz Summit Winter Ale dimple mug.
L: Pours deep clear ruby mahogany color w a pillowy, creamy, rocky pock-marked light khaki 1/2" head w excellent retention, nice fine carbo, medium sticky spotty lacing.
S: Darkly roasted/toasted caramelized malts, raisins, light cocoa, moist brown bread, root beer, toffee, light molasses, a suggestion of light coffee. Slightly rich aroma over all.
T: Clean & bright, dark toasted malts with no char, a wisp of black cherries, hints of dark fruits, lightly sweet, citrus zest finish.
F: Lightly brisk, clean, med-light bodied w an affable cola-like feel, yet smooth & creamy, a lightly dry med-long finish w a light linger.
O: Very EZ drinking and beautifully balanced beer that is lighter bodied over all than many other within the style. Very accommodating w a well placed kiss of hops. It is very good in its style.

Clear, brown pour, reddish mahogany tone to the body; excellent carbonation; thick, light khaki head; densely foamy and long-lasting with a rocky, sculpted look. Rich malt nose; well-rounded sweetness with a low-key holiday spiciness. Excellent taste; well-balanced malt sweetness with hints of dried red fruits and holiday spices; allspice and nutmeg; balanced bitterness. Medium mouthfeel with a mild stickiness; lightly warm.

This tasty little winter warmer exudes balanced with a great holiday malt tostiness and spicness. Very good!

ABV 4.8%; pouring temperature: 46.8 ℉; canning info Enjoy by 04/10/26
Source: beer trade with @LesDewitt4Beer

Pours crystal clear dark mahogany with a thick tan cap. Generous lacing. Aroma is roasted malt, molasses, raisons, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. Flavor follows the nose with a hint of smoke, a touch on the sweet side up front, a bit bitter in the finish. Feel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated. Overall, a pleasant experience.

Original review:

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, 2019

Tonight's:

From a can, poured into tulip. Dark color, head recedes FAST, leaves thin lacing.

Very little smell, taste is restrained malt, finishes with a slight spice. Very slight bitterness toward the end. Well worth the purchase.

Quite a bit of toasty and bitter malt flavors, with the sweetness mostly coming from the aroma and aftertaste. Tastes almost like a porter. Quite balanced and good for a long winter night.

 

 

 

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.

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.

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

Malty, has lots of coffee flavor. Very little bitterness, not overly sweet. Easy to drink.

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.

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.

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!

 

 

 

 

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.