Winter Warmer Ale
Medicine Hat Brewing Company

A- This one pours a very clear ruby red color, with brown/rust hues throughout and the carbonation appears to be rather lumbering as it rises to the top. The head is a light caramel tone and it starts out about a finger and a half in thickness and eventually settles down to a foamy, tight looking layer over the brew. Lacing seems to be quite good with a heavy film of protein clinging to the side of the glass! Overall a sound looking Ale!

S- I am getting hints of spiced apple, nutmeg, clove, some cinnamon, deep raisined fruits, alongside doughy notes, yeast, biscuit, caramel malts, muted toffee and milk chcocolate, with the finish leaning towards a sweet pie like character.

T- The flavors are well rounded on this one and follow suit to the aromas rather well! Plum pudding, vanilla, chocolate, various baking spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg are most noted), again....spiced apple, rich dried orchard fruits, brown and/or golden sugar (cooked), and a finish that is rather clean, flavorful and dessert like!

M/O- Super well hidden alcohol which really seems non existent, somewhat zesty carbonation and a rather light body characterize this one, but otherwise it is very well rounded, highly drinkable and overall just a nice beer! I've been of course to the brewpub and have never been disappointed with MHBC brews and this seasonal release does the job!

16oz glass at Beer Revolution YEG Oliver Square. Now this is more like it - a winter warmer with some potential warming, what a concept!

This beer appears a clear, dark orange-brick brown colour, with one finger of puffy, loosely foamy, and bubbly tan head, which leaves some dripping paint swath lace around the glass as things slowly abate.

It smells of bready and doughy caramel malt, some indistinct candied tropical fruitiness, further baked apple notes, and very tame earthy, musty, and floral noble hop bitters. The taste is semi-sweet, grainy and pastry-like caramel malt, muddled domestic citrus and pome fruit, brown sugar syrup, ethereal earthy nuts, and more understated leafy, weedy, and mildly perfumed floral verdant hoppiness.

The carbonation is fairly restrained in its lackadaisical frothiness, the body a solid medium weight, and mostly smooth, with just a suggestion of an idea of a notion of alcohol ingress messing with the ideal here. It finishes on the sweet side, the big malt and attendant fruity esters running the lingering table.

Overall - this is an enjoyable enough version of the style, sort of simple, but drinkable all the same, as the 8.3 points of the ol' wowee sauce quotient are generally well integrated. Warming, indeed, even if it hasn't felt much like winter of late.