Spiced Winter Lager
ALDI USA

The appearance is deep copper with a medium head that fades fast. The aroma is apple pie spice, caramel, and raisins. The taste has spices but it's also astringently bitter and finishes kind of flat. The palate started out smooth but ended up thin. Overall it's a mixed bag. I like the aroma quite well but was disappointed how it presented in the taste. Somewhat of a treat but not something to drink often. More of an interesting rating just once.

Appearance: Slightly hazy golden orange in color, with a robust white head, somewhat coarse, and having good retention. Fat bubbles cling to the glass wall beneath the surface, with an occasional bubble racing to the surface. The lacing is finely-beaded and coats the glass wall in an irregular ring.

Aroma: Spice notes dominate the aroma, among them orange rind, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and vanilla, Caramel malt is also present but quite understated against the spices.

Taste: Opens with notes of winter spices, notably cloves, nutmeg and particularly cinnamon, as well as caramel and vanilla. As the taste progresses, there is orange rind, as in the aroma, but more bitter. Later in the taste, the caramel vies with some grassy and herbal hops. The hops win out, bringing the taste to a balanced close, with some mild, lingering bitterness.

Mouth feel: Soft and pleasant, with a gentle hint of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Really very nice and a quite auspicious start to the Aldi Twelve Days of Beer for 2025. Spiced Winter Lager is worthy of presentation on its own and a pleasing Winter Warmer, offering a bit more character than many other examples. Well done!

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a La Fin du Monde tulip.

11/28/25 - (Can, Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased via the Aldi Twelve Days of Beer Fall/Winter 2025 variety twelve pack for $22.14 with tax at the Harwood Heights Aldi on November 7, 2025, and refrigerated until opening this evening. 12 oz canned 9/17/25 (can stamp PKGD 04:091725 1430008288). Spiced Winter Lager, 5.0% ABV. Lager with natural flavors. Brewed by ABW Virginia Beach LLC in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Appearance: Poured the full can into a large goblet, yielding an orange base and egg white head that leaves creamy at spots thing and others cover over the head with a sustained creamy head. Sustained medium carbonation visible rising to the top. 4.0

Aroma: Cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, mild to medium strength, pulling me in. 3.75

Taste: Pretty consistent with the aroma, with cinnamon and clove the clear leaders, light nutmeg and perhaps cranberry hiding in there. Pretty good. 3.5

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, persistent medium plus prickly carbonation adding heft. Drinks light and easy, sweet but withing style expectations and a little dry. Clove cinnamon start to finish. 4.0

Overall: This is a solid start to the variety pack. Nice Winter Warmer, consistent with style, nothing earth shattering but a solid effort and introduction to the style for people starting their beer journey. Well done New Realm and their ABW contractor brewery for ALDI USA. 3.75