Winter Warmer
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

CaptainJames from Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My first beer from Harpoon Brewery. 12 oz bottle. Pretty standard-looking, caramel-colored holiday ale. Very minor head and lacing that doesn't last. Looks lighter and like more of an early Fall/pumpkin beer more so than a deep Winter beverage. The advertised spices (cinnamon & nutmeg) come through on the nose. Something loose, almost watery about the taste. By the end of the glass both the taste and smell seemed to have toned down or disappeared. Carbonation dwindled away pretty quick as well. It's not a bad beer, but it is lacking. I'll drink anything you give me, but I probably won't "buy" this with my own money.

Sunday at 09:37 PM

DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

From a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a dark amber color with about a finger of off white head. So-so retention, decent lacing. Smell is of cinnamon and faint bready malts. Taste: If there is such a thing as cinnamon juice, I'm pretty sure I'm drinking it. I like cinnamon as much as the next guy, but the taste is so overpowering that it's quite off putting. It's strong and literally all I can taste. Mouthfeel is smooth with a not so surprising cinnamon aftertaste. Winter warmers are not my most favorite beer style in the world, but this one is way out a whack even for me.

Dec 31, 2019

MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.49/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz can. Canning date stamped on can bottom is '09/30/19'.
Clear, deep amber colored body. Slight off white head, stays around as a couple of drifts and a ring. Leaves behind a few scattered small spots of lacing.
Aroma of lightly roasted malts, cinnamon and nutmeg. Reminds me of 7-Up soda.
Taste is a spiced malt ale. Spices rise up more at the end, and have the flavors of nutmeg and a little cinnamon.
Thinner mouth feel. Okay carbonation.
Pleasant enough, but not memorable enough for a return. Entire taste experience lacks depth and complexity, for what should be a spiced and comforting winter warmer.

Dec 20, 2019

AccipiterofBeer from New York

4.08/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A great drink for the holiday season.

L: 3.75 dark, but welcoming.
S: 4.5 The spices are readily apparent. One whiff and I want a swig.
T: 4 sweet malts and spices. Cinnamon. Not overly complex, but appreciable taste nonetheless.
F: Great. The spices aren't overbearing on the way down. You can have more than one a sitting.
O: 4. Recommended.

Dec 16, 2019

zeff80 from Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle. Poured out a dark burgundy color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It smelled of nutmeg, cinnamon and dark bread. Sweet toffee taste with some roastiness and a spiced finish.

Dec 02, 2019

maddogruss from New Jersey

3.36/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Had a bottle at home.
A: poured caramel amber body with small, tan head with minimal retention and lacing.
S: sweet caramel and nutmeg notes; hints of vanilla as well.
S: sweet, nutmeg and toffee notes with vanilla and cinnamon in the finish.
M: medium bodied and pretty smooth
O: decent winter warmer, overall. Nice easy going beer beer.

Nov 28, 2019

Charliethebrit from Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It is a nice amber color. The head goes to nothing quick.
Its smell is all spices.
The taste is a bit bland, overwhelmed with the spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Not balanced.
Feel is so so.
It is drinkable, better with the right food to offset those winter spices. OK if it is on sale.

Nov 22, 2019

davedog_7 from Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This is a nice WW. Lower on the ABV for the style, with a rich caramel color and flavor, mixed w/ noticeable cinnamon and less nutmeg.

While not remarkable, it's a WW I know I can count on as being a good, solid beer to drink once it starts getting colder out.

Nov 18, 2019

Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.67/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

(12 oz bottle, PKG 09/30/19; purchased single off shelf... poured into fat tulip)

L: polished-clear, deep tawny liquid... huge foam build on pour; aged white color; fantastic retention and rocky structure.... keeps a thick, messy collar; laces a little

S: arguably equal intensity of cinnamon and nutmeg on the nose; mildly toasty muffin-crust-like malt supporting, perhaps a hint of dried red berry/cherry in the back... almost smells like Belgian noel red ale with spices; excellent expression/intensity

T: cinnamon and brown sugar cereal, toasty brown (tanned) malt up front; swell of nutmeg in the finish, then it fades, then pushes forward again into the aftertaste; subtle phenolic spice settles at the back of the palate... overall relatively dry... the spicing lingers at a static volume a long while after each sip; bulky, dry, bread-crusty malt providing a firm background

F: smooth, cut, lean (but not light) malt body; sedate spicy and boozy warmth glowing at the back of the palate... about on point for what I'd desire in this 'style', but perhaps lacking a touch of roundness and legs

O: honestly, it's not too far removed from some pumpkin beers I've had - the more cinnamon and nutmeg-forward ones, naturally... relatively flavorful... for a winter warmer, a little spice addition/enhancement could be ok, but the beer needs to focus on idiosyncratic malt richness and fermentation character - this is just a tweaked pumpkin beer, but not all that bad (1605)

Nov 15, 2019

EMV from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Nearly clear copper pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Solid lacing.

S: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and toasted malts/sugars.

T.F: Sweet up front. Toasted grains and brown sugar. Strong spice presence... cinnamon, nutmeg, and a bit of ginger. Some light hopping for bitterness/balance. Still somewhat malt forward. Medium to light bodied... more Christmas spice at the finish.

O: Decent enough for what it is. Drinkable... strong cinnamon and spice.

Sep 13, 2019

Donaltman3 from Georgia

3.42/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The cinnamon is pronounced as are the hops. Interesting beer, I wouldn’t want many but one every now and then is good. Someone that like fireball or the latest cinnamon whiskeys might really like this beer.

Feb 13, 2019

chitoryu12 from Florida

3.53/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Look: Light, hazy chocolate brown with an orange glow under light. 1.5 fingers of thick white head with excellent retention.

Smell: Sharp hops over a lightly toasted malt.

Taste: Quite hoppy and soapy. Hard to taste more than mild malt under the hops.

Mouthfeel: Average thickness with decent carbonation.

Overall: It feels like the hops are excessive for the style. While still drinkable, it’s more bitter than warming.

Feb 07, 2019

Nass from Florida

3.71/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I like the classy looking label artwork. The pour is amber color in the dimple mug. The cinnamon & nutmeg is blended perfectly, nothing too overwhelming & their is some caramel & malt in there as well. It's better than the pumpkin beer that I have had from this brewery. This beer has such a pleasant aroma & well balanced taste. This is one of the best winter warmers of all time. Cheers! B

Dec 16, 2018

jjamadorphd from Florida

3.29/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

My first offering and it was pretty good...

I really liked the burnt orange look with light foam head and some lacing down the glass. The smell was light on cinnamon and nutmeg but it was a bit more noticeable when it came to the taste. Though I wasn't entirely liking it, but it was decent enough. Mouthfeel was crisp, medium-bodied and only lightly watery over the tongue. Overall, it was good, nothing spectacular, but good.

Dec 10, 2018

jzlyo from Iowa

3.77/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Aroma is big nutmeg, cinnamon, malts and a hint of caramel. The flavor is nutmeg, cinnamon, malts, mild fruit and a spicy/warming/slightly tart finish.

Nov 27, 2018

DanLane from Virginia

3.82/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Copper in color with good head.
Very mild scent of cinnamon and wheat, almost undetectable though.
Tastes as advertised, cinnamon nutmeg and allspice that aren't overpowering.
Despite being cold, it feels warm in the tongue.
Overall a decent winter brew.

Nov 20, 2018

PMakowski from New Hampshire

3.71/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 Oz Bottle poured into glass
Look - Deep copper color with medium foam head and some good glass lacing
Smell - A bit boring, mainly just cinnamon and nutmeg. Some malt.
Taste - This isn't meant to be some extraordinary beer, it's a very simple spiced beer. It has the christmas or thanksgiving type spices of pumpkin pie like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and a little cloves. It's quite sweet and malty. It has no bitterness other than the ginger and nutmeg which does give it the warmth. Medium body and medium carbonation.

Overall, it's just a good winter beer not great. It doesn't have high drinkability or exceptional flavor, but i would enjoy it from time to time. Grade is a B+

Nov 12, 2018

Profundobaso from New York

3.61/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle.

Look - amber to light-brown in color, transparent. very little head/lacing.
Smell - spices, mainly cinnamon and nutmeg. nice sweetness that isn't overpowering.
Taste - some spices in the initial mouthfeel, though not much in the finish. a hint of fruitness near the end. not much hop or malt presence.
Feel - medium bodied, medium carbonation, and appropriate ABV.
Overall - The flavors on this beer are all as advertised, but aren't pronounced. the result is a beer that tastes good, but doesn't stand out relative to the same style from other breweries. still a good brew.

Jan 29, 2018

tillmac62 from South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

EBD 1/15/18. Pours a slightly cloudy amber with a dark ruby cast. Normal head volume and retention, very poor lacing.

Nice but weak nose that you really have to "sniff" for. Aromatics are not this beer's strong suit - but that's due to intensity. Cinnamon, light nutmeg and a touch of plum reside over a slightly sweet base.

Heavy light body that has a bit of heft to it and results in a smooth texture. The carbonation / body balance is outstanding and balances nicely with the body. The middle is just effervescent enough to tickle while the finish provides a rollicking prickly punch.

The flavor profile is good. It is well balanced but lacks complexity and intensity. Cinnamon is the strongest influence and arrives first and provides most of the bittering sensation. Cinnamon also never goes away - it just slowly fades and lingers after the finish. The middle is subtly sweet but never shines to provide contrast. Consequently, any dark fruit from the nose are very hard to detect. Nutmeg makes a hint of an appearance near the finish, but it is also subdued.

Jan 23, 2018

Act25 from New Jersey

3.19/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

when winter warmers venture in direction of pumpkin pie, I veer elsewhere.
a) Pours crystal clear amber body (similar to Flying Fish Grand Cru - much better) and a fizzy head with minor retention and lace.
S: Two much aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg in the nose that blot out other features.
T: The taste follows smell with emerging notes of balancing hops to the malty sweetness in the base. Typical.
M: Looking for more weight and warmth in a winter special.
O: The beer is too low key and finished in the back of the pack.

Jan 21, 2018

Redrover from Wisconsin

3.56/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I bought a 6 pack of this as part of a large beer run I made at Woodmans. $6.99 per sixer.


From a longneck into a glass, the beer is amber with a light beige head.

It has an aroma of grains cinnamon and nutmeg.

The spices are evident in the taste but are not assertive or overpowering. There is a cracker like taste from the malts, a bit of red apple and then the cinnamon and if you look really hard nutmeg. There is a quick hit of dried fruit and the beer is slightly sweet.

The mouth is medium and active carbonation that could be dialed back a notch.

Not a bad change of pace winter beer. I could see myself buying a six pack every holiday season.

Dec 26, 2017

Gajo74 from New York

3.83/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a clear amber/ruby red color. A nice moderate sudsy off white head retains well and forms a collar and scattered lacing.
In the aroma there is a nice assortment of spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg accompanied by hints of Christmas fruit cake, cherry and citrus fruit. The malt also comes through and is nutty and biscuity.
The taste reveals a malt forward drink that has a doughy and bready texture. The spices work harmoniously with the malt. They also balance out the malt sweetness in lieu of the hops. The finish is fruity, citrusy, slighly spicy and semi dry.
The mouth feel is medium bodied, sweet and spicy, moderately carbonated and easy to drink. There is no detectable presence of alcohol and no alcohol warming.
Although perhaps a bit light bodied and low alcoholic for the style, I nevertheless enjoyed it.

Nov 21, 2017

lastmango from Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured a beautiful clear reddish brown color with a frothy two finger tan head. Minimal lacing. Aroma is a bit fruity and spicy. The taste was malt forward with a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg in the background. Just touch of hop bitterness on the tail. there is not much complexity for this winter warmer. Light carbonation and a rather thin-medium feel drags this down a little. This brew is also a bit too watery.

Nov 05, 2017

Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a clear mug, the appearance was a copper to dark amber/brown color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that glistened before gently sliding off. Sticky speckled lace.
The aroma had some cinnamon, allspice, ginger, dark bread, some milk chocolate, nutmeg, butterscotch, and a little bit of earthy spice even lighter in the background.
The flavor was moderately spicy with a gentle sweetness coming about. Light aftertaste of a blend between chocolate, butterscotch and nutmeg.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it due to the spices becoming non-distracting. Carbonation felt on par. Finishes slightly spicy with a little bit of malt.
Overall, works for me as a winter warmer, I'd have again.

Oct 13, 2017

Try-em-all from Missouri

3.58/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

NOTE: Don't make the mistake I made by drinking a winter beer in April. IDIOT!

Dark Cinnamon, dark numeg, dark sugars and dark fruit are all a part of this. Of yeaeh, it looks dark, too with a copper color; two finger head that sticks around a few minutes. Malty taste, touch of tart, but you certainly have cinnamona nd nutmeg as a take away. Not too much hoops are bitterness with medium body. I should have drink this when it was cold out, shame on me.

Apr 12, 2017