Winter Warmer
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Winter WarmerWinter Warmer
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From:
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #76
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,397
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 12.23%
Reviews:
95
Ratings:
258
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 21, 2023
Added:
Nov 18, 2006
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  52
Warm up the long, cold nights of winter with Rahr's latest seasonal offering. Wonderfully robust, rich and full-bodied, Rahr's Winter Warmer is crated in the fine British tradition of holiday ales. Perfect for either holiday gatherings or quiet evenings at home.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Pintofbrown:
Photo of Pintofbrown
Reviewed by Pintofbrown from Texas

3.69/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
This winter warmer was had in a snifter from Florida.

The opaque, dark brown body barely shows dark crimson highlights. The weak head could not even muster full coverage of the dark cap, leaving only a tawny ring around the glass.

Sticking the nose right down into the beer only brings out a general malty sweetness, the slightly toffee-like impression was hard to come by. A roasted malt quality blending with that sweetness vaguely reminds one of peanut butter, flashes very briefly. Finally, with a little warming, some soft aromas of plums and figs escape from the glass. Entirely too hard to sniff out this beer, soft, vague.

The flavor profile of this winter warmer begins with a caramel malt sweetness that intimates raisins and figs. A roasty malt hits mid-palate, contributing brown sugar and char. The finish, once again, reintroduces the figgy quality with a building char from the roasted malt. This beer is not really complex, but the sweetness is well balanced with the charred quality of the roasted malt.

A lighter body blends with a rather watery feel over the tongue. Not much going on here in the way of carbonation, this could have been creamier, to compliment the slight drying finish.

I keep going back and forth on Rahr and Sons Winter Warmer. It is soft on the nose, but the sweet malts are enticing. The palate is not that complicated, but I really enjoyed the figgy, charred flavors. I think what would have really helped this beer was a better carbed mouth feel and stronger nose. It is a good beer, just not a great one.
Feb 06, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.68 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Nov 21, 2023
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a light brown color with a small head of tan colored foam. The head fades rather fast leaving a small amount of streaky lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is heavy of a lightly toasted bready malt aroma mixed with smells of molasses and caramel. Along with these aromas comes notes of grain and cocoa and a little bit of a coffee smell. Other aromas of a light earth and a bit of a cardboard smell are there as well, with the overall aroma being rather roasty and dry smelling.
Taste – The taste begins with a roasty and toasty malt flavor that is paired with a decent showing of molasses, brown sugar and buttery toffee taste. Some coffee is present upfront, being rather smooth at first, but then taking on a bit more bitterness as the taste moves forward. At the same time, some cola sweetness replaces a bit of the toffee, and is accompanied by some light earthy and pine hop. A touch of warming alcohol and oak becomes more noticeable at the end, and with some spice of nutmeg and cinnamon coming at the back end as well, and with all the transactions that occur throughout the taste, one is left with a malty, moderately sweet and warming taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is slightly heavy with a carbonation level that is lower and fine. For the mix of malt, sweet, and roast the feel is nice and creates a pleasant warming slow sipper.
Overall – A pretty good winter warmer with a hearty malty taste and feel.
Jan 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Dec 29, 2022
Photo of nizzle8287
Reviewed by nizzle8287 from Texas

4.45/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12/10/22: 12 oz can poured at 50F into a pint glass. Body is dark brown with a very light khaki head that reduces to a nice film. Lacing drips slowly back down to the decent ring around the glass.
Smell is simple and clean, but quite faint, with molasses and English hops, which I can't really put my finger on anything that it tastes like besides English hops.
Taste is molasses and barely, with a mild English hop bitterness that rounds out this brew very nicely. 2022 is a good year for this release! Flavors develop in a fantastic way as the beer warms up. After it warmed up about 10-15 degrees, the flavors really come out with a ever so slight spicy and floral accents. Bittersweet on the front end, dry on the back end, and easy to drink.
Feel is smooth and well carbonated, but doesn't bite much even with 8%abv. I'd say medium presence in the mouth that ends with a a creamy and lasting bitterness.
Overall, I love this brew. It is very tasty, and I'd definitely recommend it.
As a side note, the bourbon barrel version of this is quite stout, and might be considered an "imperial" version of Rahr's base Winter Warmer. Love it!
Dec 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.8 by dubnation from Kansas

Dec 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4.12 by NodakEric from Minnesota

Dec 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.98 by craigbelly from Iowa

Nov 29, 2021
 
Rated: 3.88 by BrentMcQuirk from Texas

Nov 28, 2021
Photo of 60sFolks
Reviewed by 60sFolks from Texas

4.39/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
This one of my favorite ales for the Fall and Winter, but I can't always find it even though I live 100 miles from the Brewery. It is a bre I always look forward to. And this year I found it, of all places, at Albertsons in November. I am so arm and happy.
Nov 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by Wolvmar from Michigan

Jan 23, 2021
 
Rated: 3 by UkyoRellik from Texas

Dec 03, 2020
Photo of Brew-ish
Reviewed by Brew-ish from Wyoming

4.51/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
It’s a beer you grab to when your out beating cold winds and want to warm up. Nice and thick, full bodied, and filled with flavor.

I’d gladly come come back to this beer and drink it everyday.
Jul 24, 2020
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.87/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This brew, from an aluminum can, is a dark and clear,mahogany beer. The head is thick, tight-bubbled, and cream color. Malty and slightly spicy aroma. Wonderful flavor of malt, cream, caramel, and spicy hops. Full body and very satisfying.
Feb 28, 2020
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.77/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap. Poured an opaque, dark, dark brown color with a small, ivory head of foam. It smelled of spices, toffee, coffee and roasted malt. Malty, roasted flavor with a nice blend of seasonal spices.
Jan 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.82 by jellibeen from Texas

Jan 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.22 by Branlott42 from Missouri

Dec 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Dec 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by losdizzel from Oklahoma

Dec 10, 2019
Photo of Mark-Leggett
Reviewed by Mark-Leggett from Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can. Deep amber in color with a good sized head and some lacing. Smells of roasted malt and chocolate. Taste follows the smell. Flavors are a good mix and nothing feels out of place. Good
Nov 28, 2019
Winter Warmer from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 258 ratings