Winter Ale Season

[Cyientist]

I always love the winter ales as I think the spiced complex winter ales are a great change of pace, especially in cold weather. Just curious to see what people like out there?

I always pick up a few of the Anchor Steam's Christmas Ale for a vertical tasting (2011 was my favorite). Currently am having a Deschutes Jubelale and am not disappointed.

 

[BCoffClone]

The Jubelable is pretty good. Bell's Winter White Ale, New Belgium Accumulation and Shiner Cheer were a few of my favorites last year. Need to try the Anchor Steam this winter.

 

[psychlone99]

The Jubelable is pretty good. Bell's Winter White Ale, New Belgium Accumulation and Shiner Cheer were a few of my favorites last year. Need to try the Anchor Steam this winter.

Shiner Cheer surprised me. Good beer.

Generally, I'm not a fan of the winter seasonals. The oft-found spices are too much. I like bitterness and some occasional sweetness. But the spices always turn me off.

 

[carvers4math]

I like the Bell's Winter White.

 

[Cyientist]

The Jubelable is pretty good. Bell's Winter White Ale, New Belgium Accumulation and Shiner Cheer were a few of my favorites last year. Need to try the Anchor Steam this winter.

Thanks for the suggestions. My co-worker told me about the Anchor Steam, and I appreciate the effort the brewery puts behind it. The recipe changes each year as does the hand drawn label.

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/christmas_ale

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

The Jubelable is pretty good. Bell's Winter White Ale, New Belgium Accumulation and Shiner Cheer were a few of my favorites last year. Need to try the Anchor Steam this winter.

Accumulation is great, Cheer, IMO is different. first 6er I tried was great, after that not so much. But I also like the first 6er of fall/pumpkin beers and then I am done with it.

Where as my wife likes to stick with a beer, then i have to stock up since we can't find it at every liquor store, and then she has more than a few at party:spinny:. I am almost done drinking the rest of the pumpkin beer.

 

[BCoffClone]

Bumping this old thread from a couple winters ago, has some good suggestions for winter beers:

http://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178546&highlight=winter+beer

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

That said, I hope to try Snow & Tell this weekend from BLVD and Nut Cracker just came out. They are ******* some people off by dropping a few of their old stand bys, but I am excited for about every new one they have coming out this year.

 

[josh4cy]

It's not my favorite winter ale but I found sam adams winter ale in cans this week, figured that would be perfect for tailgating this weekend

 

[NorthCyd]

Here's remembering one of my all time favorite beers: Fireside Nut Brown by Leinenkugel. Why the hell they replaced it with Snowdrift Vanilla Porter I'll never know.

 

[dmclone]

I never understood the category. It doesn't seem like there are any rules on what makes a "Winter Ale". When you drink one you never know what you're going to get. Something like Bell's Winter White is nothing like Boulevard Nutcracker.

 

[StormnClone58]

Here's remembering one of my all time favorite beers: Fireside Nut Brown by Leinenkugel. Why the hell they replaced it with Snowdrift Vanilla Porter I'll never know.

problem is leinies insists they didnt get rid of it but its just 'hibernating' or has been 'retired' ... I think goose island has/had a nutty brown ale that isnt bad but not as tasty as a fireside ...

 

[StormnClone58]

I never understood the category. It doesn't seem like there are any rules on what makes a "Winter Ale". When you drink one you never know what you're going to get. Something like Bell's Winter White is nothing like Boulevard Nutcracker.

ive never had bells winter white ... Other than a link to BA, what sticks out to you that makes it good?

 

[dmclone]

ive never had bells winter white ... Other than a link to BA, what sticks out to you that makes it good?

I've never had it, I'm not a big fan of belgium yeast brewed beer.

 

[SWCy13]

Here's remembering one of my all time favorite beers: Fireside Nut Brown by Leinenkugel. Why the hell they replaced it with Snowdrift Vanilla Porter I'll never know.

I keep patiently waiting for them to go back to Fireside...Snowdrift is garbage.

 

[nwiafan]

Rogue Santa's Private Reserve is solid again this year and the always popular Sierra Nevada Celebration is another fine offering.

 

[cycloneworld]

Browns are by far my favorite beers so I'm obviously a huge winter ale fan. A few that stick out from past years:

Odell Isolation Ale
Shiner Cheer (if you like a spiced semi-fruity beer)
Hibernation Ale - Great Divide
San Adams Winter (widespread but good)

Something I've heard is really good but haven't found yet is Deschutes Jubelale.

 

[Cyientist]

I'd forgotten about the Fireside Nut Brown. That was some good stuff.

 

[somecyguy]

I like Sam Adams Winter, but the one I'm really waiting for is Bell's Dobblebock. That stuff is so good.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I never understood the category. It doesn't seem like there are any rules on what makes a "Winter Ale". When you drink one you never know what you're going to get. Something like Bell's Winter White is nothing like Boulevard Nutcracker.

Craft beer is getting pretty "commercial" in this regard. "This is what this is because we tell you what it is".