Day 15 of the 4th Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 15: Brew Kettle Winter Warmer
It seems that this beer always makes the list but it’s not one we normally would seek out. Winter Warmer is a “Christmas Ale packed with the spices of the holidays; cinnamon, ginger, orange & lemon peel, and a sleigh load of honey. A beer thats loaded with holiday cheer!” Based on the description, it sounds like your old fashioned Christmas ale.
Reflections
Beard & Broad
Beard: Another OG Christmas beer. I get the ginger and cinnamon in the aroma but it’s not overpowering at all. The orange and lemon peel are real subtle, but they add a little tartness and slight bitterness in the finish. This beer kind of reminds me of mulling spices. They’re still holiday flavors, but they set this beer apart from the other spiced fare out there. This wouldn’t be my go-to local Christmas beer, but it’s definitely a solid choice.
Broad: So this is a beer I always see and remember for Christmas, but one I don’t gravitate towards picking up. Upon first sip, I don’t know why I don’t get this more! It’s so delicious. It’s the quintessential Christmas ale. Its full of spice and the right amount of maltiness. It’s on the lighter side but you still taste the cinnamon and ginger. I recommend this beer if you’re new to or just getting into Christmas beers. Unfortunately I will probably forget about this beer next year until I see it again.
Adam & Alex
Adam: Winter warmer is, I regret to say, very forgettable. If I were to describe the beer in one word it’d be “fine”. It’s … okay. It’s a blend of the generic winter spices but I get absolutely zero of the lemon and orange peel and honey they say is in it. I want to love it but I feel like every beer from Brew kettle I’ve ever had is just “fine”.
Alex: I really enjoyed Brew Kettle’s Winter Warmer. It is on the regular roster of Cleveland winter beers. I taste mainly the spices of cinnamon and ginger, but I’m not really getting any of the orange and lemon. At the end I do get a hint of a honey taste/consistency. I have always enjoyed this beer and will continue to in the future.
Scott & Christa
Scott: The Brew Kettle Winter Warmer is one of the most balanced, Christmas style ales I’ve had so far this year. It’s got a little more bite than some other versions, but the spices, bitterness, carbonation are really well balanced. I feel bad to admit I forget about this one each year, but this was a great reminder that Northeast Ohio has so many top shelf Christmas ales and I wont forget this one again.
Christa: Winter Warmer is right! This beer warms my heart and soul. Not to copy Scott but this beer is perfectly balanced. The typical holiday spices are here but they aren’t overly done, it’s the perfect amount of sweet with a tart malty finish. I tried to stretch it to the last drop and my soul was a little colder upon finishing it. Excellent addition to your holiday drinking rotation!
Tony and Megan
Tony: Can I have some beer with my syrup and spices please?! 😜…..Maybe this is our fault for not having it cold, that might help, but it just tastes very syrupy and sweet. Its also a little flat. They say they put “a sleigh load of honey” and maybe thats the overwhelming flavor I taste. Overall not feeling this one.