As snow falls outside and the winter cold bites to the bones, it’s time to put down the ice-cold light beer and replace it with a full-bodied “winter warmer” beer.
During the winter months, many local breweries and national brands offer winter lagers straying from the typical taste and feel of beer.
“What makes winter beers different than another beer is that they tend be bigger than an average beer – more malt, more hops, stronger flavor,” says Scott Francis, brewmaster at Barley’s Ale House No. 1 and Barley’s Smokehouse and Brewpub in Columbus.
According to Francis, winter beers were originally brewed with the intention of providing warmth to lumberjacks after working in the snow.
“When you’re on a beach, you want a lighter beer, something that’s ice cold and satisfies your taste. When it’s snowing outside, you want something that will warm you up,” Francis adds.
Winter beers are served at a different temperature than regular beers and are more filling. The strong taste and fill warms you up as you indulge, which is why they were given the nickname “winter warmers.”
Winter beers don’t have to be dark, but they tend to be amber or red amber in color. The flavor is also more intense than the regular beer taste.
“A lot of times they have something going on in the flavor that is either some sort of spice – that is, cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg, or maybe honey or citrus, like orange peel or lemon peel,” Francis says. “It’s actually a difficult beer to make. When you’re using stuff like that you have to be careful not to put in too much.”
During the winter months, Barley’s Smokehouse and Brewpub will be featuring Robert Burns winter ale, and Barley Wine will be featured at the Barley’s Ale House No. 1 location. Both will be available in half-gallon growlers ranging from $8 to $10.
Here are some suggestions for some winter beers to keep you toasty when it’s cold outside:
Great Lakes Brewing Co. Blackout Stout
www.greatlakesbrewing.com
February - March
9 percent alcohol by volume
Available bottled in 4-packs
This imperial stout originated from recipes British brewers tailored for the czars and czarinas of the Russian Imperial court.
Gordon Biersch Winter Bock
http://gordonbiersch.com
October – February
7.5 percent alcohol by volume
Available bottled in 6-packs
This strong, dark-flavored malt is modeled after the creamy bocks Bavarian monks drank in the 11th centuy. They filled them up and ensured they could fast frequently.
Samuel Adams Winter Lager
www.samueladams.com
November – January
5.8 percent alcohol by volume
Available bottled in 6-packs
This rich and full-bodied ale combines the taste of cinnamon and ginger blends with the sweetness of malted barley and a hint of orange peel citrus.
Goose Island Pere Jacques
www.gooseisland.com
January
9.0 percent alcohol by volume
Available bottled in 6-packs
This Belgian brew is named after a Trappist monk and brewed with loads of malt and Belgian yeast for a complex and fruity malt ale.
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles
www.magichat.com
Winter
5.1 percent alcohol by volume
Available in 6-packs
This amber ale combines sweet carmelized malt and spicy hops for a unique flavor.
Anna Gerber is a contributing writer for Luxury Living.