Young's Winter Warmer
Review Date 12/17/2002
Try?
Re-buy?
’Twas the night before Christmas, and
all through the house,
Everyone they were sleeping, ‘cept for dad the old souse,
The stockings were hung by the chimney with cheer,
In hopes that St. Nicholas would fill them with beer,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Poor dad his good brew on the monitor he did splatter,
Then what to his wondering eyes did appear?
But a jolly old man with a sleigh full of beer.
To the top of the roof, to the top of the wall,
He placed different brews, 99 bottles in all!
Next day dad awoke, in search of his loot,
Was all this a dream, or was it all truth?
To dad’s dismay, it was alas the former,
A dream brought on by too much Young’s Winter Warmer
Ah, Young’s Winter Warmer. This is a beer I’ve been drinking for many a
Christmas season. It’s as much a part of the holiday for me as a Christmas
tree, blinking lights, and carols. In England, a winter warmer is generally
a strong, malty beer with lots of flavor and character. It may well be
served on cask at the pub, where most English ale is drunk. Young’s Winter
Warmer is certainly available in that form in England.
Here in the United States, you’re more likely to find this brew in half
liter bottles for about $3 or so (a steal). It’s a great beer to sip on a
cold winter night the likes we’ve been having here in Georgia of late, ones
that remind me of New England weather more than anything else. And while
this beer isn’t for sale here in Georgia yet, I was happy to pick some up in
Tennessee while Christmas (and beer) shopping the other day. Fortunately,
Young’s beers are fairly readily available in many states of the US.
Young’s brews its Winter Warmer with pale malt as a base and crystal added
for body. Additional non-malt sugars, perhaps corn or candy sugar, impart
richness to the beer. This is not a strong ale by any means, however;
alcohol content is about 5% by volume, about the same as Budweiser. It is
the hearty flavor of the beer that is meant to be warming. Nor is this a
spiced ale. Some American winter warmers, most notably Harpoon’s, have added
spices. This is not the norm for an English example, however. Fuggles and
Goldings are used for hopping.
Young’s Winter Warmer pours to a deep brown color with a thick creamy
head and a nutty malt nose. The palate does not overwhelm, but bursts with
toasted malt, nuttiness, toffee, a touch of butter, rich English yeast
character, subtle fruit, and a dry, balancing hop finish.
Serve this one with a hearty plum pudding on Christmas day, or sip it by the
fire on Christmas Eve. It’s a classic holiday favorite whether sipped in Old
England or New, in King George’s land or the state named after him.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
