Elevator Winter Warmer Ale - Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

wingman14

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky light brown with an off white head that fades fast. The smell is nutmeg upfront with nice malty notes in there as well. The taste follows with a strong dose of nutmeg, not sweet, malty with good depth. A medium mouthfeel with a good balance of flavor, good carbonation. Overall a nice winter warmer, avoid if you are not a fan of nutmeg.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 23:35:45 | More by wingman14

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.28/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Samuel Smith pint glass on 1/23/12

Mostly clear, rustic brown. It's a nice color, I reckon. 1/4th inch head drops to a soapy layer.

The aroma is a bit thin. Smells like baked cinnamon bread, grains, tart apple (which later seems more in line with apple butter) and dustings of unsweetened cocoa powder and ginger. Raisins. Yeast. I swear I caught a hint of vinegar. Yikes.

Yikes, indeed. The flavor profile is dry (right on) as well as dusty and dirty (not so right on). Bread crumbles. Cinnamon. Ginger. Hint of cocoa. Deep grainy notions. There was an initial tartness that made me shudder, but such a flavor has subside in favor of generic "off flavors." Seems to be happening a lot with Elevator lately. Some oxidation and plastic.

The feel is a loose medium with a dry, granular feel. Carbonation is on the lower side and seems to subtly focus on the aforementioned grittiness. Come to think of it, there are some faint fruit undertones that linger.

I was expecting the worst and I got merely sub-par. I finished the bottle 'cause it's tolerable. I would caution Elevator that just because Neil House is in town it doesn't mean they should step down their game. C'mon, guys.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 02:02:06 | More by Ryan011235

hyprlt

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into mason jar.

A: no head, dark amber, copperlike color. clarity is very high.

S: not much, but there is a slight hint of spice possibly cinnamon

T: brown ale sweetness, and cinnamon spice. it could a whole blend of spices, but there are definitely of a holiday variety.

M: thick as an ale would be. good carbonation, not bubbly but not flat.

O: i like it. I would drink one or two and be satisfied. a lot of elevator beers are good, but get old. this is a very a good beer. everyone that likes holiday/christmas ales should have one.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 20:42:56 | More by hyprlt

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a beautiful clear amber with puffy, off white, 1.5 finger head. Very good retention

S - Strangely, the first scent I smelled was that of kids' bubble bath, smell of sweet grapes, caramel, a touch of cinnamon, and candied sugar.

T - It packs a wallop of spice and fruit. It's almost got a bit of a grape juice taste which fades into that candied sugar and finishes with a touch of spice. It's definitely the most interesting winter warmer I've ever had. Balance is definitely towards the sweetness.

M - Very smooth in the mouth, low carbonation. Where's the 8.4% alcohol?

Overall - It was interesting to say the least. It's like drinking candy to be honest. Honestly, I should be saying it's way too sweet, but I can't say I don't enjoy this. In my opinion--good brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 01:47:59 | More by BeerBuckeye

mdaschaf

Washington

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured into the DFH signature glass. Winter Warmer is hazy dark copper. A one finger tan head forms upon pouring and reduces to a small layer of foam that last for the rest of the time drinking. Nice sticky lacing.

S: Lots of holiday spices, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. Not much else, maybe a little bit of caramel.

T: Similar to the nose, but unlike some other winter warmers, the spices don't overpower the flavor profile. There is bready malt and a little bit of caramel on the finish.

M: Slightly bigger than medium bodied, has a nice, creamy mouthfeel. Good carbonation.

O: A good winter warmer, holiday in my mouth. Unlike most winter warmers that tend to be too heavy with the spices, Elevator does a good job keeping it simple and not too overstated.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 01:48:09 | More by mdaschaf

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Equal parts garnet red and topaz orange with slightly less than one finger of golden khaki colored foam. The head is hanging around, though, and is laying down a short collar of lace that looks decent enough.

Even though the aroma is underpowered, the fragrant scents of ginger and nutmeg are appreciated. Especially the latter. The base beer is a brown ale that doesn't make much olfactory impact at all. Still, this is a semi-pleasant sniffer... that becomes more forceful with warming and deserves a higher score as a result.

Winter Warmer Ale tastes good and that's all that matters. The brewers got the spice load just right (for me, at least), which is well more than half the battle in beer of this sort. And the 8.6% ABV, which is buried pretty well, will warm your cockles.

An underlying brown breadiness just does hold up and allows the spices to carry the lion's share of the flavor load. Nutmeg is still out in front, with ginger trailing closely along in its wake. The brewery made a good decision to use 12 ounce bottles. A bomber might have been palate-fatiguing.

The mouthfeel may not be thick and rich, but it's more than fine in all areas that matter. Besides, it settles in over the course of the bottle and picks up a lovely silky creaminess that is born of well-calibrated carbonation.

With respect to Ohio-brewed Christmas ales and winter warmers, Great Lakes Christmas Ale is still the king. Elevator Winter Warmer Ale may not even earn the silver medal, but it's still an enjoyable brew that is well worth $2 a single. What the hell, splurge for the entire six-pack and you won't be sorry.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 12:51:48 | More by BuckeyeNation

cbmatt

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

great winter beer. i have had it in fridge for awhile. poured very well with a deep amber color and a darker tan head. smells of cinnamon and nutmeg as well as some citrus notes. it as well tastes of the previous scents. this is by far one of my favorite winter/ holiday beers, elevator delivers again with another fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 20:39:49 | More by cbmatt

Spider889

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

On tap at Bodega. Review from notes.

Cloudy, murky even, chestnut color. Otherwise extremely unremarkable.

Smells of strong cinnamon and brown sugar. I actually liked the smell, and would have given a slightly higher score, but it was just way too one-dimensional.

Begins with immediate warmth in the back of the throat - very boozy for a relatively moderate abv. Lots of caramelized maltiness - tasted like old extract. Tons of cinnamon and nutmeg flavors that were grainy in nature.

Medium bodied, very dry finish thanks to the spices.

Yet another "meh" Winter Warmer that every brewery seems to feel it obligatory to try and duplicate without any imagination.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2011 03:41:25 | More by Spider889

TheHoppiest

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Obtained this as part of a six pack in November during a trip to Columbus, as this brewery doesn't distribute in Cleveland.

Pours a slightly hazy amber with a soapy white head hat has excellent retention.

Has a nice mulled spice smell, with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and hints of apple. Mild malt and yeast present as well.

Malty, sweet and spicy, cinnamon and clove are the clear winners. While many brewers overdo the spice, Elevator has hit the spice to malt proportions well, producing a well balanced winter warmer.

Medium bodied, with a slight bitter and spice hits the back of the throat and belly.

This may be my favorite spiced beer of the season. It really is too bad that Elevator doesn't have a presence outside of Columbus. I'd serve this over other local, well-known Christmas ales.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 23:04:21 | More by TheHoppiest

ne0m00re

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12/15/10- Had this one on-tap at Schmidt's in a 1-L mug.
A: Clear reddish brown, with a tan creamy thick film.
S: Not very strong... cream and caramel, biscuit, green leafy hops, pumpkin spice, and an alcohol presence reminiscent of rum.
T: Cinnamon raisin rum bread, with a noticeable alcohol, slight molasses and honey sugar presence that I can't distinguish but it fits the beer.
M: Thinner with a nice carbonation.
D: Pretty good. The 1-L wasn't as bad as I'd thought.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 02:56:18 | More by ne0m00re

LiquidCucumber

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Copper colored with a thin white head. The wispy foam leaves a nice ring of lace.

S - Sweet caramelized malts up front with some of the spices coming up after that. A touch of hops.

T - The thick malts are a base for some ginger and nutmeg action while a touch of resinous hops rounds out the back end. Reminds me of a spiced old ale. I really like this effect.

M - Medium body with moderate to high carbonation levels. The spice tends to stick around the mouth as it does in many other flavored brews.

D - This is slightly too easy to drink for the ABV. I hear they used to have a Winter Warmer lager, but I'm really glad that they chose this old ale-like recipe instead.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 03:56:38 | More by LiquidCucumber

ndekke39

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is the December specialty in the Elevator's 2006 MBA program. Formerly titled the Yule Lager - now renamed and redone by their new brewmaster. The Yule Lager was always my favorite Elevator offering, and this new Winter Warmer doesn't disappoint.

I bought a growler of this for New Year's Eve 2006. Poured it into a pint glass. Pours a gorgeous clear ruby red. Small white head, good retention. Smells of warm, toasted barley and citrus: orange and lemon. Tastes of warm spices, the citrus again. Slight hoppy finish. Flavors travel nicely. Mouthfeel is light creaminess with little carbonation. Wonderfully drinkable - perfect for New Year's Eve! I hope they stick to this version of the style every December.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2007 04:07:26 | More by ndekke39