St. Peter's Winter Ale - St. Peter's Brewery Co Ltd

kojevergas

California

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

1 pint .9 fl oz brown glass bottle acquired for cheap at Total Wine Redondo Beach; I think the price was between $1 and $2. Label is red. I dig the strangely shaped bottle. Pressure cap is branded. Expectations are average.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a light tan colour head of gorgeous cream, very good thickness, and quite good (6+ minute) retention for the above average ABV. Body colour is a very dark caramel-brown; nontransparent and opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Very light thin lacing as the head recedes. Not horribly vibrant, but then again it's nontransparent...

Sm: Sweet malts. Fruit - fig, bright sugarplum, dates. Caramel and toffee. Brewer's chocolate. Surprisingly Belgian in malt character, with a nice dose of biscuit. Raisin. Light herbal notes. A bit of spice - anise? A subtle, diverse aroma of moderate to fairly high strength. Little yeast character is detectable. I don't get any alcohol.

T: Caramel, toffee, heavy date fruit, biscuit malt, fig, malty sweetness, and light candi sugar. Complex and enjoyable. Pleasant to drink. Balanced if imperfect. Not horribly subtle. A bit too sweet, but still enjoyable. I do get some candi sugar. Balance is okay. Could use more complexity and subtlety. It's a bit wanting. I do like it. A bit of toasted character. Sugary.

Mf: A bit undercarbonated. Smooth. Wet. Good presence on the palate. Depth of flavour is above average.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. A surprisingly tasty winter ale. Well priced. I'd get it again. Not exemplary, but a solid seasonal. I wouldn't want to have more than a bottle a night; it's just so sweet and sugary. But it's a good offering. Hides its above average ABV well.

High C+

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 07:48:26 | More by kojevergas

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Two and half fingers of light tan head on a just-short-of-black body.
The aroma is roasted malt, black licorice and caramel. Great depth here.
The taste is strong on the black licorice, backed up by the roasted malt. There’s a mild bitterness to balance out the malt sweetness.
This has a heavy body with low carbonation. The texture is oily.
A wonderful ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:14:41 | More by Fatehunter

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

(3.75) A: Shows an attractive clear pomegranate red colour with a bubbly dirty beige head that quickly scatters to form a ring. Healthy lacing with some streaking down the glass.

(4.25) S: Dark bakers chocolate, black licorice, winter spices (nutmeg and cloves), and dark fruits (raisins and dates). An underlying herbal aroma to this that is quite subtle and adds a nice layer. Slightly boozy but more of a raisin soaked booze vibe. Very good.

(4.25) T: Roasted malt traits notably a dry dark chocolate, herbal-like hop elements, spices, restrained darker fruits (raisins and cherries), and toffee. There’s almost an earthy peat taste in the finish that is intriguing. I want to describe each flavour as subtle, so instead I will say this is very smooth and well balanced. Delicious.

(4.25) M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Oily and dry with a slight chalky texture, but in a good way.

(4.25) D: This is a very well balanced and smooth winter ale (possibly more porter-like) with complexity and an assortment of flavour. Definitely worth a try, if not for the medicine bottle shape.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 02:27:49 | More by Digimaika2

HATS4BATS

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Complex and layered. Powerful nose of coffee and chocolate in balance. Flavour leads with smack of toffee with enduring notes of burnt coffee, salted chocolate and malt. At times struggles to conceal ample alcohol content. Feel of a traditional ale with pleasant after-taste that holds complexity in balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:44:17 | More by HATS4BATS

jaz58

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A decent winter ale.

Poured into a pint glass, when held up to the light, the colour is ruby red.

The nose is warm with good hints of malt and a little chocolate.

Very thin creamy head which dissipated quickly.

Taste features toffee and butterscotch with a good bitters to finish.

Mouthfeel is round and good.

Overall a good ale to warm you up on a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 23:39:22 | More by jaz58

kristiekatk

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I love the fat little bottle this beer comes in. Makes me think that I’m drinking an olde timey home remedy for something. Let’s say gout.

St. Peter’s pours a deep ruby, almost black, with a head that fades into a thin and bubbly ring. The aroma is all malted milk balls and roasted malts, very porter-ish. There’s also a good tinge of leafy hops, molasses and burnt caramel.

Vanilla, fruit, and English hops dominate the front end of this beer, resting on a roasted malt base. A lot of char notes mixed with the hops provide for a great balance between sweet and bitter. The mouthfeel is slick and well-rounded, though it feels a lot lighter than what I would like it to be.

Overall, I’m not exactly sure what is overly winter-y about this beer, but I did enjoy it and think it would taste great paired with a warm winter meal.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:26:26 | More by kristiekatk

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in pint glass (Sam Adams signature glass).

Appearance: Cloudy brown, with an obvious amber tint to it. You see many and I do mean many tiny bubbles when placed to the light.

Smell: Light nutmeg barley feel, It is a scent that you can definitely not hate.

Taste: Nice sweet and bitter. Malty feel and lightly spicy feels like nutmeg.

Mouth: Medium and very sticking. I am placed the glass down and still minutes still feeling it. This beer comes off slightly a little like fruit bread but toastier.

Overall: For about four bucks, this beer was a blessing. When i go back I will pick up two more while the season is kicking. Drink up and enjoy, Salud!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 04:59:01 | More by BlurryVisi0n

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown/black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of roasted malt, caramel, and some dark fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with a candied dark fruit flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer but I think it tastes better than it smells.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 03:35:56 | More by UCLABrewN84

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes:

Appearance: chocolate brown with a red hue; beautiful thick head; fine suds; great lace

Aroma: sweet and malty; caramel and toffee; hint of banana

Taste & Mouthfeel: smooth and creamy; strong coffee flavour; dark caramel that moves toward toasty, almost like sitting by a fire; light carbonation; not as sweet as the scent, but that's a good thing; roasted flavour stands out more over time

Overall: really fits the bill - a perfect winter beer - roasted and warming, not too sweet; to be had in a mountain chalet surrounded by snow!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 14:21:30 | More by BGDrock

MONKandTUCK

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Very dark. Far more brown than red, some decent head retention at first.

A - Fruity esters and malts... I've had fruitier smelling beers from this brewery. Nothing blows me away, but if you're new to English-style beers, this will be a treat!

T - Malty, kinda sweet and toasty. This beer is not the sap I've had in bigger beers, but comes close for the low ABV that it has. Finish is reasonably dry. Hard to distinguish a theme here. It's kinda just meant to the be big and broad (relatively speaking). Some English hops sneak up on the nose and taste buds, periodically, keeping the flavor interesting.

M - Big and chewy, gets heavy fast.

O - For 6.5% this beer packs a punch, but also seems to lack direction. I dunno what it is, but this one just doesn't hit home for me like their IPA and Cream Stout. In part, I think it might have been WHEN I had this beer, rather than the beer itself. I won't forever pass it up in the future, but it's not a beer I'll go out of my way to try.

*This is a beer that I very much believes needs to be paired with food. Spicy chilli, smoked fish, BBQ with plenty of greens, korma, and shepherd's pie all come to mind as great companions.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 14:53:25 | More by MONKandTUCK

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, dark brown with minimal coffee-coloured head that dissipates very quickly. Dark enough that the pint glass is opaque, but light enough that amber highlights at glass edges are visible without holding it up to the light.

Mild aroma of roasted malts with coffee tones. The flavour follows suit with a more robust malt spectrum. Roasted and toasted malt sweetness with hints of chocolate and coffee. Well balanced with a sweet finish and the 6.5% ABV is completely hidden. None of the spice elements that are common in North American Winter Warmers, but a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 02:09:08 | More by hopsolutely

Treborofmoria

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours dark to almost black with ruby around the edges. Light does not pass through it. I did not have the head retention that was listed previously, probably due to being from bottle as opposed from tap. Surprisingly sweet up front with powerful malt on the back. A classic winter warmer style. This whole beer rings of "old school" The nose has sweet almost bubblegum notes, similiar to a wheat beer. The body is all ale though. I haven't had too many of this brewery's beers, but this is definitely one to remember and try next holiday season. One or two or a snowy night would be very pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 22:18:58 | More by Treborofmoria

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - near black darkness, short tan head dissipated to a thin covering with decent lacing
S - big chocolate aroma, mild spice with a boozy tingle, very enticing but not at all what I was expecting
T - cocoa, pressed coffee, and some licorice root, mild smokiness and light fruit, much more of a stout flavour than the winter warmers I'm used to
M - big body smoothness with a big feel and just a hint of dry late
O - expecting a very spicy warm ale, surprised to get this big bold malty treat but a little reading tells me that this is common in the english style, very 'chocolate stout' in my opinion, very tasty

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 03:34:01 | More by joemcgrath27

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.7/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into tulip.

A- Super dark brown/black pour with hints of red up to the light. Two finger cream colored head that rapidly drops to thin cap. Lacing is fantastic.

S- Chocolate and coffee with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, figs and dates. Brown sugar and subtle vanilla.

T- Coffee and dark chocolate, dates and brown sugar with a touch of cinnamon.

M- Medium bodied and creamy, subtle carbonation, sticky on the lips.

O- This thing is awesome! There is so much going on here it truly is remarkable. I've never had a winter warmer this full bodied, complex and creamy.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 01:19:58 | More by korguy123

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque dark brown with a cola-like nut brown colour visible around the edges. The small tan coloured head burns off quickly, leaving behind a thin, but long-lasting collar and little to no lacing.

Deep, multi-layered aroma. Smells of roasted malts, coffee, dark fruits and berries, chocolate, grasses, anise, a hint of smoke and wet wood.

Tastes of bitter coffee, roasted malts and chocolate, with a sweet fruit and berry undertone. The finish has a solid bitterness to it.

Full-bodied with a moderate carbonation level. Very creamy on the tongue. Coffee and chocolate permeate the aftertaste, along with a very subtle fruitiness.

Smells and drinks more like a stout than anything. Very drinkable, yet satisfying winter warmer. The aroma, taste and aftertaste are all very similar, but every sip seems to be a different mix of chocolate, coffee and fruit.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 18:31:03 | More by bryehn

BierStein711

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

This beer was poured into a shaker pint.

The beer is a ruby red with a three finger head.

The smell was of toffee, dark fruits, and sweet malts

Tasted only the toffee and the sweet malts.

The mouthfeel was warming and thick.

Overall, this beer was a beautiful letdown.

I don't know if I will revisit this beer style.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 22:48:54 | More by BierStein711

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice dark brown color to it with some amber hues coming through. It has a nice tan head that dies down moderately and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of roasty malts, dark fruit, caramel, coffee, chocolate and some earthy hops.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a sweet malt character to it, dark fruit, some spices, caramel, chocolate/coffee and some earthy hops giving it a nice bitterness.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice sweet and malty overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 02:36:19 | More by SebD

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark ruby red colour, finger of head with some retention and sporadic lacing.

S - Dark cocoa, vanilla, spiced rum, pineapple and a hint of espresso.

T - Sweet caramel, spices are coming through; cinnamon, nutmeg and all-spice. Leafy, herbal hops, a tad medinical, with the sweet caramal and cocoa malt lingering on the finish.

M - Good body carbonation, goes down smooth and finishes wiht a touch of dryness.

O - A tasty winter warmer, doesn't overload the palette with spices, yet doesn't come across too mild. An easy drinking ale that boasts a solid flavour profile and a uniqueness that comes with the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 15:51:28 | More by andrenaline

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured into a pint glass there was only a half inch light cocoa head that disappeared instantly to a thin colllar of fine bubbles. The body is nearly black with some deep brown highlights on the edges and is nearly devoid of any lacing.

S - toasted malt, leafy hops, dark raisins, licorice

T - sweet malt,leafy herbal hops, bitter rye bread, licorice and dark fruit, with a pleasant smoky wood coming through in the finish. Definitely some booze and perhaps a hint of cinnamon. Cloves.

M - This is a creamy smooth brew especially given the complex flavors present. Some carbonation and pleasantly bitter in the finish. Sweet but not cloying. Some spicy notes but they are subdued and do not dominate the palate.

O - a spectacular winter warmer that I will hit annually.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 18:54:42 | More by Stocean1

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

500 mL bottle from the LCBO, production code given is H1811 so I am guessing August 18th of this year.

Pours a deep black-brown colour, though realistically it's dark enough that 'black' is sufficient. Ruby red highlights under the light. There is a thin, creamy tan-coloured head on top, but it fades quickly and doesn't leave much behind - just a thin, filmy cap and a collar of cream around the edge. The aroma is heavy on roasted biscuit malts, a bit nutty with some toffee, molasses and bittersweet chocolate/coffee grind notes as well. Some muted spicy, herbal qualities in the background, with a bit of ethanol.

The taste is also pretty malt-forward, with roasted biscuits and bittersweet baker's chocolate being quite prominent. Hints of walnut, coffee grounds, and perhaps figs or prunes... some sort of dark fruit anyway. Sweet, but balanced with lots of traditional leafy, floral, bittering English hops. The spiciness is subtler than in most American warmers and not the focus of the brew, but notes of cinnamon and herbal mintiness add another layer to this one. The booze is barely noticeable, but complements the flavour nicely, blending with floral bitterness, roasted coffee and tree bark in the aftertaste. Good mouthfeel, not quite 'full-bodied' but getting there. The moderate carbonation provides just enough bite to keep it feeling crisp without masking flavours. Easy to drink, but complex enough to sip and enjoy slowly.

I seem to really like English warmers, mostly because they don't smack you in the face with a 10-pound sack of spices. St. Peter's Winter Ale fits that mould quite well, and may in fact be a new favourite in the category for me, though I doubt fans of spicy American warmers will concur. Regardless of which camp you fall into though, this stuff is delicious and at least worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 03:32:18 | More by thehyperduck

rarbring

Sweden

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer is clear dark brown, a high tan head that settles slowly, leaving some lacing and a few curtains.

Sweet syrup, cereal, bread and oranges.

Starting with sweet brown bread, some honey and syrup, some mild burned notes, nuts and apples.

Medium low carbonation, slightly spritzy bubbles, soft with a big body, a slight dryness.

In all a very decent winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 15:15:58 | More by rarbring

Kartoffeln

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque brown so dark it's nearly black, with a sizeable, tan head of pillowy, creamy froth. Good retention, gradually dissipating to a thick ring of foam and leaving some frothy lacing.

S: Mildly sweet chocolate, biscuit, and roasted malts with notes of black coffee, cocoa, and a hint of smoke. Cinder toffee and butteriness. Dark and candied fruit aromas, hints of clove and licorice, and ethanol.

T: Sweet chocolate and biscuit malts with a slightly smoky, charred character of roasted barley complemented by cocoa notes. Cinder toffee, juicy dark fruit, and faint brown spice notes. Earthy, woody hops towards the finish with a slight lactic tang, a cranberry note, and a bit of booziness.

M: Medium-bodied with low, creamy-smooth carbonation. The woody hops and lactic tang balance the robust, sweet flavour profile as much as can be expected. Remarkably easy-drinking for the richness, it avoids feeling cloying or too heavy.

D: A very English winter warmer that happens to nail down everything I personally like about the style. St. Peter's winter ale is one of those rare beers that retains everything that characterises a style but adds distinctive changes that complement the style's characteristics to produce something uniquely delicious. Well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 23:18:00 | More by Kartoffeln

helmstreet

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in Ommegang BPA tumbler.

A- small, tan head, dark body

S - sweet, light, somewhat estery and buttery

T - hop sharpness that mellows into bready caramel and ends slightly toasty.

M- creamy without being heavy.

D - a really nice winter ale. Subtle, but not too cute.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 20:54:26 | More by helmstreet

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From notes.

A - Poured almost black with a dark brown hue. One finger of tan head faded fast. No lace and no retention.

S - Dark fruit, licorice, interesting. Medicinal or herbal notes and a slight alcohol element.

T - Mild herbal notes, fruits, breads. Sweet.

M - Very mild carbonation, medium body, sweet finish.

O/D - Seemed sahti-ish. Not bad. Not overly tasty though. Couldn't get into it.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 22:41:48 | More by tbeckett

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a coca-cola brown colour, one finger of off white head, some lace left behind. Smell is malty, lots of roast, rye like spice notes, chocolate and nutty scents as well. Taste is full of roasted malt, chocolate, lightly lactic, medium bitterness throughout, spicy rye like notes as well, faint coffee in the finish. Medium carbonation, full body, medium feel. This is really good and full of flavour, one of the better winter warmers showing up in Ontario right now.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 16:47:20 | More by peensteen