Adnams Spiced Winter Beer - Adnams plc, Sole Bay Brewery

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Half pint, hand pulled in the excellent ‘Castle’ (Cambridge). The Adnam’s own pub had 8 different beers of their own available in cask form, so half pints were the order of the day.

Ruby or Chestnut like in colour, with a white head that left some good heavy lacing.

Malty molasses in the nose, lightly toasted rather than full on burnt or roasted: some wintery type spices around too.

The flavours imparted included nutmeg, cinnamon and grapefruit, all sitting in a great tub of maltiness and then watered down a little too much. Adnam’s Old Ale is 4.1% ABV and their other Christmas beer (Yuletide) is 4.5% ABV, this is a lot weaker and it shows in the mouthfeel if not in the initial taste. I would have preferred to have had a stronger spiced brew than this half and half concoction.

Disappointed to be honest, nothing wrong with it really, just not what I expected from Adnam’s and it certainly isn't a Winter Warmer!.

Serving type: cask

01-06-2012 13:28:24 | More by BlackHaddock

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice mahogany colour with very little head. Warm, lightly spiced scent. Malts, a bit of cloves, orange zest and raisins.

Nice, light spicy taste: orange zest, nutmeg, cloves and hints of sugar and ginger. Light, citrusy hops.

Nice, lightly carbonated mouthfeel. A very sessionable winter warmer.

Serving type: cask

11-22-2011 22:29:57 | More by BDTyre

DaveHS

California

4/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At the Courtfield on Earl's Court Road, London.

A-Pours a garnet/ruby color with a light tan head. Leaves attractive, soapy lacing.

S-Cinnamon, nutmeg, light, toasty maltiness, a touch of earthy hops.

T/M-Slightly burnt pale malts add a bit of body to the typical flavors of a well made ruby mild ale. The body is pillowy and light. The cinnamon spiciness, which is subtle at first, has a residual quality, and becomes stronger with each sip.

D-I prefer a more straightforward ruby, but worth trying once.

Serving type: cask

01-11-2011 12:30:39 | More by DaveHS

Trizzle

United Kingdom (England)

3.48/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

First pint of the cask. A touch of chill haze but an otherwise clear and dark red-brown body with a nanometer thick dense off White head that clings like my ex.

Sweetish caramel malt on the nose, orange peel, candi sugar and yeast. Some nostalgic woodwork classroom timber shavings and a hint of a peaty whisky.

Taste is initially big on malt but not overly sweet. Dried out with orange peel notes, and a good ginger hit. Cinnamon and nutmeg are present but just complementary and not over the top. I'm normally sceptical of these spiced or fruity concoctions but I like this.

Mouth feel is medium but a touch raw. I also wouldve guessed this was 24-36 hrs old rather than first cab off the rank.

Could and will enjoy 2 or 3 pints.

Serving type: cask

11-24-2010 19:05:18 | More by Trizzle