Brrr - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Rusty tangerine with bright Sunkist borders. The upper one third of the glass is occupied by a sandstone colored lid that is impressively creamilicious. Surface bubbles pop... pop... pop in slow motion, leading to a good look for a good long while. Abundant and attractive lace is a bonus.

Who needs spices in a well-brewed winter warmer? Well, it smells well-brewed anyway. Caramel malt is wonderfully accented by tropical fruity hops. Simcoe and Cascade (along with Alchemy) were terrific choices. So far, I'm reminded of a poor man's Celebration Ale. Let's hope it tastes even close to that good.

Brrr is damn fine beer and is the best thing that Widmer has ever produced (if I'm allowed to say that after having had only a fraction of their offerings). Incidently, this beer is the same as W '06 N.W. Red Ale. It's good to see a brewery bring back a crowd favorite.

Winter warmer... big red ale... even caramel-malted IPA isn't far off the mark. I'm telling you, Sierra Nevada Celebration is most likely the inspiration for this surprisingly hoppy ale (must be the pine and grapefruit zestiness of the hops). 50 IBUs is nothing to sneeze at, especially when the bitterness is accompanied by such tasty Simcoe and Cascade flavor. No appreciable alcohol is a plus and drinkability is through the roof.

As far as mouthfeel, think IPA. It's at least medium for the ABV, if not medium-full, and has a lushness born of perfect carbonation. There are absolutely no chinks in the armor.

If I had known how delicious Brrr is, I would have purchased more than this single bottle and would have cracked the cap long before today. Another plus is that it looks like each year's release will last until the following year's release. Here's hoping the brewery keeps this one around for many a winter to come.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 12:48:14 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer pours amber in color, maybe copper, with a thin layer of soapy off-white head.

S: Smells quite hoppy, which I wasn't expecting. Quite a bit of citrus, plenty of floral hops as well. The other bit of the nose is made up of bread and toffee, maybe a bit of brown sugar.

T: A moderate level of pine and bitterness. Floral and citrus hops on top of the bread and toffee. A touch of fruit, maybe some peaches, and a bit of brown sugar and toasted malts.

M: The body is medium with a moderate level of carbonation.

D: I was surprised by this. Usually I don't have very high expectations of Widmer beers, but this was pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 06:21:55 | More by womencantsail

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

16 ounce pint - $5.00 at Taco Mac in Canton, Georgia.

Appearance: Served up a clear, reddish-amber body with a slim, near white head. Light lacing on the descent.

Smell: Steely resins, crystal malts, some modest notes of toasted bread and grains given a good shake, a good toss with an additional hint of fruit and alcohol.

Taste: Amply sweet crystal maltiness with some toast, some graininess, and a hint of light-colored brown sugar. Moderate sweetness overall. Resiny hops, some pithy-accented citrus and fair degree of bitterness. Tiny flourish of berry. Finishes bittersweet.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Slight creaminess within.

Overall: Reminded me a bit like a long-lost, equally illegitimate second cousin to Stone's Arrogant Bastard.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 20:29:40 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a pancake batter head that sticks rather nicely and leave quite a bit of lace behind

Smell: Caramel, pine resin and hemp

Taste: The piney/hempy hops make there presence felt from the outset, while the amber, caramel flavors fight for equality; after the swallow, the sweeter malts manage to increase their presence though the finish carries considerably piney weight

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This has to be one of the most piney beers I have encountered; not bad, but a bit too much in that direction for my palate

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 00:49:39 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 11/8/11.

Pours a murky brown with a 1 inch puffy light tan head that settles to a small cap. Thin rings of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of sweet malt and some herbal and citrus zest hops. Taste is of herbal and citrus zest hops up front that becomes sweet with malt flavors on the finish. There is a mild bitterness that sticks to the tongue after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a somewhat smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good Winter warmer that is quite hoppy for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 05:26:56 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I don't know how much of a Winter Warmer this is but it's a great hop-forward Amber that makes me wish for summer.

Medium maltiness all the way through with fresh baked bread crusts, light toast, over caramelized toffees (not quite burnt), along with a fresh sun-kissed grain taste. Light grains give a touch of vegitables as the beer warms.

Hops are quite assertive from the nose to finish. Resiny and pine-like up front with pungent earthiness and a touch of catty notes; maybe from Simcoe hops. Flavor and aroma turns bitter in a hurry with a dry citrus finish.

Malty up front with hop aromas that catch on and take hold quickly. The increasing intensity of hops never let up leading to a bitter and crisp bitterness in the end. A mild metalic aroma and taste from time to time is the only real distraciton.

A good beer by Widmer, and perhaps a fair alternative to Celebration Ale.

Thanks Gary!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2009 04:23:29 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Not quite cold enough for me to make this noise, but it's getting close. This stuff pours a clear amber-copper topped by a half-finger of off-cream-white foam. The nose comprises apricot peel, light honeydew shell, sweet caramel, and a bit of pine resin. These elements don't really go together all that well, frankly, but the combination is interesting enough. The taste holds notes of pine resin, orange peel, light peach, dusty toffee, and a touch of toasted biscuit. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish. Overall, this ain't a bad hoppy winter warmer right here. I think the hop combination could've been honed a little better, but this stuff really ain't too bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 03:09:03 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark amber hued, highlyhazed...lush, creamy toned froth up on top.

Citric hops meet caramel malt in the nose. Bitter and sweet and mellow. Sweet on top of bitter. Nice.

In the taste, it reiterates, sweetness matches with crisp, citric hops all the way through. Medium bodied, long hoppy sweet finish.

This doesn't have what I look for, usually in a winter warmer, but it does have plenty of the things I like in a beer. Good job, Widmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 03:22:10 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a reddish-amber color with a white head. The aroma is caramel and biscuit malt with a little bit of piney hops mixed in. A very nice aroma overall. The flavor is heavier on the hops than I expected. I get a lot of pine as well as some caramel malt. Low bitterness and very drinkable. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A nice take on a winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 04:21:28 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a cloudy, orange/amber color with a small, tan head. It left sticky rings of lace all the way down the glass.

S - It smelled of pine, citrus and floral notes. A subtle nutty and roasted malt aroma emerged as it warmed.

T - This was very hoppy and delicious. Good bitter hops were balanced out by a smooth caramel malt flavor.

M - It was crisp, sharp and had a dry finish. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is one of the best winter warmers I've ever had. It certainly is one of the hoppiest.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2008 03:31:47 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high light beige colored head that gradually died down and left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface, a collar around the edge of the glass, and some lacing down the sides.
S: There are aromas of citrusy hops in the nose—grapefruit seems to stand out in particular—along with notes of caramel malts.
T: The overall taste is rather malty and has flavors of caramel and toasted malts along with notes of citrusy hops. There are some hints of spices in the finish. In addition to the citrus flavors, the hops also contribute a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels a little more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer isn't your typical winter warmer because it packs in a lot of hops, but it has some nice notes of citrus. I could see this as beer that a hophead might want to try during the colder months. It's quite drinkable because the hops cut through the malts and no alcohol is detectable in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 02:46:03 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains caramelized malts, a good amount of hops, some spices and some fruit.

T: The taste starts out with a hearty malt character that is followed by mildly sweet flavors of caramel, nuts, spices and some fruit. Then a strong hops presence for the style comes in and provides a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a solid beer worth drinking for a while.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 03:22:30 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours copper/caramel with 1+ finger of tan head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Pineyness & grapefruit

T: Grapefruit, a slight breadyness, then a load pineyness up front. Breadyness competes with the grapefruit hoppyness as this warms, plus some leafy hops as well. Finishes with a flourish of leafy & grapefruitty hops, orange slices & a bit of caramel; almost pulled a 4.5

MF: Pretty chewy, restrained carbonation, balances nicely, but the body thins out as this warms

Drinks very easy despite the ABV & hoppyness; Widmer, you are on to a winner here. Keep this one in the line-up!

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 03:26:58 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a burnt orange/amber with a medium white head, good retention, spotty lacing.

S: Hops, not what I was expecting in a Winter Warmer, but not a bad smell at all. Light treacle sweetness mixed with orange peel and pink grapefruit.

T: This is a beer with an identity crisis of sorts. At times it wants to be an IPA and at other times I feel it's going to the malt. Overall, it has a nice hop flavour with a sweet, sugary citrus character. Malt is relatively light bring some cookie batter and molasses, good taste all around.

M: Quite a soft feel in the mouth, almost a cask feel, but still retains a bit of a bite. Medium-bodied, lightly resiny.

D: A nice one from Widmer, don't go in expecting a spicy, malty Christmas beer, you won't get it; this is more along the lines of the Sierra Nevada Celebration type of this style.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2008 01:51:00 | More by Halcyondays

Wasatch

Utah

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to Buebie for this one.

Pours a nice clean/clear dark golden copper color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing. The nose is hoppy, with some malts, slight citrus. The taste is hoppy, malty, slightly sweet, with some citrus notes. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty brew, thanks Brian.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2009 01:18:11 | More by Wasatch

Zorro

California

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear brown colored ale with a very scant tan colored head.

Smells mildly sweet with a good spice smell. Strong hop aroma, all northwest type hops. Scents of grapefruit and cinnamon. Vanilla and caramel with a little bit of molasses.

Starts out bittersweet with a mild spice aftertaste. Spice never takes over here; this is an American Pale Ale with spices added.

Mouthfeel is good.

Good drinkability. Not the best beer out there but a good one.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 03:59:55 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a deep clear coppery amber, with a finger of off-white head. This retains very nicely, with nearly a full finger of flare-up when swirled and leaves back a good bit of sticky spotty froth behind. The aroma smells floral and piney, with spice, citrus, and a sticky smelling candied presence along the back. A little bit of toasty edge emerges as well as this warms. This has a quite flavorful presence in the nose, with pine and spice really standing out to me.

The taste starts with a green bitter citrus profile, which is supported underneath by a backbone of sweet toffee and then a lightly toasted feeling backend. The dry finish here is mostly hops, with pithy feeling citrus, resins, and spice all lingering for a good bit. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and sharp on the tongue but does smooth out considerably as this moves out across the palate. The feel here is just what this needs to keep those flavors accessible.

I liked this. It didn’t necessarily feel like a Winter Warmer to me but more like a hoppy American Amber with some festive feeling spicing added to it. Or at least a REALLY hoppy take on the Winter Warmer style. At any rate, I’d still go back to this one. It’s a tasty winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 20:08:10 | More by Kegatron

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tarnished burgandy. Dense cap of white froth. The lacing is very full. Very nice nose. There's a really nice juicy hop aroma to this with a sweet, almost candy like, malt aroma underneath. Flavor is quenching, rich and satisfying. This really hits the spot. Seems like a combo of Simcoe/'Rillos for hops, which is a very nice choice if that is indeed what they chose. I get some nice juicy tangerine and grapefruit nuances. With some oily resinous characteristics as well. Great hop combo. Solid malt backing too. Sweet and fairly rich. Nicely carbonated. Medium body. Nice little surprise here. I'll get more.

I also love the fact that Widmer stamps a bottled on date on the bottle as well as the label.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2008 04:10:13 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brown and ruby colored liquid, light beige head, around 1" and had a decent amount of lace throughout the drinking experience. Aroma was brown malt, brown sugar, who's that? Brown. . . and a respectable degree of hops.

Taste, pleasantly surprised, this ain't no boring brown ale or winter warmer, it really melds a whole lot of different flavors leading to the conclusion that this is actually a decently complex offering at a great price (5.49/6pack). Plenty of malt flavor, plenty of adjunct sugar flavor, plenty of hop additions.

The waves of different beer flavors all in one makes this plenty enjoyable. A little of everything for the winter time.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 17:17:45 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Claudia's sports bar the other day.

The beer pours a beautiful copper color with outstanding head retention and sticky lacing. Don't get a lot on the nose initially, but as it warms I get some citrus, light roasty malt, cinnamon and holly. On the palate this beer is a bit of a mess. There is a huge presense of hoppy bitterness, which IMO does not blend well with the spice and light malt. The beer is very much on the dry, hoppy side, with pretty noticeable alcohol. The beer is a bit heavy on the palate, and the hoppy bitterness on the finish is just too much. One can tell the alcohol is up there, though it's not hugely boozy.

An interesting beer, but I just wasn't loving it today. Probably won't get this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2008 02:13:31 | More by johnmichaelsen

DoubleJ

California

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at Draft Picks Pizza Pub, on to the beer:

This was...interesting. Orange copper color in my pint glass, the beer was leaving good initial lacing on the glass as I drank it. The aroma was quite good, hops, dry malt, bready, a bit of orange. As for the taste....it had potential here. It certainly was strong tasting, but lacked depth. Strong piney hops with some caramel to balance here...so far so good...but within a quarter of the way it was all bitter hops and no malt to be tasted. I can enjoy a strong hoppy beer, even unbalanced ones, but this one needs to be tweeked to be enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2008 05:03:25 | More by DoubleJ

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on October 14. Poured into a glass mug.

Pours a dark orange/brown color with a small layer of head, but it leaves good lacing.

Smell is of sweet spicy hops. Taste is of high floral hops with toasted malts.

Mouthfeel is very bitter, but yet smooth. Carbonation level is low and leaves a dry flavor in mouth.

Overall, this tastes a lot like an IPA, but with spices added. Very great beer from Widmer and I'd recommend it to anybody for the price.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 04:28:23 | More by mothman

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tawny browned burgandy, dullish, but carries a solid glow and slivered highlights of bright amber at the bottom. A thin beige crown of bubbly foam slips off quickly after it builds. A few bits and spots of lacing stick.

Aroma is light of caramel, piney pungency spritzed with burnt orange and tropical peachy tones. Some woody/cardboard notes.

Taste is a nice meld of orangified toasted pineyness splintered in with a firm dry caramel breadyness. Crispy, dusty, flaked with a good hop tone of piney, citrusy hops, kind of peachy, woody ascents, tanged with a squeeze of orange oil and lemon oil.

Smooth, crisp, round, and firm, with a nice tender malt backing letting the hops really shine throught nicely as it pulls thru into the finish which linders well and binds its bitterness with a firm citrusy balance.

A fairly solid brew that twists in a darker style of English IPA with a Winter Warmer attitude.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 23:00:53 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz picked up today at the COOP.. fresh batch... I'm surprised I didn't review it last year... poured into my Delirium goblet.. 1" off white head.. good retention and lace.. the brew is a very pretty slightly deep amber.

Nose is chock full of American hops and a descent amount of caramel and a bit more toasted malt... bunches or citrus with some piney hoppiness that I can only think of as maybe Simcoe.. pretty piney.

Flavor begins the same as the nose.. but with some pretty pithy citrus hoppiness.. maltiness has plenty of toast with some very lite background chocolate essence.. the hops right now are very fresh.. so the malts are playing 2nd or 3rd fiddle, but the essence is still there... the hops are a bit oily (I like) on the finish with a nice medium body and carbonation..

I can not believe I didn't review this last year... I bought a bunch of these.. very inviting though not a traditional Winter Warmer.. more of a Warmer with a PNW hop kick.

All 4's

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 07:46:06 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich and nutty with a great hop flavor. The sweet malt is a great way to start, and it finishes with a zesty bitterness. Red amber in the tall tulip with just the right creamy white head. Even starts with a nice aroma of Cascade hops. More malt in the middle but not overly sweet. Full body with plenty of roasted flavors.

This has turned out to be a favorite of mine, along with Hibernation and Isolation from Colo. Well balanced and high on drinkability. Brewed date on bottle is Sep 28, 2011.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 06:04:27 | More by mactrail