Brrr - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at a tavern in the Denver Tech Center. Arrived in a pint glass. The beer is a deep mahogany red amber color with a 1 finger light tannish color head. Good retention and lacing throughout. The aroma is very hop forward with the typical west coast citrus hop aroma along with hints of spice: all spice and nutmeg come to mind. The beer starts with a full toasted malt flavor with bready flavors as well as hints of the spice found in the nose. The hops burst through immediately and swarm the palette with citrus flavors and a medium bitterness. The beer finishes with a lingering sweetness, mild bitterness, and toasty flavor, slightly dry. Hides the alcohol extremely well and is very drinkable. Medium bodied.

Overall, this beer is very good. I have had it in bottles in years past but was really impressed with the draft offering. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 14:14:43 | More by hopfacebrew

HalfFull

California

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

Bottle from a mixed pack served into a globe glass. Pours a deep reddish brown with good clarity, and bright orange amber in the light. Sports half an inch of off white foam which keeps well.

Earthy hops on the nose along with steely caramel malt and a hint of chocolate and some faint roast notes; becoming a bit smoky with warming. Lacks the often tossed in spice influence of many a Winter Warmer.

Taste is full and sweet with caramel flavors balanced with a nice level of hop spice. Finishes with a bit of dark fruit and brown sugar and lingers a bit like a sweet port wine. Pleasant feel and carbonation though perhaps a bit simple in the malt body leading to a singular approach through the palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 06:28:34 | More by HalfFull

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

deuce9259

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Amber/copper color. Pours a nice head, and also has a good lace.

S - Get a lot of the hops in the nose. Citrus as well.

T - Good amount of hops, can't really tell the ABV is as high as it is. Has a dry finish.

M - Good carbonation, easy to drink.

O - This beer definitely surprised me. Less spice than I expected, also didn't catch much of the malt that was advertised. Thought it was very drinkable, and is a nice change of pace.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2012 03:33:55 | More by deuce9259

Brenden

Ohio

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

This Winter Warmer is a thick but opaque orange-brown. It develops a light orange head one finger tall with good retention that remains pretty thick, leaving sticky lacing behind.
I get mostly fruits (dark) and grains on the nose before a good hops presence kicks in (think a good mix of resin and citrus rind), while a bit of spiciness and toffee sit underneath.
The taste is the same with a bit of something difficult to place (tobacco leaf, almost), grains underlying, a kiss of floral hops, and a bit of caramel. It's nicely hoppy but not exceptionally so, nor is the finish "candy sweet" as the bottle claims. It's good with the exception that the way the bitterness mingles with the grains along with the chewing tobacco elementmakes for a funky flavor at the back of the throat that's almost sulfuric. Fortunately, it's not very strong and so not terribly off-putting.
The malts provide a sturdy backbone in a medium body, light carbonation is supportive but not overdone, and there's a good transition from crisp in the front to smoother in the middle and into a pretty dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 15:10:10 | More by Brenden

Chriscrundwell12

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Darkness snifter, sharred with a fellow BA.

A- Pours a ½ finger off white head that dissipates to thin bubbly ring around the top, nice reddish copper color, splotchy lacing.
S- Nice hoppy aromas, spice, nice bitter sweetness, candy sweetness, nice aroma.
T- Tastes the same, really enjoyable beer, candy sweetness, nice hoppy characteristics, some spice.
M- Medium/light mouth feel, well carbonated, easy drinkability.
O- Actually was really impressed with this beer, really easy drinkability and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 02:41:31 | More by Chriscrundwell12

stealth

Minnesota

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

Dark red pour with a spicy hoppy aroma. Nice head on this pour. Very much like an IPA with its hops foundation, with some spice (don't ask me what spice, it's just spicy) thrown in. Not too bitter, but the amount of hops caught me off guard. I really enjoyed this one. A pleasant surprise.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2012 09:38:10 | More by stealth

Greggy

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a thick 1 finger light tan head over a dark red amber body. Ample carbonation and a bit of yeast sediment is present. Nice lacing is present.

S- Yeast, nutmeg, all spice and almost a peach pie aroma surrounded by a nice hoppy backbone.

T- Starts out quite malty. A dry breadiness is present suround by the nutmeg allspice and again, peach notes. Very much representative of the nose.

M- Slightly higher carbonation which I like. I would have no idea that this was 7.2% ABV.

D- Pretty darn drinkable. I think the carbonation helps quite a bit there. I'm admittedly not a big winter warmer fan but this is quite good.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 05:43:42 | More by Greggy

kjritt

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

served from a bottle into a glass.

a. reddish brown, good clarity

s. hoppy and slightly metallic

t. spritzy, hoppy, light, perhaps a bit spicey. a good drink on a cold day

m. smooth, tangy, slight linger in the back of the throat

o. similar to an ipa, but with an extra punch. a good dose of hop, but the spice is a nice touch to seperate it from many other brews. a fine addition the the widmer bros collection.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 00:04:25 | More by kjritt

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

Genuine

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a clean pint glass.

Appearance - First thing you notice is the night, deep ruby red body that beautifully dresses this beer. Very nice, slight off white head.

Smell - Hops from the beginning, a wonderful citrus hop aroma touches the nose and doesn't let go.

Taste - What an amazingly balanced winter warmer...the hops are in the forefront before giving way to the nice somewhat sweet malts, then finishing with a very very slight roasty note. The chocolate malts are there just enough for you to notice.

Mouthfeel - I really like the carbonation, fits this beer well.

Overall - I think this just may be a new winter favorite. I really appreciate the 7.2% ABV as I think winter warmers should be higher in alcohol. This is a wonderfully hoppy and warming beer for the winter months. Pick some up, you won't be let down.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 21:42:04 | More by Genuine

hreb

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle is dated "Nov 07 11", though there's no indication what that date means. Chilled and served in pint glass. Beer is caramel color with bright traces of red and just a little haze. Medium thick tan head holds on to a few big bubbles. Aroma is a kick ass combination of fresh yeast, sweet wort, and bright hops (suggesting citrus may come later).

Flavor is impressively complex and perfectly balanced. Crisp, with bitterness brought out by aggressive carbonation, followed by a thick malty sweet body, which plays off the bittering hops which follow that. Finally the beer washes itself away leaving no aftertaste at all. Other flavors are of orange peel and pine.

No spice flavors to speak of, and while the alcohol is on the high side, you'd never guess its weight from this superbly balanced brew. Winter warmer or not, this is great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 06:02:54 | More by hreb

lurpy1

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Split a pint, not horribly impressive to look at, amber with great clarity but very little head or panache. Smell comes through with a botique of spices, little bit of candy coating. The taste starts out heavy on the hops, but the finish is a bit of a malt bomb with something of a candy corn hint. Nice tasting beer.

All in all, a good beer. But at around a buck a bottle, a great value.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 20:18:58 | More by lurpy1

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

Pegasus

Texas

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

Appearance: Crystal-clear amber in color with a large, somewhat coarse off-white head. The lacing is quite nice, and covers the glass walls very well. Small streams of carbonation drift lazily to the surface.

Aroma: Massive notes of grapefruit rind utterly dominate the aroma. Beneath this, there is some caramel malt, but it is very understated against the hops.

Taste: Opens with a strong grapefruit and pine hop presence. Beneath this, there is a solid base of toasted and caramel malt. As the taste progresses, there is a brief moment of sweet caramel. In the latter stages of the taste, the hops ascend. The close of the taste leaves a lingering herbal bitterness.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, and full, very pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A very well-crafted example. Those who prefer malty beers may be somewhat put off by the abundant hops.

Presentation: Packaged in a custom twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a standard Pilsener glass.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 04:03:18 | More by Pegasus

Bradthoc

Nevada

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Found the beer to a typical, nice tasting, and delicious hop flavored beer. Was drawn to it at the local beer store by it's claim to be a Seasonal Ale. It didn't quite do it for me in that department, but was priced nicely so figured I would give the 6-pack a try.

A - A nice golden to perfectly clear brown.

S - Rich hop scent, slightness of sugars

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 16:02:33 | More by Bradthoc

ProducerBRBeer

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Very nice amber brown with a soft off white to light tan head retention. Head does not stay very long.

S - Nice citrus hop smell. Light but still noticeable.

T - Noticeable hoppiness but not strong like an IPA. Like it says on the bottle, there is a sweet finish and malty after taste. Almost a floral to citrus hop subtlety. I have an aftertaste like I usually get like after I finished eating a banana.

M - Definitely a medium bodied beer with a light but noticeable carbonation.

O - I enjoy the body on this beer and the tricky taste that makes me believe it will be hoppy but switches to a malty finish. Something I would purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 05:39:51 | More by ProducerBRBeer

DeutscheJeff

Colorado

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

Of the winter seasonal beers I've been able to find (can't find Celebration for the life of me!), this one is fantastic. My first sampling of a Widmer Brothers beer, this was definitely a good place to start! It's a shame they changed the packaging, it is all rather boring now and just looks a bit too generic.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 07:01:12 | More by DeutscheJeff

Vancoubeer

Washington

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

this beer breaks all the rules for winter warmers due to the hopping instead of the spice that most in this category use.

A: It looks as it should. Its a deep mahogany but its filtered and is kind of disappointing but the lacing indicates some sticky hop acids.

Smell: Lots of toffee and caramel mixed with the citrus from the hops. The simcoe does not have that famous smell you hear about but its there and its actually nice mixed with the cascades. The notes mention dark chocolate malts but there is a hint of it here.

Taste: Well its definitely a malty winter beer but there is that really sweet citrus hop flavor from the Alchemy hops. Very interesting twist to this type of beer. Not my normal interest in this genre but its gonna grow on me. Very pleasant and the 7.2% is not there. You get that tingle in the back of your throat where you can tell its there.

Mouthfeel: Medium and its not as sticky as it seems from the lacing on the glass. Washed off by the carbonation making me want to taste more.

Overall: I would rate this higher because its so cheap and its very different from the genre and it does a very good job. I wish this was bottled in bigger bottles than just 12oz. Having to pay for a whole six pack at stores outside of bottle shops is annoying and when you shop for beers after they close, this is passed up unfortunately. But I am giving it a 4 because its really good. Hope Widmer bottles this next year in bigger bottles.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 05:54:17 | More by Vancoubeer

coldriver

Texas

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

12 oz bottle poured into Sam Adams glass. Decent head and lacing, pours a deep amber. Wow, aroma is knock your socks off pine and citrus hops with some cotton candy. Taste is a bitter hoppy profile - no question I would define this as an IPA in a blind taste test. I little oversweet on the malt profile, but maybe that's what is supposed to qualify this as a winter warmer. Nice bitter dry finish. The bold hop profile was unexpected for a winter warmer (although I'm not sure how the style is really defined). Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 01:18:08 | More by coldriver

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

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

A: deep bright copper hue. a reddish-off-white tinted head. pretty color and a good looking brew. O.K. retention and lacing.

S: aroma has the piney aspect of an APA with the caramel malty sweetness of an amber. not much about this shouts winter warmer, but reminds me more of a malty rich amber/very fair bodied english barleywine.

T: an underlying bitterness is throughout an otherwise sweet bodied brew. but mostly bitter. some hints of an almost cinnamon flavor, but i think that might be my brain saying it wants this to be more of a warmer.

M: moderate, zesty carbonation on a definitely medium body.

D: highly drinkable brew. a bit strong to hammer back the whole six, but otherwise highly quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 02:17:02 | More by Jimmys

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great red to amber color, clear, with a pretty good head and lace.

Plenty of hops on the nose, caramel malts, floral and citrus too.

Taste is tangy but light on the hops, a broad malt profile, a touch of spices, and some floral and citrus notes, much like the smell. There's a touch of fruitiness too. I like that it's spicy but only a little; I'm kinda getting tired of overly spiced winter beers and this one is mellow.

Feel is medium bodied and kinda slick, with a bit of a warming effect at the end from the alcohol and the hops. Bitter, but not overly so, the hops are well defined but mellow.

This is a tasty winter seasonal. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 23:05:37 | More by AlCaponeJunior

beerandcycling88

Washington

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a mug.

A Pours a cloudy amber color with a thick white head.

S Some nice citrus and pine notes.

T A nice hop presence with some sweet citrus backed with a bit of a bitter bite. Followed with a bit of a caramel type flavor to balance things out.

M Mediumish body, pretty good carbonation pretty easy to drink.

Overall this is a solid winter warmer that is one of the things I love about beer this time of year.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 01:57:29 | More by beerandcycling88

vazy

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber color into a pint glass. It has a rich maltiness to it. Its flavors are warm but mild, not too distinctive in any particular notes. I get a lot of hop and citrus notes for some reason when I smell and get some of those flavors towards the end of my sip. Its medium fullness but not too heavy, a soapy texture lingers on my palet a little. Overall, its a nice beer to drink in the fall or being of winter. Fairly easy to drink, not overly robust with flavors to make you ponder. Its a straight forward ale and I think I like it!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 19:49:54 | More by vazy

KTCamm

New Jersey

2.88/5  rDev -25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Starting to see 12 oz Widmers in local six mixers more and more lately.

Pours light brown, see through, with a slight layer of white foam. Fruity malty nose. Cinamonn/nutmeg too.

Heavy full taste with a hop wallop. Syrupy - did someone mix in a barleywine? Subtle fade of carbonation leads to an alcohol close.

Never quite comes together - this is not how I like my winter warmers.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 11:56:18 | More by KTCamm