Winter Warmer - Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

lxCheshireCatxl

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought a 22 oz bottle and poured into my favorite pint glass.

A - Dark with somewhat purple and ruby hues to it with minimal head
S - A nice scent of licorice with fruity and nut undertones
T- A robust flavor of coffee, licorice, fruits and nuts with a very subtle bourbon cask flavor that melds them all very well.
M - It kind of feels a bit watery (but a lot of the Rahr & Sons do), sweet at first and a little bit bitter at the end.

Overall a good beer to break out of the dark beer season away from the normal like Guinness, Shiner, and the group. Nice flavor and pretty easy to drink. I've had many different beers. This one isn't my favorite but I would grab it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 18:58:13 | More by lxCheshireCatxl

bmwats

Louisiana

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint.

A: Dark brown. Pours about a 1 finger, foamy, brown-white head. Settles quickly leaving a slight carbonated blanket. Pretty solid lacing.

S: Nose is of tea leaves, cola, and hilighted by roasted espresso.

T: Roasted espresso, pecan, and a little black licorice.

M: Thick and hearty. Robust roasted flavors in the front, with a lightly bitter and sweet finish which lingers.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Nice hue, good head, and solid lacing. Nose is a very good combo of sweetness and coffee. Nutty, roasted coffee with a touch a bittersweet-ness. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:11:09 | More by bmwats

DavidST

Texas

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, unknown freshness date. This pours a dark brown with a nice tan head. The smell is higher on caramel and toffee than some, good stuff. The feel is medium. The taste is pretty good, lots of caramel, some toffee, nuts, spices, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 05:47:47 | More by DavidST

jbphoto88

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This winter warmer is dark brown almost opaque with a quick to disappear tan head. The sides of the glass reveal caramel colored highlights and that this actually is a clear liquid.

The nose is mild for a warmer. I was expecting stronger scents of chocolate and dark fruits especially as dark as Rhar's is. The smells are there but don't really come through as much as I'd like. There is a nice roasted malt that I hope is bolder in the taste.

The taste is mostly about the malts with a fair amount of English hop flavor. The malts dominant with a hearty roasted characteristic and some of those missing scents appearing in the flavor. Dark stone fruits with hints of booze and light smoke. Not overpowering and well balanced with the hops.

Mouthfeel is also very pleasant with a mild carbonation and a full bodied brew. That combo makes it seem like a thick drink but one that you can sip on all night. Flavorful and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 21:22:02 | More by jbphoto88

SuperSpy

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It appears jet black but you can see some red highlights when held directly up to the light. A nice tan head and really good lacing.

Coffee, cocoa, roasted malt, and charcoal In the aroma. It smells pretty tasty.

Heavy bodied but on the light side of heavy. The flavor is very similar to the aroma. Sweet coffee up front, plenty of roasted malt and cocoa in the middle. A little bitterness in the finish but still plenty of dark roasted flavors and a bit alcohol as it warms.

A really good beer overall. Really easy drinking, goes down smooth, and the flavors really blend well and change as it warms. I'm really enjoying this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 02:19:52 | More by SuperSpy

gtermi

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark brown with a sort of thin white head.

S: The beer had a good amount of caramel and spices. I am also getting a tiny bit of toffee.

T: Roasted malt and some spices. The spices arent as present as I wanted, but not horrible.

M: The beer is pretty carbonated, but pretty easy to drink. Nothing special at all

O: This is by far one of the better beers I have ever had from Rahr. Better luck next year.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 07:03:57 | More by gtermi

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours cola brown with 1 finger of tan head.

S - Milk chocolate, sugary malt, vanilla, roasted malts. Smokey aroma as it warms.

T - Dark caramel, roasted malts, caramelized sugar, bitter dark chocolate, brown toast, nutty yeast, hints of grapes and under-ripened berries. Bittering hops adds earthiness to round off the finish. Citrus comes out on the aftertaste.

M - Moderate carbonation, light side of medium, almost thin body. No alcohol to speak of. The carbonation drops off toward the end.

Warming without the alcohol showing up. Nice cocoa and roasted malts with a solid strain of nutty yeast to glue everything together. The mouthfeel was the weak link but it wasn't a deal breaker. Everything tasted young and fresh. I'm gonna try and out one away for a year or so.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 01:54:31 | More by StaveHooks

claspada

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Extra provided by G311, thanks a bunch.

Aromas of caramel and vanilla, with undertones of chocolate and light spicing of cinnamon and nutmeg.

The tastes begin with the same caramel and vanilla, up front, with the chocolate undertones and holiday spices arriving by mid-palate, along with some fig and dark fruit notes. As it warms the fruity elements emerge a little more, though the caramel and vanilla take the flavor profile home in the end.

The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and rather creamy, though the carbonation is rather low. Could use a little improvement here.

Overall I like the flavor profile and the creamy "warming" flavors; if there were a bit more carbonation, it would be a real winner. Spice isn't overdone which is a huge plus for me. Good, recommended if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 17:57:07 | More by claspada

RobJTejas

Texas

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

Served in a Nonic pint glass it had a gorgeous thick creamy beige head with medium lacing that held throughout. It touts a beautiful dark but transparent amber brown color that literally coats the glass till the last drop.

Aromatic notes of sweet bread, hops, tart berries perhaps currant and a light hint of spice.

It boasts an undeniable alcoholic warmth that accompanies the sweet malty goodness with subtle notes of cocoa, coffee and spice (perhaps clove and nutmeg). Finishes with a coppery metal taste.

Overall this was a highly satisfying beer that that completely whets the appetite and leaves you wanting for more.

It is important to note that the undernoting flavors really popped out on my second glass, so much so that I thought I was served a different beer.
This was my first winter warmer (and my first review) but if this one is indicative of the style I will be trying more. Thankfully I live 10 minutes from the brewery so next year I will be at the head of the line for this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2011 02:43:20 | More by RobJTejas

mdcrouser

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Solid pour, much darker than I assumed, with deep brown illuminated only by hints of ruby on the edges. A finger of desert tan head fades down the edges of the glass, adding drapes to the entire beer.

Strong nose of brown sugar, toffee, raisins, currants, and Brit yeast are apparent.

Alcohol is definite, but in a way that you might think this beer was aged in oak bourbon barrels with vanilla. Deep sugary malts are strong, providing a robust base for the beer to stand on.

Pretty subtle carbonation serves it well, allowing the malts to stand up for themselves.

Would love to try this one on tap sometime - a great example of a winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 02:33:23 | More by mdcrouser

cavedave

New York

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

Major thanks to Exiled for another fine beer disproving that Texas lags behind in beer quality. From notes, tasted 2/24/11.

Darkest brown, thin beige head fades quickly to a persistent ring. Has the look of a very alcoholic beer.

Nice nose, tart yeast, some roast, vanilla, some bourbon, berry, bready sweet.

Tangy berry sweet heads the parade of flavors, joined by herbal bitter hints, medium roast, vanilla, and as it warms the bourbon and oak start to come into play, though mildly. It finishes juicy with the alcohol adding some warm spice.

Hard to compare this to many winter warmers that have huge spice bills, and lots of funky spice resin on palate. This is med. body, med. carb., easy drinking, with a decent finish.

Drinkability is quite good, it's a sipper that really gets better as it opens up.

Impression: Fantastic take on a style favorite. I like the lack of holiday spice in this, and the mild barrel notes. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 13:20:48 | More by cavedave

rfabian

Texas

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

Poured into a tumbler it produces a respectable 1 inch head with moderate lacing and good retention. The appearance is dark ruby brown and clear. The aroma is of toasted malt with some spicy hops. There is a hint of chocolate and coffee. The taste is mainly of the malts with the aforementioned undercurrents of flavor. There is a notable alcoholic warmth. The finish is a bit metallic and the feel is medium to rich bodied.

This is a very satisfying and enjoyable winter warmer. I'll definitely be looking for it in the future. It's great to have such excellent craft beers being made in my home state.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 22:15:52 | More by rfabian

brentk56

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a dark chocolate color with a very modest head despite an increasingly hard pour; after a couple of minutes there was just a ringlet left though there was some stickage

Smell: Carmel and vanilla, with undertones of chocolate and holiday spicing of cinnamon and nutmeg

Taste: Caramel and vanilla, up front, with the chocolate undertones and holiday spices arriving by mid-palate, along with some fig and licorice elements; after the swallow, the fruity elements emerge, though the caramel and vanilla take the flavor profile home in the end

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied and rather creamy, though the carbonation is rather low

Drinkability: I like the flavor profile and the creamy mouthfeel; if there were a bit more carbonation, the scores would be higher; worth seeking out

Thanks, FreeVerse, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 00:09:46 | More by brentk56

Tifore

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Recieved in a BIF from Greg (Twiggamortis420). Poured into my Unibroue Tulip.

A - Pours a dark cola brown in color with what looks like a slight haze in clarity. Pours a 1/4 to 1/2 inch head that is light tan and slightly brown in color.

S - Smells of chocolate, roasted and carmel malts, some sweet toffee notes and some slight spice. Not uniform in smell though. It smells like everythings working against its self, not together. Perhaps even some licorice smells as well?

T - Taste is of spice, and roasted malts as well as some of the licorice coming through but late in the first taste. Some slight vanilla comes through as well. Almost like a after / lingering taste. It tastes watered down all in all. Very weak tasting.

M - Mouthfeel is light and very highly carbonated. Doesn't fit the beer though and works against the smell and taste.

D - Not the best winter warmer I've had. I'm glad I got to try it. Thanks Greg!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 00:04:51 | More by Tifore

alleykatking

Indiana

3.2/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle. Many thanks go out to OakedCanuck for the bottle.

A- Pours a darker brown color. Some light red hues show as it's held to the light. One finger white head shows low retention. No lacing on the sides of the glass it all falls back into the beer.

S- Toasted malts in the front of this. There is some light caramel and toffee malts along with some darker malts. Darker fruits come through toward the end but this is still a muted malty beer. Once it warms there is some nutty notes as well.

T- Toasted malts come out first with a hint of nutty flavoring. Caramel malts come through toward the middle with a hint of toffee as well. Sugary darker fruits come in the backing of this beer with a hint of alcohol sweetness.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation was alright for the beer. Sweetness from the malts are left on the palate with alcohol added to the aftertaste. Not blended flavor wise to the style...more super malt forward. No off flavors. Alcohol shows medium dryness on the palate.

D- The muted flavors and lack of real alcohol sting makes this beer a easy drinker. Nothing over the top but nothing bad at all either. It is what it is and that is a average a little above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 04:23:07 | More by alleykatking

champ103

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Anvil in Houston.

A: Pours a dark brown with some ruby highlights. A small beige head forms and recedes in a second. Light lace is left behind.
S: Pretty neutral for the most part. Sweet malt that is lightly toasted. Some caramel like sweetness lingers.
T: Toasted malt again that is very sweet. Lots of caramel. Though more of a fruity flavor that balances out the heavy sweetness.
M/D: A medium body with good carbonation. Fairly creamy and smooth. Easy to drink. Everything is well incorporated. I can quaff a few.

Enjoyable for the most part. Not the best Winter Warmer, but worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 03:36:28 | More by champ103

Pellinore1

Illinois

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

Thanks to OakedCanuck for sending this bottle.

Pours deep brown, leaving about a finger of light tan head that dissipated fairly quickly.

The aroma is primarily malty, with dark fruit, caramel, and some toasted nuttiness.

The flavor is pretty straightforward here. Sweet, roasty malts dominate, with just a bit of spice.

This beer is medium bodied and smooth, with a well hidden ABV contributing to drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 01:56:17 | More by Pellinore1

anotherpg

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle hand delivered by BA member j5uh.

Poured into a Sam Adams tasting glass. Took about ten seconds for a caramel colored head to foam. First smell is of dark chocolate, almost semisweet chocolate chips. Taste is lighter than expected, malty with a mellow chocolate and raisins. Finish is sweet, but not milky which would have helped balance out. Surprised by the 8.5abv. Certainly didn't taste like that under the hood. Stuck between a porter and a stout, I am unsure how best to categorize it, except to say it would be a fine beer to match up with food.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 06:12:10 | More by anotherpg

j5uh

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It smells and starts off a lot like a stout.
But it has a really mellow tone, dark chocolate, raisin taste.

The end finishes really light, almost a bit on the flat note. I would say it has a floral finish. A decent dark ale.

Not bad. I'd drink it again.
Would I recommended? sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 04:27:02 | More by j5uh

OakedCanuck

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into pint glass.

Winter seasonal from Rahr & Sons, our only local brewery in DFW that actually bottles. This one is typical for Rahr, decent, but doesn't stand out. Pours a dark brown, blackish, purple-y tinged color with some head that leaves quickly. Smell is pretty good, some seasonal spices (nutmeg), dark fruit and hops. The main flavor is the sweet, toasty malt. It isn't overly sweet but the malt is the main feature here. Some of the spices in the nose show up but are hidden. Thin mouthfeel and sticky. Easy enough to drink but just not exciting to drink. I hope the whiskey barrel version is a lot better.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 18:36:37 | More by OakedCanuck

webbcreative

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured Dark brown with red highlights, 2 finger off white head.
Smell = I don't know, im really not getting much aroma at all. Taste = a little sweet at first, then roasted barley, not any bitterness, but some cinnamon and maybe ginger.
Mouthfeel = Thin/Medium.

Overall this a a solid winter warmer, cannot detect the 8.5% abv in the feel or flavor at all,I can start to feel the effects near the end of the glass, but never would have guessed it that high on taste alone.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 16:18:41 | More by webbcreative

portia99

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Portsmouth goblet.

A - Pours an extremely dark brown color...looks black in the glass until held up to the light when tinges of reddish brown pull at the edges of the beer. No head to speak of, only a few wisps of bubbles on the surface and a thin, uneven collar of off white foam on the edges.

S - A bit fruity, a bit or roastiness, some dark malty aromas, just the slightest of hop bite on the edges. Really restrained aroma...a struggle to pull it out, even swirling rather vigorously fails to release much aroma.

T - Follows the aroma to a T. Roasty malts are the most prominant, but still quite subtle, a bit of coffee like bitterness and some sweet dark malty flavors chime in. Hops are fruity and not especially bitter, just there to balance, which they seem to do pretty well - no unbalanced sweetness to be found. Pretty well rounded although flavors all seem a bit muted.

M - Surprisingly thin for a beer that is fairly malt dominant at kicks in at 8.5% alcohol. Carbonation is medium level with a good tingle felt throughout the mouth. Somewhat watery feel detracts a bit from the enjoyability of this one.

D - Alcohol presence is extremely well masked, does not drink like an 8.5% beer. Thin mouthfeel enhances this easy drinking sensation. I could see unknowingly plowing through a few of these and ending up in trouble. Flavors are good but not very strong, enjoyable overall, but memorable.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 23:23:40 | More by portia99

ckeegan04

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Dark ruddy brown with brighter ruby highlights when held up to light. Very thin, light brown head with decent retention. Scattered lacing left on the glass.

S - Lots of spices up front with noticeable cinnamon and nutmeg. A touch of dark fruit comes through as well. Some lightly roasted grains provide the backbone. Smells like a winter warmer, but nothing spectacular.

T - Straight up brown malts with not a whole lot else going on. The requisite spices come through including cinnamon and allspice. Light alcohol taste but very well masked given the ABV.

M/D - A touch on the thin side which is disapointing, but still well balanced flavors. Still very easy drinking and the ABV does provide some winter warming for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 15:29:35 | More by ckeegan04

prototypic

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to JosephLondon for the bottle.

Winter Warmer pours a red stained, nut brown color. It's moderately hazy, but has nice scarlet highlights with some light behind it. A cream colored head sits on top and rises to about a finger. It dissipates quickly, leaving very light lacing behind.

The nose is weak and rather average. A few light, holiday spices are noted. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are noted. It smells a little sweet and malty. Smells like caramel malts are the base, but it's not very aromatic at all. A very light dark fruit scents of raisin and plum are noted. That rounds it out. It's not bad, but would benefit greatly from more strength.

The flavor is above average. It is a little sweet and has a pretty good malty base. It's complemented by the typical holiday spices - cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Yeast is more prominent here and has a slight bread-like flavor. Dark fruit flavors of raisin and plum complement the spices. They're subtle, but effective. Alcohol is nowhere to be found. Finishes sweet and holiday spicy. It's rather straight forward for a winter warmer, but is a decent beer.

Winter Warmer has a light-medium body that's nearly smooth. Carbonation is rather light and helps quite a bit. Drinkability is above average. The flavor here is pretty solid for what it is. It's not great by any means, but I could see myself drinking a few on a nice holiday night. That would be especially true if I lived in Texas.

This is my first exposure to Rahr & Sons Brewing Company beer. Winter Warmer is pretty good, but doesn't really stand out. Everything about it seems a little too tame. It's tough to distinguish yourself in the winter warmer category. If you want to achieve that goal, you've got to be bolder than this. More of everything is in order. On its face, this isn't bad beer, but it needs work to reach the next level. Nonetheless, I'm happy to try it out. I love beer that's new to me. Thanks, Joseph.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 02:41:48 | More by prototypic

Mora2000

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours dark brown to black with a smallish tan head. There is not too much aroma but what is there is mainly molasses and roasted malt. I really expected more aroma from a beer like this. The flavor is better than the smell. Roasted malt is the main flavor but malt sweetness and spices are also present. The spices are somewhat muddled but I think nutmeg and cinnamon are in there somewhere. The beer is not too complex but is not a bad beer. Medium body with medium carbonation. The beer is very creamy which is the best aspect of the beer.

It should be noted that this beer appears to vary in carbonation. I have had several of these this year and the carbonation has varied from almost non-existent to medium. The carbonation definitely helps the beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 06:05:57 | More by Mora2000