Winter Storm
Heavy Seas Beer
- From:
- Heavy Seas Beer
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Ranked #57 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #27,628 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 11.84%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 556
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 01, 2026
- Added:
- Feb 17, 2004
- Wants:
- 42
- Gots:
- 113
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Winter Storm might just be the best example of who we are here at Heavy Seas. Our winter ale draws on hops from the west coast and the UK for its pronounced bitterness. A mix of pale and darker malts give it its tawny color and robust body. True to the style, Winter Storm’s aroma is full of nutty malts and earthy hops. This is an exceptionally balanced beer for that time of year when the days get shorter, the nights grow longer and the air is crisp. Inspired by the classic English extra special bitter, but brewed in our Fearless, Bold and Independent style.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by LoosCannon from Indiana
4.61/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
This beer reminds of Sam Adams Boston Lager on steroids. With 7.5% ABV it doesn’t taste like a beer with that much alcohol. The flavor is robust and flavorful and perfect for a cold winter day to warm the body. It’s pretty heavy and not a beer I could drink all day. But, it’s one of my Winter Favorites.
Feb 01, 2026
Reviewed by running3dogs from Maryland
3.87/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Deep copper, excellent clarity. Malty, caramel aroma becoming sweet and toffeeish on the palate. Some alcohol bite. Pretty decent for an imperial ESB. Nice blast of malty flavor but doesn't quite nail the landing, finishing a bit too sweet and alcohol-hot for me.
Dec 20, 2025
Rated by Otter-the-Beer-Man from Maryland
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L: thin but lasting head. Deep copper
S: dark roasted malts
T: deep maltiness. Subtle floral hops
M: smooth
O: great esb
Jan 01, 2025S: dark roasted malts
T: deep maltiness. Subtle floral hops
M: smooth
O: great esb
Reviewed by DDiFran from Ohio
3.3/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.3/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
12oz bottle from sampler 12 pack. Bottled 10/18/24. Really fresh!
Deep ruby with a full tan head that leaves decent lace
Taste is bitter as expected. Very complex but overall quite tasty. Reminds me of Nosferatu before GLBC screwed it up
Nov 14, 2024Deep ruby with a full tan head that leaves decent lace
Taste is bitter as expected. Very complex but overall quite tasty. Reminds me of Nosferatu before GLBC screwed it up
Reviewed by bauersteven from New York
1.66/5 rDev -56.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
1.66/5 rDev -56.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
English bitters are one of my favorite styles, but this one was a very big disappointment. Metallic-tasting and much too bitter. I did not like this beer at all.
Dec 22, 2023
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia
3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle with a best by date of March 3, 2024 into a shaker pint glass.
L - Pours a reddish brown color with a slight tan head.
S - Smells malty .
T - Tastes of caramel with some bitterness, and a slightly sweet finish.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - I haven't had an ESB in a while, this is a nice change of pace beer.
Dec 13, 2023L - Pours a reddish brown color with a slight tan head.
S - Smells malty .
T - Tastes of caramel with some bitterness, and a slightly sweet finish.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - I haven't had an ESB in a while, this is a nice change of pace beer.
Rated by 1BrewBacca from Georgia
3.79/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Amber red pour, white head. Somewhat dry but clean on the palate.
Nov 21, 2023
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas
3.94/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bought a bottle of this beer with my son in PA. Poured into a shaker pint. Nice reddish brown color with good beige head and curtain lacing. Earthy caramel smell and taste. Strong bitter finish. Great with Christmas snacks!
Dec 24, 2022
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia
3.49/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From the back label: "22190 BEST BY MAR1323"
Appearance: The body is a reddish-brown color with very good clarity. It has a medium-sized head that is creamy textured with an off-white tobacco stained color. Good retention and lacing.
Aroma: Dry milk aroma with some dusty pine boughs. Overall aroma is mild.
Taste: Up front there is a touch of lemon mixed with some pine. Orange flavor comes through with some pine as it rolls over the tongue. A very light touch of caramel. Slightly burnt caramelized marmalade on the finish.
Mouthfeel: It is medium-bodied leaning a bit on the fuller side with good carbonation. A light slickness to the beer. A mild hop bitterness. Easy to drink.
Overall: The neckerchief states that this is an "Imperial ESB" and that this is "7.5% Alc./Vol." It tastes good with pleasant notes of orange marmalade and hints of pine and caramel. Although the hop character is nice, it seems to present a lot more hop flavor than the malt counterpart. It is good but I wouldn't recommend it to somebody looking for an ESB. It might be worth buying a single or tossing into a mix-a-six. The orange-like character is enjoyable in a beer when things are a bit cold outside, similar to the "Winter Storm" namesake, but it wouldn't be something I would probably buy again.
Nov 24, 2022Appearance: The body is a reddish-brown color with very good clarity. It has a medium-sized head that is creamy textured with an off-white tobacco stained color. Good retention and lacing.
Aroma: Dry milk aroma with some dusty pine boughs. Overall aroma is mild.
Taste: Up front there is a touch of lemon mixed with some pine. Orange flavor comes through with some pine as it rolls over the tongue. A very light touch of caramel. Slightly burnt caramelized marmalade on the finish.
Mouthfeel: It is medium-bodied leaning a bit on the fuller side with good carbonation. A light slickness to the beer. A mild hop bitterness. Easy to drink.
Overall: The neckerchief states that this is an "Imperial ESB" and that this is "7.5% Alc./Vol." It tastes good with pleasant notes of orange marmalade and hints of pine and caramel. Although the hop character is nice, it seems to present a lot more hop flavor than the malt counterpart. It is good but I wouldn't recommend it to somebody looking for an ESB. It might be worth buying a single or tossing into a mix-a-six. The orange-like character is enjoyable in a beer when things are a bit cold outside, similar to the "Winter Storm" namesake, but it wouldn't be something I would probably buy again.
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