First taste is malt, herbal hops, treacle, white bread, floral back end. Aftertaste is slight pepper, bitter herbal hops, molasses, botanical semi-sweet finish. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, silky, carby.
This is an excellent winter brew, a modern classic from the old world. It's rich and malty, but balanced well with bouquets of spice and hops. The ratio of bitter to sweet is a perfect note, with the sweet malt refraining from being dominant, making way for the bitter herbal hops to poke through on the back of each sip.
It's been four years since I last reviewed this annual beer, and it's just as expertly crafted now as it was then, and no doubt like all their beers have been crafted since 1758. One of the original winter beers, a benchmark in its category, this is a wonderful beer that I look forward to each holiday season. Highly recommended.
From the brewery:
"This seasonal beer is a limited edition brewed for the short days and long nights of winter. The full body resulting from fermentation in stone Yorkshire squares and the luxurious malt character, which will appeal to a broad range of drinkers, is balanced against whole-dried Fuggle and Golding hops with nuances and complexities that should be contemplated before an open fire."
[source: bottle]
"Throughout history, beer of somewhat higher alcohol and richness has been enjoyed for the winter holidays, when old friends get together to enjoy the season. Wassail, a festival to celebrate winter and the beer that goes with it, predates the Christian era. Winter Welcome is vintage-dated with a special label each year, and was first shipped to the US in 1990 - it was the first imported winter seasonal beer. Serve in a traditional Sam Smith tulip or nonik glass for the holidays... Honey-amber colored, creamy head of small bubbles, floral aroma and delicious caramel malt flavor with great finesse. Fine hop aroma finish and a fruity note from fermentation in open-topped stone "Yorkshire Squares."
[source: merchantduvin.com]
0 comments: