Favorite Winter Beer Style

[Joe Connolly]

OK, so I'm always a bit leery anytime I see "Winter" slapped on a beer label. I mean, why is this beer any more wintry than the next? I'm also generally perturbed with the trend of seasonal beers emulating one another. So, in that spirit, does anyone have any thoughts on a particular style they enjoy this time of year? For me, curling up over a big Dubbel conjures up good memories. Pretty boring pick, I know, but I'm hoping there's at least one person out there who can argue for a more obscure style.

[Deege]

I usually brew porters this time of year. I also bump up the fermentables to make it a bit "warmer".

I guess I'm boring too, but I can't take more than half a glass of the "seasonal spiced beers".

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Colder weather lends itself to the richer, heavier beers typically associated with winter seasonals. I definitely find myself gravitating toward the "imperial" beers that reach their pinnacle of popularity right about now. Porters, stouts, barley wines, and particularly the special Belgian Christmas beers I look forward to each year. By and large, I associate use of spices with beers using the moniker of "Holiday" or "Christmas," although this is certainly not a hard, fast rule.

I guess I'm pretty predictable with my winter beer choices, for the most part. Interestingly though, I find my craving for a good lambic or gueuze is also heightened during the holidays.

[Maxwell]

The style of beer I associate with the holidays is a "winter warmer", a full bodied strong ale that usually includes caramel and/ or chocolate malts. To me a winter beer is: full bodied, hearty, fairly strong, full flavored and complex.
One of my faves is Snow Cap from Pyramid. I recently tried Old Tempest from Lightning Brewery and that one is a pretty good holiday beer. And continuing on the seasonal trend I like YuleSmith from AleSmith.
I don't really like heavily spiced beers all that much.

[KegGremlin]

Anything "Imperial" will do...

[Chipper Dave]

This time of year I tend to drink the darker brew. Stouts, Porters, Browns, Ambers, Imperial Stouts, Imperial Porters and some of the darker belgians like Chimay Premiere (Blue). I've gone on an Imperial rush these days I'm with Deege, I'm not a big fan of those holiday spice beers. I little spice is fine, just not a garden full.

[BrewPup]

I enjoy a lot of the winter styles, but shy away from the heavily spiced beers. Powder Hound by Big Sky is one of my current faves.

[gisbrewmaster]

I like the spiced beers. I think that coriander was made to be put in beer. Also I this may be a fall style but I love pumpkin ales. Most of the ones I have had didn't use pumpkin just the spices in pumpkin pie. I also love barleywines!!

[John LeMasney]

I'm up for BWSAs almost any time of the year, including a hot summer night -- but I enjoy them most on a NJ night like tonight -- cold, dark, windy, with just a hint of snow in the air. BWSAa were made for winter. ;)

[Jinja]

I love the winter warmer style - I love the richness balanced with the hoppy kick. Right now I'm enjoying a Brrrr from Widmer, and thinking I need to stock up while there are some still on shelves...

Jinja Out

Maxwell said:

The style of beer I associate with the holidays is a "winter warmer", a full bodied strong ale that usually includes caramel and/ or chocolate malts. To me a winter beer is: full bodied, hearty, fairly strong, full flavored and complex.
One of my faves is Snow Cap from Pyramid. I recently tried Old Tempest from Lightning Brewery and that one is a pretty good holiday beer. And continuing on the seasonal trend I like YuleSmith from AleSmith.
I don't really like heavily spiced beers all that much.