Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: English Strong Ale
Tadcaster, England

This beer kind of defined mediocrity for me. Decent looking, decent tasting, decent smelling but nothing out of the ordinary or bad. Just kind of there really. Not too malty, not too hoppy, just there. I have come to expect a lot more from Samuel Smith though, so a big disappointment.

Bottle, Stirchley Wines, Birmingham. As 2008 fizzles out, this poured a clear and appealing honey tinted brown with a fast vanishing off white head. Aroma was sweetish and vaguely boozy, loaded with dark fruit, caramel malt, and spices. Flavour had the same elements and was very well balanced. Just the right level of sweetness into a slightly bitter finish. This would be welcome in the quiver at any time of year.

Hints of citrus and slight peppery flavor. Very hoppy and almost salty. Very interesting to drink. I like it.

Thich head on a caramel brown body. Malty, caramel hints, bitter yet balanced by light sweetness, altogether very well balanced. Very good drink, i will have it any time again

aroma of this beer is ok not over powering , the look of the beer is a lite caramel look with 2" head the flavor of the beer is kind of malty, hoppy sweet taste. overall i will not breg about having this one. just a ok beer for me

55cl bottle. Fiery orange-amber color with a thick head. Caramel, dusty yeast, and some berry-syrup in the aroma. Malty flavor with plenty of caramel, and nutty, crackery flavors. Good, earthy balancing bitterness to counter the sweet malt. Medium bodied with prickly, medium carbonation. I*m glad this doesn*t have any spices added, I*m getting quite sick of that right now. This still seems to be lacking something; maybe the body is a bit too slick and clean. Just doesn*t have the great feel of something like Fullers 1845.

50 cL Bottle. Pours to a light amber color with good deal of carbonation and moderate sized cream colored head. Slightly yeasty (barnyard-ish) aroma and not much in the way of spice or sweetness. Taste begins with a roasted malt flavor with hints of plum. Fairly full mouth feel without seeming too creamy. Perhaps a hint of toffee on mid-palate. Surprisingly smooth, hop filled finish. I like it, but cant say its on of my favorites.

12 oz bottle, pours a light brown-copper color. No head. Aroma was very faint at first with hints of sweet roastiness, but later on it became more floral and hoppy. Taste was bitter with a bit of sweetness. Palate was average but the flavor was very full. Not a bad ale and more complex than i expected.