Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale

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

2007-2008 edition. Pours a sparkling amber color with a moderately full, off-white, pillowy head; longevity is decent and lace is minimal. Nose is nice but subdued with notes of granola, almonds, light brown sugar, light pomme fruit, and hints at toffee. Flavor is similar with a decent noble hop present being a bit dry and spicy; other notes include toffee, hints at chocolate, nutty cereal, and light apple. Palate is lively, nearly medium, and drying a bit with a smooth finish. Ends somewhat quickly with bittersweet notes of spicy hops, toffee, and a nutty presence. Not a bad ESA for the winter but it just doesn’t compare the American versions of winter ales, lacking body and assertiveness. Quite drinkable, just not overly enticing.

crystal clear amber with a decent off white head that settles into a thin film. nutty toffee apricot aroma sweet toffee apricot with a very light bitter backdrop. dry bittersweet slightly fruity toffee finish with a hint of chocolate. medium body...body seems a bit thin. moderate but almost fizzy carbonation. at first i thought there wasnt enough carbonation then it gets all fizzy and weird. damn aritficial carbonation. overall not a bad beer. not bad with widmers 4 year old cheddar.

Bottle. Pours a nice looking copper amber body with nice head. Aroma is sweet malt, light hops, musty. Flavor has a somewhat strong metallic feel to it, not too bad but odd with some spices and sour and sweet fruit. Nice mouthfeel.

Very nice crystal clear Red/Amber beer with a large frothy head that just sits there being pretty. Nice malt and fruit aroma. I have no idea how other people discern apricot, coriander, pine needle, pomegranate or balsam out of this? It smells like fruit and malt. Another great beer thats aroma matches its flavor. With a middle bodied delivery medium this is one incredible beer. Sweet malt, grain and hops, that’s beer. Prost!

550 ml. 2006-2007. Copper pour with a diminishing light beige head. Sweet grain/granola aroma, honey, brown sugar, with touch of apple peel esters. Malty flavor backed by earthy hops. Some spice and fruit notes, with an earthy finish. Medium to full bodied ale with moderate carbonation. Pretty good for an impulse purchase from the deli.

550 ml, 2005-2006 label. Clear orange-copper with a large and lasting head. Aroma is caramel and spicy vegetal herbs. Flavor is caramel, toffee with some dry spicyness, and light fruit flavors - apple, grape. Soft medium palate is smooth with a dry finish. Great balance, with lots of malt flavor that is dried out quite nicely by some spices and hops.

11/10/07: Bottle.
Orange-brown body with an off white head. Slight caramel aroma. Balanced hop and malt flavor. Pretty mild with a slightly bitter finish.

Bottle: Poured a amber color with a red haze, the head was off white. The aroma is sweet caramel and bit christmas spices. The taste is kinda of dry with some light spice.