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Featured Winter Beer Styles
Winter Beer Styles To Brew Today
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Beer Style | Appropriate Beer Season | Special Food Flavors | Style Notes | Overall Flavors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Altbier | Winter , Summer | Balanced, Bitter, Carmelized, Crisp & Dry, Fruity, Herb, Herb & Bitter, Peppery & Earthy, Rich & Savory | A well-balanced, well-attenuated, bitter yet malty, clean, and smooth, amber- to copper-colored German beer. | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
American Barley Wine | Winter, St. Valentine's Day | Alcohol, Bourbon, Carmelized, Dark Cherry, Oak, Spices, Sweet, Toffee | A very strong, malty, hoppy, bitter American ale with a rich palate, full mouthfeel, and warming aftertaste | Hop: Malt Accented |
American Black Ale / Black IPA | Winter, Spring | Alcohol, Balanced, Bitter, Roasted, Rye, Spicy | A beer with the dryness, hop-forward balance, and flavor characteristics of an American IPA, only darker in color – but without strongly roasted or burnt flavors. | Roast: Dark & Dry |
American Double / Imperial IPA / DIPA | Winter, Spring | Alcohol, Citrus, Citrus & Bitter, Grapefruit, Malty & Sweet, Peppery & Earthy, Pine | An intensely hoppy, very strong pale ale without the big maltiness and/or deeper malt flavors of an American barleywine. | Hop: Bold Herbal Citric |
American Pale Ale | Winter, Spring | Bitter, Citrus, Citrus & Bitter, Malty & Sweet, Peppery & Earthy, Rich & Savory, Roasted | A pale, refreshing and hoppy ale, yet with sufficient supporting malt to make the beer balanced and drinkable. The clean hop presence can reflect classic or modern American or New World hop varieties | Hop: Bold Herbal Citric |
American Porter | Winter, Spring, Fall | Chocolate, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Smoky & Burnt, Toffee | Malty, Complex, Roasty, Chocolaty, Medium-bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
American Stout | Winter, Summer | Carmelized, Chocolate, Creamy, Malty & Sweet, Roasted, Toasted, Toffee | Malty, Roasty, Coffee, Chocolaty, Medium-bodied | Roast: Dark & Dry |
American Strong Ale | Winter, Fall | Alcohol, Bitter, Citrus, Citrus & Bitter, Peppery & Earthy, Roasted | A strong, full-flavored American ale that challenges and rewards the palate with full malty and hoppy flavors and substantial bitterness. | Malt: Fruit & Toffee |
Baltic Porter | Winter | Alcohol, Carmelized, Chocolate, Dark Cherry, Peat, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Toffee, Nuts | Malty, Cocoa, Coffee, Alcohol, Medium- Full- bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
Begian Dubbel | Winter | Carmelized, Chocolate, Fruity, Malty & Sweet, Plum, Toffee | Malty, Chocolaty, Fruity Esters, Medium-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Dark |
Belgian Dark Strong Ale | Winter, Fall | Balanced, Malty & Sweet, Spicy | Balanced, Malty, Estery, Spicy, Medium-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Dark |
Belgian IPA | Winter, Spring | Bitter, Fruity, Spicy | Hoppy, Fruity Esters, Spicy, Medium-bodied | Hop: Earthy & Dry |
Belgian Strong Dark Ale | Fall, Winter | Fruity,Malty & Sweet,Plum,Rich & Savory,Spicy | Complex, Fruity, Malty, Rich, Medium-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Bright |
Bock (Traditional) | Winter, Spring | Carmelized, Malty & Sweet, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Sweet, Toasted | Malty, Toasty, Caramel, Medium- to Full- bodied | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
British Strong Ale | Winter | Alcohol, Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Malty & Sweet, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Toffee | Malty-sweet with fruity esters, often with a complex blend of dried-fruit, caramel, nuts, toffee, or other specialty malt aromas | Malt: Fruit & Toffee |
Doppelbock | Winter, Fall | Alcohol,Carmelized,Chocolate,Coffee,Dark Cherry,Malty & Sweet,Rich & Savory,Roasted,Sweet,Toasted | Malty, Rich, Toasty, Dark Fruit, Full-bodied | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
Double / Imperial Stout | Winter, Fall | Alcohol, Balanced, Bitter, Citrus & Bitter, Herb & Bitter, Malty & Sweet, Peppery & Earthy, Roasted | Rich, deep, complex, and often quite intense, with a pleasant blend of roast, fruit, hops, and alcohol. | Roast: Dark & Dry |
Dunkelweizen / Dunkel Weissbier | Winter, Fall, Holiday : Oktoberfest, Holiday : Halloween, Holiday : Thanksgiving, Holiday : Christmas | Banana, Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Chocolate, Clove, Rich & Savory, Roasted | Malty, Wheat, Caramel, Banana, Medium-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Dark |
Eisbock | Winter | Alcohol, Bourbon, Chocolate, Coffee, Dark Cherry, Malty & Sweet, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Sweet | Malty, Rich, Sweet, Dark Fruit, Full-bodied | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
English Barley Wine | Winter | Alcohol, Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Dark Cherry, Peat, Peppery & Earthy, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Toasted, Toffee | A strong and richly malty ale with a pleasant fruity or hoppy depth. A wintertime sipper with a full, chewy body and warming alcohol. | Malt: Fruit & Toffee |
English Brown Ale | Winter | Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Fruity, Malty & Sweet, Nutty, Toasted | A malty, brown caramel-centric British ale without the roasted flavors of a Porter. | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
English Dark Mild Ale | Winter, Spring, Christmas | Carmelized, Malty & Sweet, Roasted, Toasted | A dark, low-gravity, malt-focused British session ale readily suited to drinking in quantity. Refreshing, yet flavorful, with a wide range of dark malt or dark sugar expression. | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
English Pale Ale / Strong Bitter | Winter, Spring | Balanced, Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Malty & Sweet, Peppery & Earthy, Vinegar | An average-strength to moderately-strong English ale. The balance may be fairly even between malt and hops to somewhat bitter. Drinkability is a critical component of the style | Hop: Earthy & Dry |
English Porter | Winter, Spring, Fall | Carmelized, Chocolate, Coffee, Malty & Sweet, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Toffee | Malty, Toffee, Chocolaty, Toasty, Medium-bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
Euro Strong Lager | Winter, Fall | Alcohol, Crisp, Malty & Sweet | Crisp, Clean, Grainy, Alcohol | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
Extra Special Bitter (ESB) / Strong Bitter | Winter, Fall, Holiday : Halloween, Holiday : Thanksgiving, Holiday : Christmas, Holiday : Hanukkah, Holiday : Kwanzaa | Bitter, Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Toasted | Malty, Earthy, Balanced, Medium-bodied | Hop: Earthy & Dry |
Flanders Brown Ale / Oud Bruin | Winter | Complex, Chocolate, Dark Cherry, Sour, Toffee, Figs, Raisins | Complex, Malty, Dark Fruits, Sour, Medium-bodied | Tart & Funky: Fruity & Vinous |
Foreign / Export Stout | Winter | Alcohol, Chocolate, Coffee, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Smoky & Burnt | Malty, Bitter-Sweet, Roasty, Full-bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
Fruit Beer | Winter, Spring, Summer | Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Dark Cherry, Fruity, Grapefruit, Orange, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Plum, Pumpkin, Raisin, Strawberry | Fruity, Grains, Light- to Medium-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Bright |
International Dark Lager | Winter, Spring | Balanced, Carmelized, Chocolate, Crisp, Malty & Sweet | Malty, Caramel, Balanced, Crisp, Medium-bodied | Malt: Toasty & Nutty |
Irish Dry Stout | Winter, Spring | Bitter, Coffee, Roasted, Smoky & Burnt, Toasted | Malty, Dry-Roast, Burnt, Coffee, Medium-bodied | Roast: Dark & Dry |
Kristalweizen | Winter, Summer | Banana, Bready & Dough, Clove, Crisp & Dry, Malty & Sweet | Perfect for New Year's Eve. Crisp, Fruity, Banana, Wheat, Light- Medium-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Bright |
Oatmeal Stout | Winter, Spring | Balanced, Carmelized, Chocolate, Coffee, Malty & Sweet, Nutty, Rich & Savory, Roasted | Malty, Chocolaty, Coffee, Smooth, Medium-bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
Old Ale | Winter, Fall | Alcohol, Sherry, Carmelized, Dark Cherry, Fruity, Malty & Sweet, Oak, Nutty, Toffee, Vanilla | Aged and malty-sweet with fruity esters, often with a complex blend of dried fruit, vinous, caramel, molasses, toffee | Malt: Fruit & Toffee |
Quadrupel | Winter, Spring | Alcohol, Dark Cherry, Fruity, Maple Syrup, Malty & Sweet, Plum, Rich & Savory, Sweet | Complex, Malty, Dark Fruit, Estery, Full-bodied | Fruit & Spice: Dark |
Russian Imperial Stout | Winter, Black Friday | Alcohol, Coffee, Dark Cherry, Peat, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Smoky & Burnt, Toasted | Balanced, Rich, Malty, Dark Fruit, Full-bodied | Roast: Dark & Dry |
Schwarzbier | Winter, Spring | Bready & Dough, Malty & Sweet, Peppery & Earthy, Roasted, Toasted | Malty, Roasty-Sweet, Earthy, Light - to Medium-bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy | Fall, Winter | Carmelized, Fruity, Malty & Sweet, Peat, Peppery & Earthy, Rich & Savory, Roasted, Smoky & Burnt, Toasted, Toffee | Rich, sweet malt depth with caramel, toffee, and fruity flavors. Full-bodied and chewy, with warming alcohol. | Malt: Fruit & Toffee |
Scottish Ale (Light, Heavy, Export) | Winter | Carmelized, Herb, Malty & Sweet, Peat, Smoky & Burnt, Toasted | A low to medium alcohol, malty beer with light caramel, toast, toffee, and fruit flavors. A slight roast dryness offsets the residual sweetness in the finish | Malt: Fruit & Toffee |
Sweet Stout | Winter, Fall | Carmelized, Chocolate, Malty & Sweet, Coffee & Cream | Malty, Sweet, Chocolaty, Caramel, Full-bodied | Roast: Soft & Silky |
Vienna Lager | Winter, Fall | Balanced, Bready & Dough, Carmelized, Malty & Sweet, Toasted | Malty, Crisp, Toasty, Earthy, Medium-bodied | Crisp: Malt Forward |
Weizenbock | Winter, Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas | Banana, Carmelized, Clove, Maple Syrup, Malty & Sweet, Rich & Savory, Spicy, Sweet | Medium-high to high malty richness with significant bready, grainy wheat flavor. | Fruit & Spice: Dark |
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