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Harpoon Winter Warmer
Boston, Massachusetts
BJCP Category: 21B Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer
Harpoon Brewery <visit site>
39
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[expand]Total Score: 39/50
A pleasant cinnamon cookie beer. Dryness makes this a drinkable beer to accompany a sweet desert, like apple cobbler. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Spices dominate aroma with a supporting bready maltiness. No hop aroma. Pear-like esters from fermentation. Alcohol not noticeable. No DMS or diacetyl. One can guess at the spices used, led by cinnamon; however these are well blended into an overall inviting bouquet. (10/12)
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Appearance: Brilliant clarity. Light copper color. Tan head with mixed bubble sizes and adequate head retention. A beautiful beer. (3/3)
Flavor: Bready maltiness with considerable spicy phenols led by cinnamon. Moderate hop bitterness; no hop flavor. No DMS or diacetyl. Dry finish with hints of bittersweet chocolate. Other spices are not distinguishable but blend into the whole experience. Some light ale fermentation esters. Balance is toward the spices. Dry finish dominated by cinnamon. With the bready caramel malt it’s like a cinnamon cookie. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Astringency from the spices adds to the dry finish. Medium body but finishes with a thinner mouthfeel likely due as well to the spices and dry finish. Alcohol warmth is not present but a number of these would keep you quite warm. (3/5)
Overall Impression: A pleasant cinnamon cookie beer. Dryness makes this a drinkable beer to accompany a sweet desert, like apple cobbler. I personally would have liked this to be a bit sweeter and with a less astringent finish and more alcohol to create a sipping Winter Warmer. Seems a bit small for a Winter Warmer. Nonetheless, this beer really grows on you and is a great alternative to those cookies. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 37/50
Like liquid pumpkin pie. Nutmeg, then cinnamon dominates the sweet caramel malt, and the woody cinnamon notes are a pleasant touch. more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: Nutmeg and cinnamon up front, with clean caramel malt in the background. No hop aroma detected. Fermentation is clean. Aroma is of fresh-baked pumpkin bread. (8/12)
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Appearance: Deep amber with brilliant clarity. Low head formation, but creamy off-white layer of fine bubbles persists, leaves lace on the glass as volume lowers. (3/3)
Flavor: Nutmeg and cinnamon spice prevail over clean, sweet caramel malt. Slightly woody character of fresh cinnamon bark present, adding an interesting sort of nutty note. Balance is toward the spice, with a brown sugar, caramel malt support. Spices linger long into the finish. No hop flavor or bitterness to speak of. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with softish somewhat creamy carbonation. No astringency or alcoholic heat. A slight numbing sensation to the tongue that is not from alcohol, like what I remember from chewing on cinnamon sticks as a youngster. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Like liquid pumpkin pie. Nutmeg, then cinnamon dominates the sweet caramel malt, and the woody cinnamon notes are a pleasant touch where hop flavor might be present in other beer styles. A little more malt character would make it more beery, but would sway the balance to be less confectionary. An interesting and enjoyable treat that would be a wonderful accompaniment to crème brulee. (6/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Very nice beer. The spices are a little green, so it would be worth aging a few bottles to taste over the holidays or even next year. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Cinnamon and nutmeg are immediately evident, along with some woodiness. I pick up a little crystal malt in the background, but the focus is on the spices. I also get a minty character that probably comes from fresh nutmeg. Low ester profile. (10/12)
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Appearance: Deep copper color with ruby highlights. Excellent clarity—a very attractive beer. The head retention is decent, but could be impacted by oils from the spices. (3/3)
Flavor: Soft malt up front—has some toasted and caramel notes, but plays a supporting role to the hop and spice flavors. Woodiness is followed by nutmeg then cinnamon. Just enough hops in the finish to attenuate the malt sweetness. A little lighter and crisper than most holiday beers, but beers don’t have to be big to be interesting. Fermentation character is subdued, which is permissible in this style. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Body is a little light, but carbonation level is good. Has a touch of astringency, but not enough to detract from the balance. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Very nice beer. The spices are a little green, so it would be worth aging a few bottles to taste over the holidays or even next year. The brewer did a nice job balancing the spice notes against the other flavors in the beer, but I would not complain if the beer were a little bigger to make it more of a Winter Warmer. However that critique should not take anything away from this well-crafted beer. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 43/50
The gingerbread character gives the beer a definite Christmas feeling. A rich sipper, but not numbing from alcohol. The individual spices don’t jump out—it’s very nicely balanced. more >
[close]Total Score: 43/50
Aroma: Distinctive gingerbread aroma (molasses and spice). Sweet caramel malt, dried fruit esters, light alcohol, and spices combine to give it a complex Belgian-like character. The spices and alcohol give it a dryish aroma. The spices are a bit forward, but the malty sweetness definitely backs it up. Great fruity notes. No hops. (10/12)
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Appearance: Very deep amber-orange color. Crystal clear. Tall, frothy, off-white head; retained well. (3/3)
Flavor: Just like liquid gingerbread—spicy, molasses/sugary, and rich. Medium to medium-low bitterness—just enough to keep it from being cloying. Spices are prominent but not excessive. The dried fruit flavors blend seamlessly, as does the smooth alcohol. The finish is moderately dry, doesn’t seem heavy even though it’s rather richly flavored. Complex, but the individual components support each other very well. Very fresh and tasty. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, rich mouthfeel. Medium to medium-high carbonation. Moderately warming. The spices give it a little astringency. (4/5)
Overall Impression: The gingerbread character gives the beer a definite Christmas feeling. A rich sipper, but not numbing from alcohol. The individual spices don’t jump out—it’s very nicely balanced. It’s often quite difficult to get the balance of spices correct in this style of beer; restraint is the key. Quite well done. Ready to drink now. (9/10)
