Jubilation Winter Warmer

Jubilation Winter Warmer is produced by the good people of Grand River Brewing, out of Cambridge, Ontario. Sold in 500mL bottles, Jubi clocks in at a muscular 7% alcohol. It pours a considerably cloudy golden-red colour, topped with a thin but persistent layer of cream-coloured head. It has just a slight amount of carbonation.

Jubi smells sweet, boozy, and spiced. It's very festive. It's very full-bodied, with some fruit notes, lots of malt character, and a not insubstantial level of bitterness. The label calls it "Ale brewed with spices and orange." I initially had a tough time picking out the orange flavour, but it's definitely there--the rind adds to the bitterness. The aftertaste, spiced and bitter, lingers for a while.

Shame on me for drinking a winter warmer on a warm evening in May, but it really hit the spot. I'd like a bit more spice notes, and possibly some caramel notes, but this is a pretty nice brew. It's interesting and robust.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Great Lakes Brewery Winter Ale

This charming seasonal brew comes from Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery. It's sold in jumbo 650mL bottles and it has a kickin' 6.2% alcohol content. I had this big beauty in my fridge for quite a while. It was a birthday gift from a wonderful friend. The odd thing about gift beer, for me at least, is that I always hold on to it, waiting for the right time to savour it. For this ale, the right time was a crisp, sunny Friday afternoon in early March in my backyard with a cigar and a mystery novel.

Winter Ale pours a hazy, ruddy gold colour. It has a thick and very persistent head and slight carbonation. A considerable aroma of ginger greets the nose. Just as the blurb on the bottle lead me to expect, the flavour is resplendent with Christmastime notes of cinnamon. As well, some clove is detectable. The aftertaste is where the ginger lives, giving the brew a pleasant cookie vibe. The heightened alcohol content isn't immediately evident from the taste, though it is apparent in the toasty afterglow.

This is a nice winter warmer. Perhaps a touch sweeter than I'd like and a bit more bitterness might be nice, but the ginger and cinnamon essence are excellent touches that make this beer stand out. I'll definitely be watching for this one next winter and you should too.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Garrison Brewery-Winter Warmer

The Winter Warmer is one tasty seasonal brew from the Garrison. It comes in a 500mL bottle crowned with red foil and clocks in at a toasty 6.5%.  The Warmer pours a cloudy, brownish red, with a thick, creamy head and barely any carbonation. It leaves luscious rings of lace behind with every sip, just as a nice pint should.

It has the Christmastime aroma of cloves. The flavour is predominantly sweet and malty. There are notes of cloves, as well as raisins or figs. A dose of bitterness kicks its way in through the back door.

This is a damn fine example of a winter beer. It's got lots of sweetness, but well-balanced. It's very warming and pairs nicely with a cigar. For all of you living in Garrison country, I'm afraid it'll be a long wait until next winter.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.