Winter Ale's are generally known as dark beers with sweetness and spice. However, Hopworks holds true to their name and packs this beer with tons of hops to produce a big, bold hoppy aroma and flavour. This pseudo-red IPA is encased in a bad-ass bottle with some of the coolest label art we've ever seen and is called a Winter Ale, probably just to mess with our heads and palates. Discounted packs of the Hopworks Abominable Winter Ale are available here.
Pours hazy, dark amber with hints of brown and a bubbly white head that settles into dense foam.
Smells of citrus and pine with a slightly sweet aroma and an undercurrent of dark fruit that fades into some spicy, herbal and earthy notes.
Flavours upfront of bready malt and loads of citrus including orange, lemon and grapefruit that fades into some resin. Finishes with caramel and malt and more citrus kick with just a hint of a floral note. A medium-bodied beer with a finish that is much more crisp and clean than expected. This is not your typical Winter Ale, so don't expect a winter warmer. We would call this more of a red IPA, and a really nice one at that. Its got a a slightly heavier winter body and a perfect balance of malt sweetness and hops.
This hopped-up winter ale pairs well with a hearty meal of rare roast beef and herbed potatoes.