Winter Ale, Smuttynose’s current seasonal, comes forth with a fulfilling and complete set of flavors. Pouring with a dark brown coloration and a small amount of off-white head, this Winter Ale has strong notes of malt, alcohol, and tart cherry. Based on an amber ale and bolstered with Trappist yeast, this beer is warming and possesses a wide array of different flavors. 
With hints of dark fruits, spices including cinnamon, cayenne, and nutmeg (albeit without any of these included), Smuttynose’s Winter Ale pairs nicely with roasts, beef, lamb, and salted snacks.
Fans of dark Belgian strong beers, amber ales, and winter warmers will find something to appreciate in Smuttynose’s Winter Ale. The good amount of malt (a blend including Carahell, Carafa II DH, Carastan, and North American 2-Row) establishes a backbone to this Winter Ale that makes the final sip as approachable as the initial one. The small amount of hop presence does much to refresh one’s palette for additional sips rather than letting the heavier elements of the beer accumulate. Winter Ale’s crispness and slight alcoholic bite raise it above the mass of other winter ales on the market, while the good amount of malt presence here act as the perfect canvas upon which the more delicate flavors of the effort can shine.
Smuttynose has released a number of stellar efforts since we started checking out their beers; check out our coverage of Smoked Peach Short Weisse , Imperial Stout, Hayseed, Rhye IPA, ParadoX, Really Old Dog,Durty, Kindest Find, Oktoberfest, Bouncy House and Cherry Short Weisse. For more information about the brewery and their full beer line-up (year-round and seasonal), visit their website. Smuttynose’s social media accounts are perfect if one wants to keep up to date regarding new beers and events.
Winter Ale / 7.5% ABV / 26.5 IBU / smuttynose.com / www.facebook.com/Smuttynose /twitter.com/smuttynosebeer /