Drinking in Boston: Whether Thou Winter Warmer?

Okay: it’s cold. You can’t feel your fingers, your boogers are freezing in your nose…You need something to warm you up. If you’re a stout and porter person looking for a new way to warm up, there’s a Winter Warmer out there with your name on it.

In Michael Jackson’s Ultimate Beer book, he defines different kinds of Winter Warmers, from bocks to barley wines to Baltic porters. The type he notes most commonly recognized in the states as a wintry beer is the spiced beer. Harpoon’s Winter Warmer, for instance, is made with cinnamon and nutmeg, going for the final overall effect of “balanced, pumpkin-pie flavor.”

The BeerAdvocate brothers might beg to disagree with the definition, however, stating that the Winter Warmer is traditionally brewed with no spices at all. The malt presence is big while the hops remain tempered. The alcohol content is also rather high in general, leaving one with that just-in-from-the-cold flush after a few sips.

And speaking of in-from-the-cold, consider yourself lucky to be living in New England…regardless of your position on spiced or un-spiced Winter Warmers. Your location gives you access to innumerable takes on the style. Below are a few Bostonist favorites, inspired by BeerAdvocate and personal wintry experience.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale
Ipswich Winter Ale
Sam Smith’s Winter Welcome
Harpoon Winter Warmer
Shipyard Prelude Ale

Photo by amatern on Flickr, used with Creative Commons license