Beers similar to Winter Ale

Strong Ale·United Kingdom·6.5% ABV·One of 27 Strong Ales in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Winter Ale's malty and sweet character. A deep mahogany-red strong ale with Christmas cake, black treacle and vine fruit aromas, and a balance of malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness. It is a seasonal brew at 6.5 % ABV, and it took Gold at the European Beer Challenge in 2026. The brewery was founded in 1996 beside St. Peter's Hall in Suffolk, a building whose oldest part dates from around 1280.

Similar beers ranked by flavour match rather than popularity.Similar beers ranked by flavour, not popularity.

hoppymaltydark fruit

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10 beers like Winter Ale

Crazy Fox

Charnwood Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6.5%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

90%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Same hop character and bitterness as Winter Ale, adds fruit notes, but without the dark fruit notes.

What carries overhoppymaltysweetcaramelbitter

Structure: very close

Compared to Winter Alefruitydark fruit

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

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Teamwork

Hall & Woodhouse

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 9%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

89%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Shares hop character and bitterness with Winter Ale; adds chocolate notes, a notch stronger, but drops sweetness.

What carries overbitterhoppymaltydark fruitboozy

Structure: a notch stronger

Compared to Winter Alechocolatesweet

Structure: Very close — a touch more body, a touch less sweetness.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Old Master Hen

Old Speckled Hen

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 7%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

89%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Alongside Winter Ale on dark fruit notes and richness: adds spiciness, drops hop character.

What carries overmaltydark fruitsweetrichcaramel

Structure: very close

Compared to Winter Aleberryspicycitrusyhoppybitter

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

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Little Donker

Spitting Feathers Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6%

88%

MATCH

No dark fruit notes — bitterness and hop character as with Winter Ale.

Structure: very close

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Broadside Strong Original

Adnams Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6%

86%

MATCH

Keeps dark fruit notes and richness like Winter Ale, adds fruit notes, drops hop character.

Structure: very close

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Walkürenschluck

Wacken Brauerei

Germany · Strong Ale · 7.8%

86%

MATCH

Mirrors Winter Ale's hop character and bitterness — plus resin notes, a notch stronger, minus dark fruit notes.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Old Crafty Hen

Old Speckled Hen

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6.5%

84%

MATCH

Like Winter Ale on dark fruit notes and richness — adds oak notes, but without the sweetness.

Structure: very close

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Marston's Owd Rodger

Marston's Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 7.4%

82%

MATCH

As with Winter Ale, same bitterness and dark fruit notes; adds fruit notes, a notch stronger, no sweetness.

Structure: a notch stronger

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Bathams XXX

Bathams Brewery

United Kingdom · English Strong Ale · 6.5%

81%

MATCH

A touch more fruit notes, no bitterness — richness and dark fruit notes as with Winter Ale.

Structure: very close

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Herforder Maibock

Brauerei Herforder

Germany · Maibock · 6.6%

79%

MATCH

Same dark fruit notes and bitterness as Winter Ale, adds bread notes, but without the hop character.

Structure: very close

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