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O'Hara's Winter Star

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The brewery's winter seasonal: a spiced pale ale rather than the usual dark winter ale. Cinnamon and nutmeg give a warming spice aroma that lasts, set against subtle biscuit notes from cara and crystal malts. Rye malt and a generous share of oats are also in the grist. Golden and lightly carbonated, with a light, crisp body, a creamy feel, a gentle sweetness from the spices and a warm, spicy finish.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter27 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicymaltybready
spicy
malty
bready
caramel
Aroma
Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate the nose with a warming spice character that persists throughout the pour.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for O'Hara's Winter Star

◎ Appearance

Golden to light amber in the glass, displaying excellent clarity with a bright, translucent quality. A delicate white head settles quickly, leaving fine lacing on the glass. Light carbonation gives a gentle, controlled effervescence that complements the pale ale's crisp character.

golden, translucentfine lacinglightly carbonated

◌ Aroma

Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate the nose with a warming spice character that persists throughout the pour. Subtle biscuit notes emerge beneath the spice, derived from cara and crystal malts, offering a bread-like sweetness. These elements create a balanced aromatic profile that signals a winter seasonal without heaviness.

cinnamon, nutmegbiscuit, grain sweetnesswarming spices

◐ Taste

The palate opens with gentle spiced sweetness, followed by a light, crisp body that never feels thin or watery. Rye malt and oat additions provide a creamy mouthfeel and subtle grain depth. Mild bitterness from the 27 IBUs arrives in the mid-palate, grounding the spice without asserting dominance, while the underlying malt sweetness remains approachable.

creamy texturegentle spice sweetnessbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

A warm, spicy finish lingers pleasantly without becoming harsh or overly dry. The aftertaste balances the residual cinnamon and nutmeg against fading malt sweetness, leaving a comforting warmth.

spiced warmthclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
77
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with O'Hara's Winter Star

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About Spiced Beer

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Spiced Beer?

Spiced Beer is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Spiced Beer

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, creamy, crisp character as O'Hara's Winter Star will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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