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Pickled Santa

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Biscuity on the nose with festive spice, then caramel, toasted brown bread, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper on the palate, finishing bready and lightly bitter with a faint peppery echo. At 6% this is a strong, spicy Christmas ale, sold in bottles by the brewery as a limited edition.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicybreadytoasty
spicy
bready
toasty
caramel
nutty
clove
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced biscuit and toasted grain character, immediately revealing festive spice notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and a hint of clove.
also:malty
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pickled Santa

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to light copper in color, with bright clarity and moderate carbonation visible as a steady stream of fine bubbles. The head forms in modest volume with good retention and leaves delicate lacing on the glass walls as the beer is consumed.

deep amberclearfine carbonationpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced biscuit and toasted grain character, immediately revealing festive spice notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and a hint of clove. Subtle caramel sweetness and a whisper of black pepper round out the aromatic profile, creating an inviting, warming presence.

biscuity maltswarming spicestoasted graincaramel sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate delivers a well-integrated blend of toasted brown bread, caramel, and assertive warming spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. Mid-palate shows earthy and slightly nutty notes, while moderate bitterness from quality hops provides structure without overwhelming the spiced character. The 6% ABV remains balanced and unobtrusive.

toasted breadspiced warmthcaramel maltmoderate bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is bready and clean, with a subtle peppery echo that lingers gently. Mild residual bitterness fades to leave a dry, warming aftertaste characteristic of the style.

bready aftertastepeppery echowarming fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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 Pickled Santa

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About Winter Warmer

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Winter Warmer?

Winter Warmer 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 Winter Warmer

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, bready, toasty character as Pickled Santa will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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