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Winter Welcome Ale

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery
United Kingdom·English Strong Ale
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A seasonal strong ale, brewed in limited quantity for the cold months and released with a new label each winter. Fermentation in slate Yorkshire squares gives it a full body, and malt leads throughout: tasters describe caramel, toffee and biscuit. Whole dried Fuggle and Golding hops stand against that richness with an earthy, herbal and gently spicy bitterness, and the finish is warming and fairly dry. The ingredient list is short: well water, barley malt, hops and yeast.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter32 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15
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
maltycaramelearthy
malty
caramel
earthy
herbal
spicy
Aroma
The nose leads with caramel and toffee sweetness, supported by a subtle biscuit maltiness that recalls toasted grain.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Winter Welcome Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue, translucent and bright. A dense, off-white head forms readily and adheres to the glass with visible lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is moderate, releasing a gentle cascade of fine bubbles.

deep amberdense headbright and clear

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with caramel and toffee sweetness, supported by a subtle biscuit maltiness that recalls toasted grain. Whole dried Fuggle and Golding hops contribute restrained earthy and herbal notes with a whisper of spice, while the strength shows warmth without harshness.

caramel, toffeeearthy, herbal hopstoasted grain

◐ Taste

The palate opens with rich malt character—caramel, toffee, and biscuit flavours dominate the entry and mid-palate, creating a full body that coats the mouth. Whole-leaf Fuggle and Golding hops provide an earthy, gently spicy bitterness that balances the sweetness without overwhelming it, while the 6% alcohol adds subtle warmth throughout.

full-bodiedcaramel-forwardbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is warming and fairly dry, with the malt character retreating to a soft caramel note and the herbal bitterness lingering pleasantly. The aftertaste is clean and drying, with no cloying sweetness.

dry finishwarming alcohollingering herbal note
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
80
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°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 Winter Welcome Ale

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About English Strong Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Strong Ale?

English Strong Ale 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 English Strong Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, full-bodied, caramel character as Winter Welcome Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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