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Summit Winter Ale

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A winter warmer in the British style: floral, spicy, bready and sweet, with toasted malt, espresso, cocoa, caramel and black cherry, then a velvety smooth, toasty finish. English and German hops bring the floral and spicy notes, roasted and pale malts balance them. A seasonal release, brewed since 1987 to add warmth to winter nights.

ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted 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
toastyfloralspicy
toasty
floral
spicy
caramel
bready
roasted
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced floral and spicy character from English and German noble hops, layered beneath toasted malt and caramel sweetness.
also:coffee,chocolate,dark fruit
not found:hoppy,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Summit Winter Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue, reflecting the blend of roasted and pale malts. Clear and bright with good translucency. A dense, creamy head forms and clings persistently to the glass, leaving distinct lacing with each sip.

deep amberclearpersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced floral and spicy character from English and German noble hops, layered beneath toasted malt and caramel sweetness. Deeper notes of cocoa, espresso, and a hint of dark cherry emerge with time, supported by a gentle bready undertone.

floral, spicy hopstoasted maltcocoa and coffeedark cherry

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and bready with immediate sweetness and caramel character. The palate develops roasted malt complexity—espresso, cocoa, and subtle black cherry—while the noble hops provide restrained floral and spicy balance. Moderate bitterness (28 IBU) integrates seamlessly without dominating.

bready sweetnessroasted malt complexitybalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

A velvety, toasty finish that lingers with gentle warmth. The aftertaste carries caramel, cocoa, and a faint spice, fading gradually without harshness.

toasty, velvetywarming finish
83
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
85
Appearance
82
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 Summit Winter Ale

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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 toasty, floral, spicy character as Summit Winter Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →