Columbus Brewing Company- Winter Warmer: A Seasonal Brew You Don’t Want To Miss
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 2:05PM | by Jason 
Damn it is getting colder and colder. Winter is creeping up on us fast and furiously this last couple of weeks. We went from super mild/warm fall to snowy, below freezing temps. The good thing about this transition towards single digits and white landscapes is that the store shelves are filling up with winter seasonals or otherwise known as winter warmers. In anticipation of the colder weather, I grabbed me a six pack of Winter Warmer from Columbus Brewing Company last month while in Columbus. As you may know, I had a chance to tour Columbus Brewing Company and even sampled the Winter Warmer at the time but it was after a few other brews and it wasn’t given its proper due. Now I sit here ready with clean palate to enjoy this winter brew. Winter Warmer from Columbus Brewing Company is poured and ready.
Columbus Brewing Company classifies this brew as a winter warmed and their website describes Winter Warmer as, “England’s soggy, gray winters inspired brewers to make ales known as winter warmers. Ours is a blend of English Maris Otter malts, special carmel malts accented with hints of ginger and cinnamon. Best enjoyed in the company of family and friends.” While taking the tour of CBC, Eric informed us that this year he decided to use a different cinnamon in this years version. He obtained a Vietnamese cinnamon that was used in the 2010 batch.
Winter Warmer pours a reddish brown with a ¾” khaki head. The aroma is a sweet bready malt smell with a perfect scent of cinnamon with nutmeg in the background.
This may easily be one of the top 5 winter warmers I have ever had. I say this because usually what I get from a winter warmer is an over spiced brown ale that is often time gross. Winter Warmer from Columbus brewing company is the exact opposite of the standard winter warmer fare. This is a perfectly balanced brew where the subtlety of the cinnamon compliments the flavor as oppose to overpowering it. It reminds me of a cinnamon graham cracker or snickerdoodle only in liquid form. Because I was in the holiday spirit, I gave away 4 of the 6 I brought home from Columbus to friends. That leaves me with 1 left, damn. Those of you in Columbus better feel blessed this holiday that you have access to Winter Warmer from CBC and those of you who that may have a Great Lakes Christmas Ale bias…if you only knew. I’d take CBC’s Winter Warmer over Great Lakes Christmas Ale any day!! Dear Santa, I would like a keg of Winter Warmer under my tree this X-Mas and I promise to share!
ABV: 7.0%
Consumed: Mother Earth Globe Glass
Verdict: Buy A Case
