Best Beer to Brew in Winter
Top 5 Best Winter Beers to Warm a Cold Night
As the chill of winter sets in, there’s no better way to embrace the cold than by settling in with a rich, flavorful beer. While lighter beers have their charm in warmer months, winter calls for something that warms you from the inside out. This season, it’s time to explore beer styles that are perfect for sipping beside a crackling fire or while binge watching the latest Netflix series.
From the robust complexity of stouts to the hoppy warmth of Red IPAs, here are the best beer to brew in winter, each offering its own unique blend of comfort and flavor. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or a casual sipper, these winter-friendly brews are sure to make the season much more enjoyable.
- The Timeless Stout
- Classic Brown Ale
- Dark Ale
- The Humble Porter
- The Red IPA
The Timeless Stout
Often referred to as one of the best winter beers, stouts are renowned for their deep, dark colour and thick, creamy head.
These robust beers offer a rich tapestry of flavors, including prominent notes of coffee, chocolate, and caramel, derived from roasted malts. The mouthfeel is characteristically smooth and velvety, often enhanced by oats.
Aromas echo the complexity of the flavors with hints of sweetness and dark fruits. Typically full-bodied, stouts vary in alcohol content but often provide a warming sensation, making them ideal as a good winter beer. Varieties like dry, milk, and imperial stouts cater to a broad range of palates, each adding a unique twist to the stout’s distinct profile making the stout a great beer to brew in winter.
Black Rock Miners Stout #BrewedByUs
3 Great food matches for a stout
Slow-Cooked Lamb Stew: The hearty, rich flavours of a slow-cooked lamb stew, with its tender meat and savoury broth, pair excellently with the deep, robust flavours of a stout, enhancing the beer’s malt complexity.
Steak and Mushroom Pie: A classic comfort food, steak and mushroom pie, with its rich, meaty filling and buttery pastry, complements the earthy and roasted notes of a stout, making for a warming winter meal.
Rich Desserts: Pair a stout with chocolate lava cake or creamy cheesecake for a decadent treat.
The Classic Brown Ale
Brown Ales are celebrated for their rich amber to brown hues and a smooth, often creamy head.
These inviting beers showcase a delightful blend of flavours, featuring distinct notes of nut, caramel, and hints of chocolate, primarily derived from the use of toasted malts. The mouthfeel of a Brown Ale is typically smooth and moderately robust, offering a balance between the sweetness of the malts and a subtle hop bitterness.
Aromatically, Brown Ales present a mild, malty sweetness accompanied by subtle fruity undertones. Generally medium in body, they strike a perfect balance in flavour intensity, making them a favourite beer to brew in winter and a versatile option for both warm and cool weather drinking. Popular varieties include English Brown Ales, known for their gentle sweetness, and American Brown Ales, which may introduce a bolder hop character.
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3 Great food matches for brown ale
Roasted Chicken: The caramelized crust of a roasted chicken complements the sweet, malty flavours of a Brown Ale.
Roast Vegetables: Earthy vegetables like mushrooms and bell peppers enhance the nutty elements in Brown Ales.
Aged Cheeses: The rich and often nutty flavours of aged cheeses like Gouda or Cheddar pair beautifully with the smooth and malty character of Brown Ales.
The Dark Ale
Dark ales are renowned for their deep, often opaque hues that range from dark amber to ebony, topped with a creamy, persistent head.
These robust beers are a symphony of complex flavours, including rich notes of caramel, toffee, and sometimes hints of dark fruits like raisins and plums, thanks to their deeply roasted malts.
The mouthfeel of a Dark Ale is usually full and smooth, providing a satisfying balance between malt sweetness and a moderate to assertive hop bitterness. Aromatically, Dark Ales exude a bold malty richness with undertones of earthiness and spice.
Typically hearty in body, they offer a rich indulgence that makes them especially fitting for cooler weather or as an evening sipper. Among the popular varieties, traditional English Dark Ales focus on malt complexity, while American versions might highlight more hop presence, adding a layer of aromatic and flavour
depth.
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3 Great food matches for dark ales
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms: For a vegetarian option, grilled portobello mushrooms can echo the earthy, rich flavours in the ale.
Pork Ribs: The sweetness of the BBQ sauce and the smokiness of the ribs will pair wonderfully with the caramel and toasty notes of the Dark Ale.
Steak: A well-seasoned steak, particularly with a slightly charred exterior, will complement the robust flavours of the ale, with the caramelized crust of the steak mirroring the beer’s caramel maltiness.
The Humble Porter
Porters are distinguished by their dark, nearly black coloration and a smooth, creamy head.
A favourite among old school brewers as the best beer to brew in winter, porters offer a complex palette of flavours, often including roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a hint of smokiness, derived from well-roasted malts.
The mouthfeel of a Porter is rich yet surprisingly smooth, striking a fine balance between the bitterness from the hops and the sweetness from the malts. Aromatically, Porters present a robust malt character with subtle undertones of caramel and dark fruits like cherries or blackberries. While full-bodied, they are typically less intense than stouts, making them both nourishing and approachable.
Traditional English Porters are known for their historical richness, while modern interpretations might experiment with additional flavours such as vanilla or bourbon for added complexity.
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3 Great food matches for a porter
Dark Chocolate Desserts: The rich coca undertones of the Baltic Porter compliment the sweetness and bitterness of the dark chocolate, be it a mousse or a tart.
Wild Game: Venison or duck, with their strong flavours, pair well with the robust profile of the Baltic Porter, each enhancing the other’s complexity.
Lamb Pie: The richness of lamb, especially when cooked in a pie with a rich gravy, complements the malty depth of the porter.
Red IPA
Red IPAs present a striking deep amber to red hue, which is as inviting as it is indicatinve of its flavour depth.
Expect a harmonious interplay of aromatic hops featuring notes of citrus, pine, and floral touches, perfectly balanced against a backdrop of caramel and toasted malts.
The Red IPA offers a medium to full body with a palpable bitterness that is smoothed over by malt sweetness, making it a standout choice for those who cherish complexity in their brew. Ideal for savouring on its own or paired with hearty foods, the Red IPA is a testament to craft brewing’s creative spirit.
Mangrove Jacks Craft Series Red IPA #BrewedByUs
3 Great food matches for a Red IPA
Steak and Cheese Pie: The savory richness of a traditional steak and cheese pie, pairs wonderfully with the biscuity, toasted malt tones of the Red IPA.
Venison Burger: Game meats like venison offer a rich taste that stands up well to the bold flavors of a Red IPA. A burger with a spicy relish or chutney can also complement the subtle spiciness noted in the Red IPA.
Spicy Pumpkin Soup: The slight spiciness and earthy sweetness of a creamy pumpkin soup can be a delightful match for the complex fruit tones and spicy hints in the Red IPA.
As the chill of winter settles in, there’s no better time to explore the rich, comforting flavors that make up the best beer to brew in winter. Whether you’re drawn to the robust warmth of a Stout, the hearty richness of a Porter, or the deep complexity of a Dark Ale, these good winter beers are perfect for brewing during the colder months. Remember, the best beer in winter is the one that brings you and your loved ones together over great flavors and warm conversations.
Ready to brew your own? Grab your next home beer brewing kit and start enjoying the best winter beers right from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re a seasoned brewer or just starting out, we have everything you need to make your winter brewing a success. Brew the best, brew in winter, and make every pint count!
