Your Favourite Winter Warmers.

[aleandhearty]

With the big freeze forecast to return on Thursday, winter warmers are coming into their own and I’ve certainly got my dark, strong beer head on at the moment.

For me, locally, there are two mainstream classics available in Black Sheep ‘Riggwelter’ and Theakston’s ‘Old Peculier’. Also, Jennings ‘Snecklifter’ from a little further away, over the Cumbrian border. I’m also on the lookout for Acorn ‘Gorlovka’, Elland ‘1872’ and Ossett ‘Treacle Stout’, but will try anything that looks promising!

What’s everybody else hoping to find / enjoying?

[Al 10000]

I always like to have a drink of Robinsons Old Tom barley wine its around the 8% mark and very drinkable on a cold winters day.

It is fairly hard to find on draught but is available in botles in most Robinsons pubs.

[gillhalfpint]

Having just come back from Bruges, we enjoyed some Christmas beers there. At 2 Be, we enjoyed Delirium Noel at 10% and Goulden Carolus Christmas at 10.5%. Bush Noel on tap at 12% was the winner at De Garre and on tap at Erasmus we enjoyed Malheur 12 at 12%.

Anyone going over there for Christmas, Erasmus is putting 12 Christmas beers on tap.

Back home, we are looking forward to a crawl round Gloucester tomorrow. Will see what's on offer in the way of Christmas beers here. Looking for bottled Youngs Christmas Pudding. Heavenly! Hook Norton 12 Days on draught goes down well too.

[Bucking Fastard]

Last December in the cold snap I really enjoyed Harvey's Christmas Ale which needs to be treated with due respect at 8.1% .The only outlet I am aware of in London is The Royal Oak ,Borough so I am tempted to make a pilgrimage down there during the remainder of the month.Harvey's Old Ale is also good ,and quaffable at 4.3% and useful to wash down the Christmas Ale.

Closer to home Mc Mullens used to offer Stronghart on draught as a seasonal ale ,7% and probably their best ale but I've got a feeling that it's only available in bottles and not carried at many of their tied houses.I will keep an eye out for it on a pub crawl in Hertford later this week.

Youngs Winter Warmer used to be good when brewed in Wandsworth,not tried the Bedford version but that's another possibility for us boozers down south.

[Brakslover]

Not generally a big fan of Youngs beers, but always enjoyed their Winter Warmer. Pleased to report that, in my view, it is still as good as ever.

[Bucking Fastard]

Not generally a big fan of Youngs beers, but always enjoyed their Winter Warmer. Pleased to report that, in my view, it is still as good as ever.

That's good news. I've just noticed that Pubsignman has rated it as his BOTW ,so with two thumbs up I will give it a go next time i'm in a Youngs house.

[Farway]

Not much on offer in this neck of the woods, mostly around here are Fuller's [ex Gales] and not noticed much new, when Gales was around it was of course the Winterbrew

[rpadam]

Found a decent pint of Winter Warmer at the Bunch of Grapes near London Bridge this evening...

[Wittenden]

I've been researching the beer for our Boxing Day celebrations-Uncle George likes dark beer,father-in-law pale.Tryingto keep within Kent and Sussex,I had a happy few evenings sampling Blues from Rother Valley,Faithful Dogbolter from Gadds,Leviathan from Hopdaemon-a touch too sweet for me at 6%ABV-and my discovery of the week-Black Pig Imperial Russian Porter from the Wantsum Brewery over in East Kent. My first experience of this new brewery, a lovely dark ruby beer,which I think will grace our table, along with Old Dairy Blue Top IPA.Now,will I share my Dark Star Imperial Russian Stout? No, I don't think so!

[ROBCamra]

I’m also on the lookout for Acorn ‘Gorlovka’, Elland ‘1872’ and Ossett ‘Treacle Stout’, but will try anything that looks promising!

Just to annoy you a&h I've had all 3 of those in the last 2 weeks.