2beerguys beer blog

Beer Advent Calendar – Day 13: Columbus Brewing Winter Warmer presented by Lee Movic

@Leemovic, @ColumbusBrewing

Beer Advent Calendar – Day 13: Columbus Brewing Winter Warmer presented by Lee Movic

To celebrate the Holiday Season, 2Beerguys.com and Seacoastbeveragelab.com have teamed up with beer bloggers around the country to host the first annual beer bloggers advent calendar. This is the season of sharing and we intend to share our love of beer with you. 31 Bloggers Blogging – click here for the running list of beers/bloggers.

Let’s see who is spreading holiday cheer today!

Blogger: Lee Movic
Blog Name: Beer Me Bartender (beermebartender.wordpress.com)
Twitter: @leemovic
Beer: Winter Warmer
Brewery: Columbus Brewing Company
Beer Details:

• Style: Winter Warmer/Spiced Ale
• ABV: 7%
• IBUs: 28

Commercial Description:
“England’s soggy, gray winters inspired brewers to make ales known as winter warmers. Ours is a blend of English Maris Otter malts, special caramel [sic] malts accented with hints of ginger and cinnamon. Best enjoyed in the company of family and friends.”

Why I selected the Columbus Winter Warmer:
First, I’d like to thank 2beerguys.com and seacoastbeveragelab.com for hosting this unique opportunity for collaboration. Having developed my real love of craft beer during my time living in New England, it’s always nice to keep ties with people who are doing so much to support a beverage and community that we all care deeply about.

Having only returned to Cleveland, OH recently after an extended stay living and working in Boston, I am enjoying exploring a booming craft beer scene that is markedly different from the one I left in 2010. While the easy review choice for any Clevelander is Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale, a perennial favorite and ubiquitous in area bars from November to January, I opted for Columbus Brewing Company’s Winter Warmer on the recommendation of another Cleveland beer tweeter who noted it as ‘Ohio’s best winter warmer’ on a recent Untappd check-in.

Pouring the beer into my newly acquired Anderson Valley Brewing Company ‘can glass’, I found the aroma familiar but couldn’t place it immediately. A couple sips later and I had it: Grandma’s apple butter. I don’t consider myself qualified enough to evaluate this beer’s individual components, so consider this a holistic review. If you like apple butter, you’ll like this beer. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer (their Columbus IPA and Bodhi DIPA are already new favorites), and I look forward to enjoying more during the (long and depressing) Cleveland winter!

Two things that this beer made me think about:

1.     Two years ago at Joshua Tree in Somerville, Thomas Hooker Brewing Company was doing a pint glass giveaway with their Nor’Easter Winter Lager. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, the nice ‘apple cider’ notes that I detected in the beer had, in retrospect, come from the Apple Pucker in the warm drink that I had ordered previously and still had in my mouth. Suffice it to say, I was crushed when I bought a six-pack later that winter and didn’t get any apple notes (still a good beer, though). Let me also apologize to all the people who I recommended this beer to as ‘alcoholic apple juice’ (I’ve come a long way since then J ).

2.     Holiday season is coming up, and I’d really like to try Night Shift Brewing’s new Fallen Apple (hint hint, wink wink).

Thanks for reading!

About the Lee Movic:
According to the Beer Bloggers Conference, 1 post does indeed qualify me as a Blogger. Look for more posts in 2013! www.beermebartender.wordpress.com

About Columbus Brewing Company:
Columbus Brewing Company is located in the capital city’s historic Brewery District. The Columbus Brewing Company was originally founded in 1830. In 1988, the name was once again chosen to resurrect the proud brewing heritage of its namesake. It’s our goal to produce unique world-class beers. So, we use only the finest ingredients, many locally harvested, to bring you the best in hand-crafted brews. Look for our award-winning beers at your local grocery store and be sure to try our other seasonal selections on draft at fine restaurants and pubs throughout Ohio. www.columbusbrewing.com