Winter Beer

It’s winter, you’re over it. What to do? Drink. What to drink? Ale. What ale to drink? Brown ale. Brown ale? Yeah, brown ale.

Popularized by brands like Newcastle Brown Ale, the sometimes pale and sometimes deep brown color, not surprisingly characteristic of brown ales, screams winter. Their body, ranging from pretty light to pretty full (but rarely super light or crazy full) is perfect for winter–you want a beer with some substance that can stand up to the cold outside, but as you’re probably pairing it with sausages, short ribs, a bout of depression or other classic winter fare, anything too heavy will just weigh you down and make you feel, well, bad.

Ranging from sweet to hoppy to nutty, these brown ales are generally approachable without being boring. In the middle of a sometimes seemingly never-ending winter season, you want more from a beer than mere alcohol content: You want a balanced serious beer with notes of pleasant warm things, like honey, nuts and hoppy sweetness.

So next time winter leaves you wondering what to do with yourself and all those extra hours of literal darkness, grab some friends and head to the local pub and throw back a pitcher (or two) of local microbrew brown ale, or pick up a six pack after work and find someone to drink it with, or have a couple while watching a game or playing Scattergories. In any case (pun only quasi-unintended), with brown ales in ample supply nationwide, you’ve no excuse to feel down or have nothing to do this winter.

Have a favorite brown ale? What is it?

Cheers,

Erin Hollingsworth

(photo credit: mfajardo)

April 10th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in Great Brews | (0)