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The temperatures are dropping, trees are standing bare and snow is falling. Winter season is here which means it’s time for winter ales. Winter brings out unique small-production seasonal brews called winter warmers. There are no specific rules for how these beers should be brewed but winter warmers are typically malty, complex and higher in alcohol. Some have spice or fruit characteristics, others are flavored with chocolate or vanilla.
In the Northwest, we are fortunate to be surrounded by many breweries so the winter beer selection is plentiful. BNT visited a few beer experts in Ballard and Fremont to hear their take on winter beer.

Hale’s Ales

Hale’s Ales’ featured winter beer is the Wee Heavy, which was first introduced in 1985.
The Wee Heavy is a mahogany colored beer with a complex hops, caramel, nut and roast flavor.
“We play around with the recipe a little bit each year,” said Dave Seiler, who has been a commercial brewer for five years and has been with Hales Ales for two years.
This year they added a bit more roast flavor, he said.
Hale’s Ales also features a rotating seasonal, which is the Troll Porter this year.

BNT: Which beer(s) should be had with Thanksgiving dinner?

Seiler: With turkey I want a maltier beer. An Amber perhaps or even our own Wee Heavy to complement the food. If you want something contrasting, I’d say and IPA would go well with the sweet caramelized flavors. Towards the end of the meal you’d want a winter warmer with the pumpkin or apple pie.

What’s the perfect beer to drink in the lodge after skiing?

I’m a hop-head so I’d jump on an IPA like our Supergoose which has a little over 7 percent alcohol so it will warm you up but it also has great drinkability.

What’s the perfect beer to drink by the fire in a cozy cabin?

I prefer a barrel-aged Russian or Irish Stout with vanilla and oak characteristics. It’s a good beer to just sit down, relax and enjoy. The character of the beer changes as it warms up by the fire. That’s a nice beer moment there.
Another good one is a barley wine with a little bit of age on it. It’s a little bit higher in alcohol but it’s smooth.

Which three beers should people have in their fridge this holiday season?

Our Supergoose IPA, the Wee Heavy and, if you can find it, our Barely Wine.

Hale’s Ales Brewery is located on 1301 Leary Way N.W.

Maritime Pacific Brewing Company and Jolly Roger Taproom

For owner George Hancock, winter season is Jolly season. He has been brewing the famous Jolly Roger Christmas Ale since 1992 and the recipe hasn’t changed since. It’s a complex English Strong Ale with 9 percent alcohol and is similar to a barley wine. It has a smooth malt character with a caramel characteristic and no spice.
“I wanted to create a beer that would age well. The Jolly Roger creates a whole other complexity as it ages,” said Hancock who still has a few Jolly Rogers from 1996 in his fridge.
Hancock said that the Jolly Roger doesn’t just stand out among other beers, it can also be very dangerous.
“A lot of people tell me they have a ‘Jolly Story’ which is a story that comes about after drinking one too many Jollies,” he said.

BNT: Which beer(s) should be had with Thanksgiving dinner?

George Hancock: It’s a holiday so I would have a holiday beer. Thanksgiving dinner has so many flavor. You have the complexity of the jams, cranberries, and the gravy surrounding the turkey. The Jolly Roger would accentuate the flavors, not disguise them. I like to make beers that go well with with food. The caramel characteristics of the Jolly Roger goes well with the sweetness of pie as well. You could have an IPA but typically, IPAs go with spicy food.

What’s the perfect beer to drink in the lodge after skiing?

I would again say the Jolly Roger or perhaps a lighter Ale.

What’s the perfect beer to drink by the fire in a cozy cabin?

The Jolly or the Bosun’s Black Porter. The Porter is a very complex, it is dark and roasty and has a little more hops. Making a complex balanced beer is what we do.

Which three beers should people have in their fridge this holiday season?

Our Portage Bay Pilsner which is a European lager with a crisp hop finish; the Imperial Pale Ale; and the Jolly Roger.

Maritime Pacific Brewing Companied and the Jolly Roger Taproom are located on 1111 N.W. Ballard Way.

Fremont Brewing Company

In the midst of the recession, Matt Lincecum left his legal career to start a microbrewery. Fifteen months ago he opened Fremont Brewing Company.
Their featured winter beer is the Abominable Winter Ale, a dark, roasty, chocolatey beer with malt characteristics and a nice finish.
Lincecum said that they’re brewing the Abominable for the fifth time now and its their second most popular beer.
They also feature a bourbon barrel Abominable Ale made with blended 1-year-old, 10-month old, and 4-month old bourbon.

BNT: Which beer(s) should be had with Thanksgiving dinner?

Matt Lincecum: I would have our Universal Pale Ale with the turkey. It has a nice roast malt character and the hops aren’t assertive. Turkey has a mellow roast flavor so you want low hops. Or I would have the Harvest Ale. It’s a French farmhouse-style saison extremely low on hops with a nice character derived from the yeast. It’s wonderful with roast meats and soft cheeses.
I would have an IPA while I was digesting and round it off with the Abominable for dessert. The chocolate notes complement the standard pies. After dinner, I would definitely choose the Bourbon Abominable.

What’s the perfect beer to drink in the lodge after skiing?

That is exactly why I designed the Abominable. To take up the hill and put in a snowbank. Then, after skiing you get back to you car and you dig out the beer to enjoy with your friends. That’s why it was called the Abominable after the Abominable Snowman except that it’s not scary. It’s really nice.

What’s the perfect beer to drink by the fire in a cozy cabin?

The Bourbon Abominable. It has lovely vanilla notes.

Which three beers should people have in their fridge this holiday season?

The Abominable, Anchor Brewery’s Our Special Ale, and a saison/Farmhouse Ale.

Fremont Brewing Company is located on 3409 Woodland Park Ave N.

Brouwer’s Cafe

For the last five years Brouwer’s Cafe has been introducing people to world-class beer and there’s no exception when it comes to winter beers. There are more than a few winter beers among their impressive selection of 64 beers on draft and over 300 bottles.
“There’s Sierra Nevada’s Brown Saison, St. Bernard Christmas Ale, N’Ice Chouffe, Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux... we run the gambit here with our seasonals,” said bar manager, Nat Pellman.
Pellman’s interest in craft beers began 15 years ago when he was a student in Vermont and entered the Seattle beer scene in 1997 when he got a job at The Big Time Brewery.

BNT: Which beer(s) should be had with Thanksgiving dinner?
I would start with a light saison, something decently hoppy. Maybe an Upright Four which has a light body, hoppy flavor. It’s refreshing and goes well with food.
I might just have a big stout for dessert like a Big Time Old Rip Oatmeal Stout. Or a pumpkin beer float.

What’s the perfect beer to drink in the lodge after skiing?

I would just drink an IPA like the Big Time Perspective or the Wipe Out IPA from Port Brewing. For something that isn’t an IPA... this year’s Jolly Roger is so good! St. Bernard’s Christmas Ale is good, too. It’s big, boozy and has some good spices.

What’s the perfect beer to drink by the fire in a cozy cabin?

Honestly, I would just have bourbon. But Stone’s Arrogant Bastard is a nice dessert wine. It’s real sipper.

Which three beers should people have in their fridge this holiday season?

Rochefort 8, Adam by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company and Saison Dupont’s Avec Les Bons Vuex - that warms you up in style.

Brouwer’s Cafe is located on 400 N. 35th St.