Young's Winter Warmer

The reason this sounds dated is because it is, I originally wrote this in November of last year.

As the cold season has finally set in why not start this blog with Young's annual release, 'Winter Warmer', a beer that should most certainly come with a warning.

The last time I had a pint of Winter Warmer was about 4 years ago and it was that exact pint why I haven't tried it since. To be truthful I had had a few drinks prior to that and a few after but at that time it wasn't odd for me to consumer several units too many on a far too regular basis.

I ordered the pint and was excited at the prospect of having this Yuletide treat. It wasn't the first time I'd had one so I could quite easily remember its rich velvety texture, the long lasting taste of burnt toffee and its deep dark colour. I handed over my money to the bar tender, she gave me my recent consumable investment, the pint. With it being such a dark beer and the pub dimly lit I couldn't see that there may have been anything slightly wrong with my pint. It did however seem a little flat, the beer was lifeless and the head non existent. I took the pint up to my lips and had my first sip of winter warmer for over a year. It flat and watery and had none of the usual and expected full body. Then I was hit by this intense and unpleasant vinegar taste followed closely by a mouthful of alcohol not unlike a scotch or brandy but without any of their redeeming qualities. I thought it may have been something I'd eaten that had so greatly effected the taste so had another sip. I managed to swallow about an inch of the pint then took it straight to the bar and due to my taste experience being so horrendous demanded it to be exchanged for another drink. Not trusting the quality of the other beers I went for a Gin and Tonic to be safe. I'm not usually one to complain but in this case I had no choice, they needed to be made aware of just how terrible the beer was, maybe it was off or the lines needed cleaning, I don't know. About an hour or so later something felt extremely off in my tummy. By this point I'd preloaded with a couple of bottled beers, had the sip of winter warmer and a couple of G & T's. I rushed to the loo and like Michael Smith said in the book The Giro Playboy, 'I went to the toilet and the world fell out my arse'. (Don't let this quote put you off, it is a fantastically enjoyable read).

I was rudely awakened by an involuntary reaction we often call vomiting, I leaned over the side of my bed and it projected out all over my laptop below. I spent the small hours of the morning picking it out from between the keys with a cocktail stick. I had to be at work for 8.00am and it was probably about 5.30am when this happened.

The instant realisation of what had caused this episode that I'll never forget had almost put me off for life until now. Don't let this story put you off beer or Winter Warmer to be precise, it was a badly kept beer in a badly managed pub and could have been all manner of things that caused it. The pub has changed owners a few times since the event and I don't think I've been back in all these years.

Was my fear of trying another pint justified?

I sometimes think maybe, other times I'd think 'why don't you just grow a pair and give the bloody thing a go'. So I did.

Working behind the bar of a Young's pub having the role of Bar and Cellar Manager I can rest assured that I know how well my beer is kept and how immaculately clean my beer lines are.

On the second Thursday in November we received our first batch of Winter Warmer. With it racked, spiled and tapped all I needed to do was wait for it to settle and hopefully when I finished my shift with the evening off I could enjoy a pint while watching a band I'd been very excited to see. I made sure that as soon as finished my shift I'd put the beer on and check if it was ready... it was.

During the day some of the regulars had bought me a couple of pints so I pulled one through for myself and joined them and sat with my pint of Winter Warmer.

It smelled great, rich and powerful with such a strong note of treacle. It was almost like diving your nose into a treacle pudding fresh out the oven while the moist middle slowly seeps out as the treacle finds its way out through the porous sponge. The smell alone was enough to make ones teeth fall out. The beer was a deep dark ruby but when held to the light it was exceedingly translucent, if it wasn't so dark it would have been clearer than the glass itself. The initial taste is sweet and syrupy, some might even argue fruity. It's full bodied and heavy, so much so that it could almost be mistaken for a porter or stout but more burnt toffee and caramel sweetness and less burnt toast. It is a full strength ale at 5% abv. I have had many cask ales around or of a higher abv but haven't ever felt as powerful alcoholic effects that you get from the Winter Warmer. There is something about it that just gets you pissed!

I'd recommend Winter Warmer to any special bitter or even porter drinkers, my favourite style is a porter and I love this stuff. It is the perfect pint for the rapidly declining temperatures outdoors as we encroach yet another bitterly cold winter.

It is a beer to drink with an air of caution and to respect, I have no recollection of the night after my seventh pint.