Harpoon Winter Warmer Review #62

Harpoon Winter Warmer
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
ABV: 5.5%
Winter Seasonal
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Dogfish Head Tumbler Pint Glass

Harpoon Winter Warmer is a full-bodied rich ale that uses a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg to achieve its spirited flavor. Perfect for the holidays!
Ingredients: Water, Malted Barley, Hops, Yeast, Flavoring (cinnamon and nutmeg).

Harpoon Brewery
American Microbrewery
Boston, Massachusetts
Windsor, Vermont
Rich Doyle, Dan Kenary And George Ligeti
1986 

Appearance:
Rich Auburn Color With Burnt Orange Highlights
Three Finger Of Frothy With A Creamy Component Beige Head
(Framable Head)
Short Lived Head
Touch Of Lace
Murky Clarity
Vivid Carbonation

Aroma:
Overpowering Spice Aroma
Cider
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Heavy Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ginger
Clove
Potpourri
Cardamon

Mouth Feel:
Not Refreshing At All
Low Drinkability- I Find This Beer Requires To Much Work From The Drinker To Be Accepting Of Its Quirky Flavor
Not A Proponent Of Wasting Beer, But This Is A "Drain Beer"
Sour Note In The Aftertaste
Port Wine Flavor In The Finish, But It's Quick
Bitter/Slight Sour Balance
The Beer Is Off-Balanced
Light Bodied- Body Is Weak And Fragile
Perrier Mineral Water Palate
Slight Warming Gingerbread Kick
"Spice Bomb" That Leaves You With A Spice Filled Mouth Feel

Flavor is similar to the aroma, but is a bit disconnected. The flavor never comes together in a nice neat little package of joy. First the beer has a cinnamon liberalism to the point of DOA and has a cough syrupy sweet that the beer presents smoothly. I can taste Sucrets as my mouth reddens and the beers malts are fighting for their lives, to  little avail. Spices and herbs, mainly nutmeg and cinnamon simmer into a hodgepodge backdrop. In the middle clove spices and a touch of brown sugar come out with a caramel sweetness struggling beneath. In the finish your tongue soon recoils from the powdery spice onslaught of dusty cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. 

I like Harpoon products, but this is not one of them. Maybe it's a misclassified, but this beer is a waste of a glass and water. This beer is a waste of my time and money, look for better winter warmers.

1 Out Of 6
Don't Want A Sixer