I was pleased to see that Thornbridge have produced a Winter Warmer, a 6.5% strong ale, brewed on the Burton Union system and can conditioned.
Winter Warmer’s are a tradition but if they are not regularly reinvented the tradition will fade.
Robinson’s of Stockport launched their 2026 version of a strong ale Old Tom on cask at the weekend,
Meanwhile Young’s Winter Warmer is once again available. Whether it will survive, given that it is now brewed at Marston’s in Burton which Carlsberg plans to close must be open to question.
Winter Warmer is a great London tradition albeit as Young’s noted in 2023 publicity one they invented in 1971.
The beer style itself is much older and I remember drinking Winter Warmer on gravity from a wooden cask on the bar at the Spreadeagle in Camden Town in the 1970s. In those long ago times the idea that the beer might be cooled was not a feature,and no doubt it wasnt always in the best condition.
However at 5% Winter Warmer was the second strongest beer then regularly available in London (the strongest was Fullers ESB at 5.5%-invented 1955 btw) and so one didn’t complain.
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