Granville Island Lions Winter Ale

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

At 5.5%, this comes in at a very weak ABV for an English style winter ale, especially in a day and age where a ‘light and refreshing’ summer saison can come in at 6%. A transparent dark amber pour with a slightly creamy off-white head. Light fruity aroma with hints of caramal and vanilla coupled with some floral hops. Flavour is spicy caramel malt, a little vanilla, and a little hop bitterness. Still, not a winter warmer by any stretch.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Dark copper coloured pour. Decent head for a while. No lacing. Sweet chocolate and caramel aroma. Sweet chocolate and caramel are also in the taste along with vanilla, spice and nuts. Average mouthfeel. Better than expected.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

473ml can
5.5% ABV
Queen's Quay LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
March 1, 2013
The beer pours a translucent cherry red colour with a thin light brown foamy head. Aroma is roasted malt, vanilla, and spice. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Flavour is sweet malt, caramel, and coffee. It does tend to get a bit sweeter as you finish it. Not bad at all.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Granville 12-bottle mixer pack at The Beer Store. Pours a clean copper colour with a big frothy off-white head, great retention and lots of dirty lace. Sweet and spicy nose with caramel, chocolate, grass and hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and nuts. Nice, mildly creamy mouthfeel. Mostly chocolate taste with the malt, light alcohol and a light nutty finish. Was not expecting chocolate in this one, but must admit this mixes well with the spices. Quite interesting.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours a pretty big creamy looking off white head. Has a dark amber/copper appearance. Nice dirty lacing. Mild sweet malts and floral hop aromas. Flavours are pretty sweet with some caramel and toffee coming through early with notes of vanilla on the back end. Really good taste, not really bitter at all. Medium carbonation, with a nice mouthcoating creamy mouthfeel. Very nice and smooth on the palate. Pretty good and easy to drink.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Bottle: pours a deep clear amber color with a small 1 finger white cap. Moderate carbonation. Pleasant understated aroma of spice, malt and grassy hops. Medium-light body, rocky mouth feel, rounded spicy-malty character. Flavour is very pleasant with a wonderful balance of spice, malts and hops, clean lightly bitter finish. A top notch commercial spiced ale, inoffensive, approachable and well balanced

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Slightly above average for what one would expect from a Winter Ale. I cant place why, but I find the aroma a little off-putting. The colour is nice, dark amber, touch of crimson at the rim. Head fades nearly instantly, litte bubbles rise to the top right to end however. Unremarkable for the style, but a nice brew to come back to.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Head was of 'average' size (what is that, exactly?) and tan in colour. The body was clear and darkish amber in hue. Both aroma and taste were reminiscent of what I believe to be plums, with some additional spicing in the taste. Mouthfeel was solid, and the aftertaste was unremarkable. But, this is a far better on tap vs bottled. The flavour and aromas really are more evident.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Orange amber color, with an off white-orangish head. Foam quickly disappeared leaving a thin ring around the glass. By the end, there was no carbonation left. First smell is sharp with some kind of spice, later on the aroma is quite strong vanilla. At first taste it is smooth, with some light vanilla, a little bitter finish leaving a tingle on the tongue. However, the more you drink of this the sweeter it becomes. Half way through I thought I was drinking a cherry cream soda. Very sweet and heavy feeling, could only drink 1 at a time. Complex, but not a favorite of mine.