Rahr Winter Warmer Review

Brewery: Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. | Beer: Winter Warmer
Style: Winter Warmer | ABV: 9.0% | IBUs: 43
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

What better time than the middle of a Texas summer to post a review of a winter seasonal? It's a bit of a grab-bag today on PintLog as we clear out some old notes that have been hanging around, so please excuse the odd timing. Rest assured though, the notes below were taken back when the beer was fresh.

Anyway, today's out-of-season Texas seasonal is Rahr's Winter Warmer. Brewed in the style of an English Dark Ale, the backbone is built with 2-Row, Crystal 40, Cara Munich III, and Chocolate malt varieties. As for hops, Magnums and East Kent Goldings are employed.

Here's how Rahr pitch the finished product:

Wonderfully robust, rich and full-bodied, Rahr's Winter Warmer is crated in the fine British tradition of holiday ales. Perfect for either holiday gatherings or quiet evenings at home.

Well, the weather outside might not be frightful, but let's dig in anyway!

Appearance: A murky mahogany-brown body with plenty of ruby highlights. Up top, a finger's width of off-white head that recedes rather quickly and leaves barely any lacing.

Aroma: Roasty malt with lots of nutty, spicy, and raisiny notes. Maybe a little cocoa as well.

Taste: Rather unique, this is very nutty, herbal, and almost vegetable-like. There's still plenty of dark fruit and roasty malt in the mix as well. The alcohol is hidden very well and the aftertaste is of grainy and roasty malt.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly for the style, this is a little on the thin side. Dry throughout.

Drinkability: Between average and sipper territory. While it's somewhat light-bodied and the flavor profile isn't overly powerful or boozy, eventually the alcohol content has to slow you down.

Verdict: To be frank, I'm a little confused by this beer. Rahr's website list this as full-bodied, and that's certainly what you'd expect from a Winter Warmer, but the body just fails to measure up. So while it's certainly not a bad beer, it's not a particularly good one either.

Grade: C

Note: While this review is being published in August, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh two winters ago.

Rahr Ugly Pug Black Lager Review

Brewery: Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. | Beer: Ugly Pug Black Lager
Style: Schwarzbier | ABV: 4.5% | IBUs: 26
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

Now here's a beer after my own heart: a Texas-brewed, pug-themed Schwarzbier. Let me explain. Another group of Texan brewers over in Shiner brewed up one a Schwarzbier I credit with my awakening to better beer, Shiner 97. Also, my house is currently infested with three pugs (along with an English bulldog). I'm in love with the concept, but what about the beer itself?

As I mentioned above, this dog is a Schwarzbier, which is a essentially a darker and drier version of Munich Dunkel— a beer whose (dark) bark is bigger than it's (light) bite. Ugly Pug is hopped with Perle hops, while the backbone is built from 2 Row, Munich, Chocolate, and Carafa Special II malt varieties.

Okay, my pugs are gathered around anxiously awaiting my verdict, so let's get to it.

Appearance: Deep brown, nearly black at times, with dull ruby highlights. On top, a decent off-white head that leaves little lacing.

Aroma: Earthy roasted malt with hints of coffee and chocolate. A little thin.

Taste: Much the same. The flavor profile is earthy, smokey, nutty, and mildly bitter malt accompanied by coffee and chocolate notes. Nothing much in the way of hops. While complex, it's still somewhat thin most of the time. The aftertaste is relatively intense and tastes of roasted grains.

Mouthfeel: Too light for my preferences. The carbonation is pretty sharp, but not too biting.

Drinkability: With a light body, somewhat thin (yet tasty) flavor, and low alcohol content, this goes back quickly.

Verdict: A nice enough beer, but not my favorite Texan Black Lager (that award goes to Shiner 97). Everything here is tasty enough, but there's just not enough of it if you catch my drift. If this was just a little more intense and full, it could be a winner.

Grade: B-

Rahr Blonde Lager Review

Brewery: Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. | Beer: Blonde Lager
Style: Munich Helles Lager | ABV: 4.8% | IBUs: 22
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

It's time to add yet another Texas brewery to PintLog, and this time it's Fort Worth-based Rahr & Sons Brewing Company. Founded by husband and wife team Fritz and Erin Rahr back in 2004, the brewery has evolved to a capacity of 5,000 barrels per year with distribution throughout the Lone Star State. Their stable includes ten beers—four year-round offerings and six seasonals.

Blonde Lager, one of the year-round brews, was the company's first release, so it seems like a good place to get started. It's a Munich Helles style lager built from 2-Row, Munich, and CaraFoam malt variates and bittered by Magnum and Sterling hops. The company pitch the beer as a "medium-bodied traditional Munich Helles" with a flavor profile featuring "light malty sweetness, breadiness, and restrained bitterness."

Sounds good, let's dig in.

Appearance: Slightly hazy, pale golden body with a decent white head. Below average lacing.

Aroma: Faint, sweet barley with grassy hops and a hint of apple.

Taste: Crisp, grassy, and somewhat subdued hop flavor up front balanced with honey malt bring up the rear. Some apple cider flavors mixed in. The best way I can think of to describe this is as a richer macro without the shitty twang. Somewhat thin, but that's very appropriate for the style. Mildly bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body with fine carbonation. Finish dries slightly.

Drinkability: Very easily drinkable and refreshing, this is perfect for a Texas barbecue.

Verdict: This is the beer that the macros should be. If you're looking for something simple and drinkable that won't offend at your next BBQ, you'll do a lot better with a case of this than the normal Bud/Miller/Coors fare.

Grade: B