There are a lot of definitions for what a winter warmer is. Most say it is a beer that warms you up.
That is the simplest definition. Winter warmers are typically beers with a strong alcohol content that in turn warm your entire body when you drink one.
They are seasonal — hence winter in the title. Breweries will typically come out with porters, strong ales, barleywines and stouts with strong robust malt flavor sometimes mixed with coffee and spices and, of course, higher in alcohol.
According to some Tulsa brewers, a winter warmer is:
• “Something you would want to sit by a campfire when its cold outside and have a glass of.” — Ben Birney, Elgin Park
• “Dark, robust, rich, a little higher in alcohol, full-bodied, nice and warming when you drink it.” — Eric Marshall, Marshall Brewing
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• “Something that makes you feel cozy for the winter.” — Travis Richards, Nothing’s Left Brewing
• “A big beer that you feel the warmth in your belly.” — Jonathan Neff, New Era: Fine Fermentations
• “Something that is a little boozier that will help with the cold weather keeping you warm.” — Jake Miller, Heirloom Rustic Ales
What the Ale: Tulsa Brewers tell us about their 'Winter Warmers"
Here are 10 winter warmers to find at these Tulsa breweries.
Marshall Brewing Co.
1742 E. Sixth St.
Big Jamoke Coffee, an American robust porter with coffee from Topeca Coffee, 6.8% ABV. The full-bodied beer offers a deep, rich baseline of bittersweet chocolate and toffee tones that highlight the depth and complexity of the world-class coffee roasted in Tulsa.
Marshall Brewing Co.
1742 E. Sixth St.
Big Jamoke Coffee, an American robust porter with coffee from Topeca Coffee, 6.8% ABV. The full-bodied beer offers a deep, rich baseline of bittersweet chocolate and toffee tones that highlight the depth and complexity of the world-class coffee roasted in Tulsa.
Cabin Boys Brewery
1717 E. Seventh St.
New Fashioned, a Belgian strong ale that comes in at 12.5% ABV. Flavors include cocktail cherries, graham crackers, dates, orange peels and nutmeg.
Cabin Boys Brewery’s New Fashioned, a Belgian strong ale that comes in at 12.5% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Dead Armadillo Brewery
1004 E. Fourth St.
Take Monday Off, a barleywine that was aged in whiskey barrels, 12% ABV.
Dead Armadillo’s Take Monday Off, a barleywine that was aged in whiskey barrels, 12% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Elgin Park
325 E. Reconciliation Way
The Pine Tar Incident, an Imperial stout, is a reference to Kansas City Royal George Brett’s home run that got called back in 1983 due to pine tar too high up on the bat, 11% ABV.
Elgin Park’s The Pine Tar Incident, an Imperial stout, the name is a reference to George Brett’s home run that got called back due to pine tar too high up on the bat, 11% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Heirloom Rustic Ales
2113 E. Admiral Blvd.
Barking Water, an English old ale that was boiled for 10 hours to caramelize the malts and raise the sugar content, 8.1% ABV. This beer will be available in early February.
Heirloom Rustic Ales: Barking Water, an English old ale that was boiled for 10 hours to caramelize the malts and raise the sugar content. This beer will available in early Feb. with an ABV of 8.1%. Each glass represents an hour with the first glass being a sample taken after the first 60 minutes of the boil. Heirloom Rustic Ales
Nothing’s Left Brewing Co.
1502 E. Sixth St.
Deez Nuts, a chocolate milk stout with peanut butter and chocolate, named by patrons at its taproom, 8% ABV.
Brewer Travis Richards with Nothing’s Left Brewing Co. holds a glass of Deez Nuts, a chocolate milk stout with peanut butter, and chocolate named by patrons at their taproom, 8% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Prairie Brewpub
223 N. Main St.
Corporate Dresscode, a stout aged in Buffalo Trace barrels with added Ghanaian Cacao nibs and vanilla beans, 13% ABV.
Praire Brewpub’s Greg Anderson holds Corporate Dresscode, a stout aged in Buffalo Trace barrels with added Ghanaian Caco nibs and vanilla beans, 13% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
NEFF Brewing Co.
321 S. Frankfort Ave.
Imperial stout that hasn’t been named, a gluten-free beer with roasted buckwheat that gives it a toasty and maple flavor, 12.5%.
Jonathan Neff of NEFF Brewing Co. holds an Imperial Stout, a gluten-free beer with roasted buckwheat that gives it a toasty and maple flavor, 12.5% ABV.
Pippin’s Taproom at High Gravity
6808 S. Memorial Drive
Boggy Bottom Barleywine Ale 2020 Sighting, the first release of a series that will continue ever year in January, 13% ABV
Desiree Knott of Pippins Taproom at High Gravity holds a Boggy Bottom Barleywine Ale 2020 Sighting, the first release of a series that will continue ever year releasing in January, 13% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
Renaissance Brewing Co.
1147 S. Lewis Ave.
Nighthawks Coffee Porter, an American Porter with a robust, chocolate, nutty flavor brewed with local coffee roaster Happenstance, 6.4% ABV
Renaissance Brewing Co,’s Nighthawks Coffee Porter, an American Porter with a robust, chocolate, nutty flavor brewed with local coffee roaster Happenstance, 6.4% ABV. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
