The robust flavour of this West Coast inspired winter warmer is a perfect complement to all the fun, adventure and festivities of the season. Come in from the cold and celebrate the best things in winter with the bold and unmistakable taste that could only be LIONS WINTER ALE.
Caramel malt aromas dominated by cocoa and vanilla. Complex layers of vanilla, bready malts, toffee, cocoa bean and a slight nuttiness. Moderate hop bitterness gives balance so that sweeter flavours do not overwhelm 473 ml, 5.5% alc./vol.
Wobbly Pop Culture 
Small head and I think it tastes more of chocolate than the chocolate cranberry beer on day one. Not my favourite, which is disappointing because Granville Island makes some nice beer.
Day three transports us to the West Coast for this quite delicious Winter Ale. You can smell the vanilla during the pour that leaves a white/cream coloured head that stays a little while, but then disappears. The beer itself is caramel in colour with adequate carbonation. Nice flavour and easy drinking. Hints of chocolate with the vanilla and the hops are very understated. Great beer to have while you trim the tree.
Smell: Vanilla
Taste: Vanilla
Grade: Vanilla
Seriously, the tasting notes had me intrigued. I even went with Granville’s food pairing recommendation of clam chowder for the appetizer and pork chops for the main entree. But, wow, I found the vanilla smell and taste to be overpowering.
You know what? I was surprised to find this has an alcohol content of 5.5%. This tastes much lighter!
This is a sweet beer with caramel notes starting on the tounge with a clean vanilla finish.
I am enjoying this brew, but there’s nothing that will take me back to the Granville Winter Ale; not that it’s a bad beer, just that it isn’t standing out above the rest.
I found this beer to taste very chocolatey. It’s like someone stirred a squirt of Brown Cow into my beer. It doesn’t taste like vanilla to me. It’s sweet tasting, but not heavy. I kinda like it. I could see myself drinking this beer again.
Wow, that’s a lot of chocolate. Even looking at the glass it has the look of chocolate. Missed the vanilla that everyone talks about…oh well. Enjoyed the beer, not sure I would again though