The evenings have drawn in and the first frost has already settled on the windowsills – it's the time of year when the world seems to slow, soften and glow. At Tun Brewing Co., this is possibly our favourite season: of woollen layers, crackling hearths, shared meals, and the kinds of gatherings where stories are told long after the plates are cleared. The cold and the quiet outside seem to draw us closer together; and it’s in that spirit that we’re proud to introduce our new festive beer: Winter Warmer, a Spiced Porter (5.7%) crafted to bring comfort, cheer, and a touch of nostalgic magic to your winter nights.
A Brew Inspired by the Season
Winter Warmer was created with one main idea: to capture the essence of winter in a glass. We wanted to build a beer that could sit proudly at the centre of a festive table and accompany long conversations with good friends.
A robust porter felt like the natural foundation, it being dark, smooth, rich, and endlessly evocative of cold-weather comfort. But we wanted something more: a beer that didn’t just suit the season but belonged to it.
So we reached for spices long associated with winter celebrations across cultures: ginger, cinnamon, and citrus peel. These ingredients, added delicately and thoughtfully by hand, invite warmth and brightness to the darker depths of the porter style, creating a festive harmony that is familiar but also excitingly new.
Behind the Brew: A Closer Look at the Recipe
Beer, at its best, is a conversation between its ingredients. In Winter Warmer, each component has a voice, carefully balanced so that no single flavour dominates, and the result is more than the sum of its parts.
The Malt Backbone
Our malt bill is built around four carefully chosen varieties of malted barley:
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Maris Otter Malted Barley – The classic foundation, prized for its depth, biscuit character, and ability to support richer flavours without heaviness.
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Crystal 150 Malted Barley – Adds caramel sweetness, a touch of toffee, and that signature festive richness.
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Brown Malted Barley – Contributes nutty, toasted complexity reminiscent of freshly baked bread.
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Chocolate Malted Barley – Provides dark chocolate tones and roasted coffee notes that deepen the body and colour.
Together, these malts create a layered, comforting base; evoking chocolate desserts, roasted chestnuts, and the aroma of mulled spices drifting through a bustling winter market.
A Touch of Tradition: East Kent Goldings
For bitterness and balance, we turned to East Kent Goldings, a hop variety steeped in history and renowned for its refined, earthy character. Used in the boil, it lends Winter Warmer a gentle herbal bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check and ensures a smooth, drinkable finish.
Whirlpool Spices: The Heart of Winter Warmer
The magic of this beer lies in its carefully selected seasonal additions, added during the whirlpool stage (after the beer is boiled and just before it’s transferred to the fermenter) and steeped for 40 minutes, to coax out vivid yet harmonious aromas:
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Dried Ginger Root – A warming, lively spice that brings subtle heat and festive flair.
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Orange Peel – Bright, citrusy, and reminiscent of holiday pomanders and mulled drinks.
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Cinnamon Sticks – Aromatic, comforting, and instantly evocative of winter baking and festive gatherings.
These spices are not overwhelming as they are woven gently through the porter’s malt richness, creating a beer that feels celebratory without venturing into confectionery territory.
Fermentation with S-04
We chose S-04 yeast for its clean, reliable fermentation and its ability to allow both malt and spice to shine. The result is a well-rounded, medium-bodied porter with a smooth mouthfeel and just the right balance of sweetness, spice, and roast.
Crafted Sustainably: Rooted in the Farm Where It’s Brewed
Sustainability is woven into the brewing process behind Winter Warmer. The brewery sits on a working farm, and all spent grain from each brew is fed directly to the farm’s cows, ensuring nothing goes to waste and supporting a circular, low-impact production cycle. At the same time, the festive spices are added by hand, eliminating unnecessary packaging and machinery while keeping the process as tactile, careful, and human as the season itself.
This connection to land and craft is part of what makes Winter Warmer so special: a beer brewed with respect for the farm it comes from and the people who enjoy it.
Tasting Notes: What to Expect
On the palate, Winter Warmer is smooth and medium-bodied, with flavours of chocolate, roasted coffee, and caramel leading the way. The spices emerge gradually: ginger adds warmth on the tongue, cinnamon lends softness and spice, and orange peel offers a subtle, almost sparkling lift to the finish.
The result is a beer that feels both nostalgic and refreshing – rooted in the traditions of winter ales and festive porters, yet distinctly its own.
And yes, Winter Warmer is entirely vegan, with no finings or animal-derived additives used in its production.
A Beer for Every Kind of Winter Celebration
Winter Warmer is designed to be versatile and deeply enjoyable whether you’re consuming it alongside a hearty meal with a crowd or settling in for a more cosy affair with a loved one and some indulgent snacks.
Here are a few perfect pairings and serving suggestions:
Perfect Food Pairings
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Gingerbread, fruitcake, or mince pies – The obvious choices of the season! These will echo and elevate the festive spices.
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Roast dinners – The beer’s caramel and roast notes will complement rich, savoury dishes. Why not make it your Christmas Day beverage!
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Dark chocolate desserts – The porter’s chocolate malt harmonises beautifully with deeper cocoa flavours.
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Cheese boards – Try it with mature cheddar, stilton, or nut-based vegan cheeses.
Serving Suggestion
Serve cool but not cold (around 10–12°C) to let those delicate spices and malt layers unfold fully.
Why We Brewed Winter Warmer
Every beer we make at Tun Brewing Company carries a story, and Winter Warmer is no exception. In recent years, many of us have rediscovered the beauty of slowing down: choosing quality over quantity, connection over noise. Winter Warmer was born from that mindset – a beer to be savoured.
And this is the perfect time of year for it. We wanted to create something that would genuinely enhance the season: a beer that evokes the feeling of stepping in from the cold, and gathering with people who make the dark days bright.
Raise a Glass to the Season
Winter is a time of stark contrasts: darkness and light, cold and warmth, quiet and celebration. With Winter Warmer, we hope to offer a beer that complements all of these moments – a festive companion full of depth, comfort, and seasonal cheer.
Whether you’re sharing it with family, gifting it to a friend, or enjoying it by the fireside as the snow (possibly a tad optimistic!) settles softly outside, we hope Winter Warmer brings an extra touch of magic to your winter months.
Here’s to good company, glowing hearths, and the small joys that make this season special.
