I receive a lot of questions asking what my favorite beer style is. My response is always the same, it changes with the seasons. As a professional and homebrewer, I feel as many do, lighter beer in the summer and darker during winter. The stats from my brewery show darker styles increase 3 fold during Fall and Winter, but why? I believe the reason is comfort.
In numerous studies sunlight has been linked to depression. Winter brings days that are shorter and colder causing a depressed feeling. Our bodies counteract this feeling by urging us to seek comfort and warmth. A dark beer has aromatics such as bready, nutty, caramelly, chocolaty, and smokey. These smells can cause fond memories of childhood, resulting in comfort. Darker beers also average higher in alcohol % than their lighter counterpart. This alcohol (ethanol) is perceived as a warming sensation when swallowed. With the comforting smells and warmth of alcohol, darker beer sales surge during winter months. Let the changing of the seasons be your guide while moving forward into a brewery filled life.