Beer guide for the cold: what to drink when temperatures drop

Time Out

21-05-2025

This article is, without a doubt, a passionate defense of the winter team and beer lovers—a drink that knows no seasons or time of year.
The first thing we want to do is debunk a myth: beers are not only refreshing, light, and smooth; there are also other varieties with more complex structure and higher alcohol content, ideal for enjoying in winter or on cold days.
'If you like beer, in winter you should choose styles with more body. These drinks are characterized by having a more intense composition. To enjoy them fully, the best is to drink them at a temperature between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius,' explains Jaime Gironès, beer sommelier and member of the Mexican Sommeliers Association.
If you like beer, in winter you should choose styles with more body
There are more than 150 beer styles worldwide that vary in alcohol content, malt roast level, spices, or additives. Some styles that go well with winter are:
Winter Ale (a malty, spiced beer with a warm and comforting flavor)
Porter (a dark beer with sweet caramel notes balanced by roasted malts)
Others that pair very well with cold temperatures and can be found in many restaurants, bars, and supermarkets in Argentina are:
Imperial Cream Stout (a creamy beer with coffee and chocolate flavors thanks to its roasted malts)
Imperial Red (an amber-colored beer, light-bodied, with delicate notes of caramel and nuts)
'Stouts tend to be dark and very powerful, with intense flavors. Reds are an excellent option because their malty and lightly roasted taste pairs very well with cold weather,' adds Gironès, also mentioning other varieties like Altbier.
A key factor in enjoying these drinks (anytime of year, but especially in winter) is the temperature. All beers should be served between 2 and 16 degrees Celsius, always. Serving them below that range dulls flavors and aromas. Serving above it makes the bubbles disappear, emphasizes the alcohol taste, and the beer starts to oxidize.
What is considered a winter beer?
Alcohol content and color are two fundamental and easy-to-recognize factors, according to Gironès.
'The higher the alcohol content of a beer, the more liquor-like it tends to be and the more warmth it projects in the mouth. Also, in those cases, the serving temperature tends to be higher. Regarding color, malts with a certain level of roast — reddish, coppery, and dark — can be good winter beers,' he specifies.
When the alcohol content of a beer is higher, it tends to be more liquor-like and projects more warmth in the mouth
Other things to keep in mind: the glass, as these beer styles often require 'bulbous' containers; and whether the beer was barrel-aged (just like wine), since these tend to be the best for enjoying in winter.
What pairs well with beer in winter?
When we think of winter foods, stews, braises, strong cheeses, chocolate desserts, and rich or heavily seasoned dishes come to mind.
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For each of these options, there is a 'winter' beer that pairs perfectly. For example, if the chosen meal is pasta with meat stew, an Imperial Red with its subtle caramel notes pairs very well. If the dish is barbecue or roasted meat, an Imperial Cream Stout can accompany it thanks to its roasted malts — the same goes for desserts with chocolate or coffee, like tiramisu.
Having said all that, the winter team can comfortably score another point: beer can definitely be enjoyed in cold weather, especially when paired with good food and good company.