Big, bold beverages to ward off the winter chill

Anyone who has spent the last few days shoveling snow in gale-force winds or pushing out cars or buses from snowbanks can attest to just how bone-chilling this recent polar vortex (or Alberta clipper or whatever you want to call it) has been.

Whether you’ve managed to get your neighbour unstuck, have dug out your own vehicle or have simply navigated this city in the midst of our current snowy, icy deep freeze, here are a half-dozen robust, warming drinks to reward yourself with — and to help take the edge off that wicked wintry chill. (Next week: the annual sparkling wine roundup for all your New Year’s needs.)

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The Brazen Brewing Co. Jól Belgian Tripel (Winnipeg — $4.99/473ml can, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts) is back again.

A “non-traditional” Belgian-style tripel featuring the addition of oranges, it’s deep copper and clear in appearance. Aromatically, that citrus comes through with deep, almost-sweet malt, dried fruit and a hint of spice.

It’s medium-bodied and off-dry, with the bright citrus flavours showing well and bringing some acidity to balance the more robust malt flavours. The secondary dried fruit notes show well with the touch of spice on the long, warm finish (it’s a dangerously drinkable 8.5 per cent alcohol). 4/5

Another seasonal return, the Trans Canada Brewing Co. 2025 Cranberry Stout (Winnipeg — $7.94/500ml bottle, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts) is a cranberry-infused stout brewed every year around this time, and it never fails to impress.

Deep chocolate brown in appearance with a beige head, it’s chock full of delightful dark roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla and cranberry aromas. It’s full-bodied and off-dry, with chewy cranberry and chocolate flavours front and centre, a lovely creamy texture, some bright acidity from the berries and, at seven per cent alcohol, a medium-length, warming finish.

The flavours are brilliantly balanced and are showing well now, but those with patience might be rewarded by setting it aside until next December too. Good luck with that — it’s delicious. 5/5

The biggest of this week’s brews is the Kilter Brewing Co. Bellaria III Barrel-Aged Barleywine Imperial Stout Blend (Winnipeg — $15/500ml bottle, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts).

This hybrid brew, dubbed a “winter 2026 blend,” was aged in peach and apple brandy barrels along with cinnamon and Guatemalan coffee for an incredible 44 months. It’s inky coffee brown-black in appearance and wildly viscous (think balsamic vinegar here), with modest effervescence that comes with complex espresso, toffee, dark chocolate, dried tree fruit and white pepper notes aromatically.

It’s dense, chewy and very full-bodied, bringing Vietnamese coffee, vanilla, dried peach, balsamic, spice and plum flavours, with almost a hint of tannin. At 10.5 per cent alcohol, it has a very long and warm finish thanks to the flavours that coat the palate. Not for the faint of heart, this sipping beer is great for cold weather now, or could be aged 2-3 years or more. You won’t try many brews like this beast, especially made locally. 5/5

For a robust white wine, the Domaine Cécile Paquet 2023 Bourgogne Chardonnay (Burgundy, France — around $32, private wine stores) is a stunner.

Bright gold in appearance, this organic white Burgundy offers beautiful red apple and pear notes along with marmalade, biscuit, spice and a hint of vanilla. It’s medium-bodied and dry, with lovely marmalade and chalky notes supporting the up-front red apple, pear and peach flavours, with some underlying melon notes in there as well.

The oak is quite subtle and restrained, but the texture is outstanding, likely as a result of malolactic fermentation (the conversion of sharper malic acid to creamier lactic acid), and the 13 per cent alcohol brings surprising warmth. It offers great depth of flavour and complexity — an exceptional wine, especially when compared to other Chardonnays at this price point. Available at G.J. Andrews, Element Wine + Spirits, the Winehouse and Calabria Market. 4.5/5

On the red side of things, the Mitolo 2022 Jester Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) is inky purple in colour, bringing deep black cherry and iron notes aromatically, with secondary violet, plum, red licorice and meaty notes.

Full-bodied and dry, the ripe black cherry and blueberry flavours in this Aussie Shiraz come with licorice, earth and iron notes, hints of black tea, tar, vanilla and spice (from 16 months in barrels), modest tannins.

At 14.8 per cent alcohol, it has a long finish that’s quite warm. It’s got big fruit and much more — drink now or set aside for 2-3 years. Bonus: it’s currently on sale (regular $22.99). 4/5

For a stronger tipple, the Pike Creek Rum Barrel Finish 10 Year Old Canadian Whisky (Toronto — $36.99, Liquor Marts) is medium copper in appearance — it’s aged in rum barrels in a non climate-controlled warehouse, meaning (for better or worse) it’s subject to the whims of Canadian weather.

Aromatically, it brings the vanilla and baking spice of rum along with some tropical fruit, fresh malt and hints of rye-like spice. It’s a medium-bodied whisky that’s off-dry, thanks in large part to the rum-barrel aging, bringing sugar cane, vanilla, brown sugar and maple notes along with dried mango, hints of baking spice and almost-sweet malts.

There’s some solid warmth to the finish (it’s 42 per cent). Flavour-wise, whisky purists might find this too rum-influenced, but it’s fun and goes down easy (and it’s currently on sale — regular $39.99). 3.5/5

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