Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Boonville, California USA

2005: Pour is clear ruby amber with a thin tan head...smell is spicy with some holiday aromas that I can’t quite put my finger on...taste is definately herbal with some spicy vegetable nots...I am really having a hard time describing this one...pretty good though...

bomber courtesy of Saarlander, thanks Aaron. a hazy brown with a nice looking tan head which faded quickly. not much of a spice beer fan, but this had a good flavor with an almost medium body. pretty good.

Draft, Baja Bean, Staunton VA. Murky orange/brown with little head. Nose is faintly fruity, faintly caramel malt, little spice, and no hops. Flavor is mainly fruity-sweet (peach/apricot), but not overly so, with some nice caramel and mild chocolate malt flavors. It kind of ends up tasting like a cream soda. Not what I was expecting in a winter seasonal, but not at all disappointing. A little on the weird side with all the fruitiness, but solid nonetheless.

[Bottle] Pours a dark orange brown color. A good nice clean head. The aromas where a good mix of malts and spices. There where litle to no hops in the nose of the brew. Loved the flaaovrs this was a very easy to drink winter beer. Not your typical knock you out the door types.

Deep organge-amber in color, with a tan head that dissipates readily. Aromas of fruit predominate. Flavors of apricot, peach, raisin, coriander, grapefruit, pear. Lovely balance of fruit, spice, hops, and a full mouth feel. Good body without being syrupy. One of the best winter seasonal ales I’ve tried.

2005 Bottle. Hazy copper pour with a short creamy beige head. Nose picked up a plethora of darker malts and spices... caramel, nuttiness, brown sugar, and mulling spices were all present, with hints of dry, leafy hoppage. Soft caramel and wintery spicage are the most distinct characteristics of the flavor... with woody hops, charred toffee, and vanilla coming through, too. Syrupy feel at the front of the palate transitions to a buttery/creamy texture across the middle to the finish (felt a lot like the Summer Solstice, but with more spices). Mildly astringent toward the finish. Not bad, but a tad thick and sweet for my taste.

12 oz bottle, 2005 vintage, from...??...(Dec 2005). Cellar temperature from a Corsendonk Christmas Ale glass. Ruddy, deep red-inflected dark umber, light bubbling action lasting some minutes, smallish lasting near-white head....aromas of black walnuts, raspberries and tarragon waft out, a strange confusion but interesting and not uninviting....luscious thick fruitiness is balanced by a fairly harsh, burnt, woody hoppiness and acerbic spicing on the tongue, hints of baker’s bitter chocolate and strong finishing mineralic qualities make this one that is a bit of a challenge to quaff easily....syrupy initial mouthfeel does dry out somewhat at the end thanks to all the harsh astringent elements....quite distinctive and interesting overall though I think it would profit from a few months of mellowing.

Bottle (12oz). Poured dark copper with an average lasting foamy-creamy tan head. Mild medley aroma of light caramel roast malt, apple and apricot, and Christmasy spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice) - pleasant, heck, even a hint of dry floral hops and the alcohol is not quite hiding in behind it all. Taste has a strong amount of vanilla extract, slightly scorched - plus the light malt and spices, very much like a fruity/spicy Christmas cake with a bitter alcoholic finish after the sweet start. Mouthfeel is fairly flat, sugary, syrupy and sticky. Very nice! Dessert beer.