Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
88
good
-
1,032 Ratings

THE BROS
94
exceptional
-
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rAvg: 3.9
pDev: 14.36%
Reviews: 646
Hads: 386

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Anderson Valley Brewing Company

California, United States

Style | ABV
Winter Warmer | 6.90% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (528), on-tap (66), can (49), growler (3).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (35) | Reviews (6) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by clvand0:

clvand0

Kentucky

2.55/5 rDev -34.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This beer pours a murky amber color with a small tan head and moderate lacing on the glass. The aroma is somewhat malty and very sweet. The flavor has a hint of some sort of nut. It is very full bodied, but I don't think it fits my taste well. It rates about average in my book. There are also a lot of spices in the flavor. This beer is not very drinkable but it leaves an ok taste on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2003 18:14:36 | More by clvand0

More User Reviews:

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.5/5 rDev +15.4%

05-16-2013 16:08:34 | More by Slatetank

gpblackgt

Pennsylvania

3.75/5 rDev -3.8%

05-13-2013 23:10:05 | More by gpblackgt

Mullinger1980

Ohio

4.75/5 rDev +21.8%

05-11-2013 10:53:36 | More by Mullinger1980

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5 rDev -16.7%

05-10-2013 14:26:41 | More by twenty5

Laklimell

Washington

4/5 rDev +2.6%

05-07-2013 00:30:13 | More by Laklimell

dacrza1

New Jersey

3.9/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

date reviewed: 27 January 2013...
glassware: Ayinger willibecker...
occasion: anticipating another "winter event" tomorrow...
appearance: medium-brown body with even, cirrus lacing; not much effervescence; thick head dissipates quickly...
aroma: brilliant,, fragrantly fruity bouquet; some spices too; malt and hops seem balanced in their non-entity....
palate: warming, full-bodied, raspy and ragged mouthfeel; bubbly and active at the tongue...
taste: currants, raisins, and doughy accents make this an enjoyable, flavorful experience--some berry hints too, but a bit medicinal in the finish...
overall: Anderson Valley has done a lot right, and this beer follows in the tradition; respectable...

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 04:37:17 | More by dacrza1

trevorpost

Massachusetts

3.5/5 rDev -10.3%

05-03-2013 23:41:56 | More by trevorpost

2beerdogs

California

3.5/5 rDev -10.3%

04-29-2013 05:44:47 | More by 2beerdogs

Syracuse12

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev -3.8%

04-28-2013 20:48:48 | More by Syracuse12

ltdantheman

Georgia

4/5 rDev +2.6%

04-25-2013 15:07:18 | More by ltdantheman

RandyBoBandy

Florida

3.25/5 rDev -16.7%

04-23-2013 02:29:28 | More by RandyBoBandy

soccerfancooch

Wisconsin

4.25/5 rDev +9%

04-17-2013 22:13:04 | More by soccerfancooch

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.28/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date, but this is the 2012 winter seasonal release, I'm sure. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a quarter inch of off-white / khaki colored head that quickly dissolves into a thin layer of foam, bubbling it's way out of existence. Body is a very dark ruby / blood orange / chestnut color.

S - Smell is of winter spice, cinnamon and nutmeg, some earthy, barrel aged oak, cream & vanilla smells come secondary. Bit of alcohol astringency, and some cherry & fermented dark fruit. Cherry vanilla smell is dominant, but doesn't always come off as smelling natural.

T - The beer is light bodied and smooth, with a faint hint of alcohol warmth, and bit of medicinal cherry flavored syrup. Some woody, barrel aged vanilla poking about in there, but it doesn't seem totally genuine, if you ask me. A decent tasting beer, but definitely not the best tasting beer I've ever had. A simple brew.

M - Feel comes off somewhat hot and carbonated. Not a horrible tasting beer, but not one I would recommend sessioning. Fruity, bitter, & dry aftertaste on this beer.

Overall, it isn't a horrible beer, but it is definitely not a beer I will ever consider drinking again. Seems very imbalanced, with a lot of off-putting aspects: too sweet & sugary, with a medicinal artificial cherry vanilla syrup like taste. Underwhelming, for damn sure. My second beer from Anderson Valley Brewing Co., and not one I will be having again any time soon. Looking forward to other endeavors from this brewery.

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:18:35 | More by mfnmbvp

EigenBeer

Florida

3.75/5 rDev -3.8%

04-11-2013 23:37:53 | More by EigenBeer

dogfishandi

New York

3.51/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can poured into a snifter. No canned on date, but I gotta assume it was from sometime this early winter.

Pours out a hazy deep red color, maybe a little orange and brown. A decent looking yellowish light tan head, spotty lacing.

Smells of sweet malts, dark dried fruits, brown sugar, with a bit of a fruity ester aroma.

Sweet caramel malt, dark fruits, plum, brown sugar, fruity esters, a bit of apple, and just a hint of warmth from the alcohol.

Medium bodied, just a touch too much carbonation for the style.

Kind of like a light version of an old ale. Not really my cup of tea, especially when it comes to winter Warner's, I prefer them with some roast and maybe a bit of x-mas spice.

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 21:59:18 | More by dogfishandi

pkalix

California

4.78/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

beautiful honey-toffee color, minimal head, but a thick tan layer and a nice cover on the sides.
smells very sweet with honey and toffee on the top.
taste reminds me of an english type of brew, with the typical english malts. i actually really like this. another good, long draught to determine whether i can consciously give this a five! alright, i'm not even buzzed yet and this stuff is AWESOME!! if it were a 4.9% brew i'd knock it down a bit, but at 6.9% this is very nice. slight bitterness on the side of the tongue, but an overall subtle sweetness and this really satisfies. i'd honestly give this a 98 or 99 for the taste, but since i cannot, i'm giving it a 5. 4.5 for appearance and smell as i really like the thickness on the sides and the smell promises happiness before the first quaff. i am very impressed with this, especially since it's all gone on sale at Total Wine because, i suppose, we're done with the 'seasonals' . . . .

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 02:54:53 | More by pkalix