Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

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

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

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

From a red 355 ml can. Pours out a hazed nutty amber hue, two fingers of spongy light beige head that settle to a thick cap.

Caramel malt on the nose, a bit of chocolate, along with some nutmeg, coriander, citrus rind, and a bit of a cidery character.

Caramel and some sweet chocolate up front in the flavour, spices are milder on the finish, some nuttiness.

Medium-bodied mouthfeel, texture is a bit thin yet sticky, with medium carbonation that is able to hold it all together at least.

Mild in terms for the style, some malty goodness going on, an easy drinker for a Winter Warmer.

Serving type: can

03-10-2013 21:38:40 | More by IronDjinn

phishsihq

Colorado

3.94/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This seasonal release from Anderson Valley pours a clear amber with a touch of orange noticeable as well. A khaki colored head fades quickly but leaves a decent lace. Spice on the nose provides hints of orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, and citrus. Rich malt flavors and a touch of vanilla lead into flavors that include orange, amaretto, caramel, nutmeg, and spices. The citrus hops help balance out the sweetness and mellow the spices to not overpower the palate. Medium-light mouthfeel, Winter Solstice is moderately carbonated. Perfect for a cold winter night!

Serving type: can

02-17-2013 19:26:24 | More by phishsihq

Huffs

New York

4.04/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sam Adams glass, developed a nice tan head which lasted and laced well. Appearance was a hazy amber red color. Aroma was mild and somewhat malty and fruity. Taste was strong of caramel with hints of spice an vanilla. Mouthfeel was creamy and had a clinging effect to the tough. Aftertaste was lasting and sweet.

Serving type: can

02-01-2013 00:57:36 | More by Huffs

chinchill

South Carolina

3.89/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz can served at about 42F in a snifter. Poured out clear but dark, reddish amber with a moderate size, beige head. The head, unfortunately, dies too quickly but not completely, and decent lacing is left on the glass.

The smell of this beer was a spicy and malty mix that hinted of spiced cider.
The taste largely followed, with spices and malts clearly present, but it also has some nice baked bread tones and a good bit of chocolate. Apple is only faintly hinted, and the sweet aroma arises from a brew that has good sweet/bitter balance.

The mouthfeel was very good in terms of carbonation (medium) and had a nice, if delicate, touch of dryness in the finish, but it seemed a little too thin.

Overall: a pleasant and distinct brew that improved with warming. (near 4)

Serving type: can

01-31-2013 22:43:12 | More by chinchill

ichorNet

Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Clear as day orange-tinted gold/brown/rusty copper with solid retentive head and pretty consistent, impressive lacing

Scent: Fruity esters, rum cake, some ethanol heat, figs, bready and caramel maltiness, some light spiciness perhaps. Nicely complex and interesting

Taste: A veritable malt-bouquet; deep and rich flavors ranging from biscuity to almost-chocolatey; fruity, nutty and earthy; very round and enjoyable

Mouthfeel: Light-medium carbonation brings out some of the flavors and allows the beer to approach a satisfying finish complete with warming alcohol

Drinkability: Pretty great. Nothing is too heavy and all the flavors you expect for the season are accounted for

Overall: AV Winter Solstice is like a ramped-up version of the Summer version; a more warming, maltier and thicker affair nevertheless affected by some very similar flavors and tones. There are definite positives to this, including the complexity of flavors being offered, and it drinks as expected of a stronger ale for the Winter months.

Read full review @ http://blogs.lowellsun.com/beer/2012/12/15/anderson-valley-winter-solstice/

Serving type: can

01-24-2013 06:44:46 | More by ichorNet

ToasterChef

Maine

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A cold can is poured into a pint glass.

The beer is quite foamy, with a nice cascading head that is changing into liquid. Within the liquid, lots of clinging carbonation can be seen, as well as a decent amount of rising bubbles. Decent lacing is left behind.

The beer has a pleasant aroma. In the nose, there seems to be a good amount of spices layered over a strong malt base.

Like the nose suggests, this is a malty, spiced brew. I can taste brown sugar, cinnamon, and a slight toffee flavor. It is a velvety sweetness. Some alcohol can be detected, although it isn't out of place in the overall flavor.

This is a heavier beer, with plenty of carbonation. The alcohol provides a nice warming sensation. The high amount of malt does leave my mouth a little sticky.

This is a nice winter warmer. It certainly meets my needs on a snowy night like tonight. I can see myself enjoying a few of these in an evening...good thing I have one more can down in the cellar.

Serving type: can

01-17-2013 01:13:13 | More by ToasterChef

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked up a can of Anderson Valley's Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale last week for $1.79 at The Lager Mill. I've had pretty good history with Anderson Valley and since it will be the Winter Solstice in a little bit I decided to give this beer a try tonight, so lets see how it goes. No visible canning date. Poured from a 12oz can into an imperial pint glass.

A- The can has that typical Anderson Valley look to it with a slight winter theme to it, not too bad. It poured a muddy caramel color that took on a some amber hues when held to the light with a finger and a half of light tan head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and left a little bit of lacing. This is a nice looking beer, but I would have liked a little more head.

S- The aroma starts off with loads of malts that have a higher amount of medium sweetness and impart some brown bread, caramel, brown sugar, and some lightly toasted malt aromas. After that comes a nice dark fruit aroma followed by a medium amount of spices with nutmeg and allspice seeming to stick out the most. The aroma was nice with a good amount of spices but it could have a little more complexity to it.

T- The taste seems to be fairly similar to the aroma and it starts of with loads of malts that have a medium amount of sweetness and impart some caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and lightly toasted malt flavors. After that comes a really light amount of dark fruits that barely sticks out and is followed by some lighter spices with nutmeg sticking out the most. On the finish I get a light amount of earthy hops that impart a pretty light amount of bitterness with a sweet and malty aftertaste. The taste was nice, I liked the balance but I could have gone for just a little more spices.

M- Pretty smooth, very creamy, on the slightly fuller side of being medium bodied with a slightly higher amount of medium carbonation that was just a little prickly. The mouthfeel was nice, but I could have gone without the prickly carbonation.

Overall I thought this was a nice beer and an above average example of a Winter Warmer, it had pretty good balance between the malts and spices and didn't get to carried away with either of them. This beer had good drinkability, it was pretty smooth and the flavors did a decent job at holding my attention, I could drink a couple of these but after that the thickness might become too much. What I liked the most about this beer was how well rounded it was, it really didn't have any weak points. What I liked the least about this beer was that the spices didn't shine through a little more, I think that would take this beer to the next level. I would buy some more when it's released next year, but I don't think I'll be rushing to the store and clearing them out of Winter Solstice, but I do recommend giving this beer a try, I think it would appeal to a wide range of people. All in all I thought this was a nice beer, It's not my favorite Winter Warmer but it was still a nice beer that enjoyed drinking. This was another solid beer from Anderson Valley, good work guys.

Serving type: can

12-21-2012 04:48:26 | More by StoutHunter

jsanford

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark mahogany with a fluffy off-white head that settles to a solid cap. Aromas of cranberries, sweet caramel malt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Definitely "Wintery". Taste is similarly sweet, with notes of cream soda, cranberry, and holiday spices. Reminds me a bit of Highland Cold Mountain. Mouthfeel is smooth, fairly creamy, with a medium-full mouthfeel and low carbonation. Nice Winter beer, probably gonna have a few this year.

Serving type: can

12-05-2012 02:17:17 | More by jsanford

Chrispy

4.23/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a copper red with a little white creamy head that disappears quickly.

Caramel vanilla sweet smell and taste. Holiday spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are coming through as well.

Great mouthfeel, very easy to drink.

Overall it is very nicely balanced with sweetness and spices to where you could easily drink this anytime during the holidays and enjoy it.

Serving type: can

11-28-2012 05:49:24 | More by Chrispy

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz can. 'Ale with Natural Flavor Added'. Not really all that promising or inspiring, eh?

This beer pours a clear, medium red brick amber hue, with two fingers of puffy, somewhat chunky beige head, which leaves some streaky hanging lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of heavy caramel malt, baker's chocolate, sweet vanilla, indistinct sugary nuts, and a bit of fruity hoppiness. The taste is sweet caramel/toffee malt, brown sugar, more saccharine vanilla, weakened cocoa, a muddled array of savoury holiday spices, though nothing distinct enough to note, and lightly bitter citrusy, earthy hops.

The carbonation is really quite tame, the body a hefty medium weight, flirting with fullness, and dead smooth. It finishes still on the sweet side, the caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and masked spice doing well enough to keep things sane, drinkable, and desirable, as the extra ABV tries to peek in.

An enjoyable, and at the same time confounding winter ale. It tastes good, but it's quite difficult to tell you why, so sweet, cake-ish, and low-key spice it is. 'Tis seasonal, this much I know, and I could easily put back a few more of these in the coming craziness.

Serving type: can

11-28-2012 02:17:37 | More by biboergosum

VeganBrewz

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear reddish-orange pint with about a finger and a half of slightly tan, somewhat rocky head. Not much lacing, but that's ok.

Smell: Straight out of the can I found this one to be pretty average - some nice malt, definite hoppy aroma, but nothing to write home about. HOWEVER - once it starts to warm up a bit, this beer really starts to walk and talk. Once it had a chance to sit out a bit I was treated to aromas of grain, cocoa and dark chocolate, brown sugar and caramel malt. Hoppy aromas are definetly present though nothing specific stands out.

Taste: Very similar to the smell side of the equation, this beer started off as nice, but more or less average and got better and better as it warmed. Initial hoppy bitterness fades fairly quickly, and some malty sweetness forms a base for dark caramel, toast, hints of dark chocolate and very slight woody/smoky flavors. Very nice.

Mouthfeel: This was pretty nice. A bit of an alcohol tingle on the front of the tongue, with a nice sweet/bitter wash throughout the mouth followed by a slight alcohol aroma on the inward breath. Finishes clean and doesn't linger.

Overall: Seems to be a pretty decent representation of the style. I would definetly buy this again. Hell, if anyone has a recipe for it, I'd homebrew it.

Serving type: can

11-21-2012 19:09:40 | More by VeganBrewz

Luigi

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a rich Amber color with a creamy three finger head. Head retention settles down to a thick blanket a top off the ale, leaving rings with every sip.

The aroma is sweet with caramel, nut meg, cinnamon, toasted bread, and a little booze.

At first taste, a get a sweet mix of caramel, holiday spices, complemented with a little alcohol sweetness, giving it an almost candy like finish. The finish is mildly dry and has a hint of hop spice that will linger.

Full bodied and chewy on the palate. Easy to drink, just take your time.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Has done it again! There has yet to brew from this company that did not exceed my expectations. Cheers to staying warm during the winter months.

Serving type: can

11-21-2012 03:28:49 | More by Luigi

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma has some cocoa and lightly roasted malt, as well as some winter spices that I can't quite identify. The flavor is very similar. The cocoa and dark fruit notes are pretty nice. I also get some brown sugar, cinnamon and caramel malt. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: can

11-19-2012 04:23:12 | More by Mora2000

UCLABrewN84

California

3/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly murky brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a thick cap on top of the beer. Foamy patches of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, fruits, and some slight funky aromas. I think there may be an issue with this beer based on the smell. Taste is much the same with a mild spice finish and a slightly funky flavor that isn't as bad as the smell would indicate. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer as it stands with what seems like a mild infection issue. Even though the funk doesn't come through as much in the taste vs. smell, there is definitely a problem with the can I picked up.

Serving type: can

10-20-2012 04:27:58 | More by UCLABrewN84

bushbeer75

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz can

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice filled my glass mug with a clear dark amber color that formed a one finger tan head that left minimal lacing. The nose is of malt, caramel and a hint of fruit. The taste matches the nose, however is stronger. The flavor of caramel and toffee is dominant with light warming spiciness. The body is lighter, almost a little watery for the style.

Winter Solstice is a Winter Warmer that is lighter in spiciness and body than what I am accustom to in this style, however the Ale is very drinkable.

Serving type: can

09-04-2012 17:04:11 | More by bushbeer75

beagle75

Iowa

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. can into a nonic glass.

A: Slightly hazy, light amber color with one finger of diminishing light beige foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Caramel is well developed. Mixed fruit is cooked but not spiced; butterscotch underscores more obvious qualities.

T: Begins off-dry, with remarkably transformed malt that is bold but not at all grainy. Fermentation qualities from the smell develops early; honest yeast esters followed by a trace of complementary diacetyl. Acidity is restrained into the middle where malt and yeast features grow in complexity, intensely toasty and a bit vinous, but become more nuanced in intensity. Fruit darkens considerably by the end, sweetens up a bit with the affectation of brown sugar, and spices in the form of black pepper, nutmeg, and lesser cloves are exhibited for the first time.

M: Medium viscosity, slightly syrupy on the palate, with low carbonation.

D/O: More old ale than winter warmer, this beer makes an impressive collection of English ale qualities. This should come as no surprise to those who have crossed the path of Anderson Valley's ESB. While not perfect, it delivers a combination of features that are rare in American-brewed ales, much less those packaged in a can.

Serving type: can

07-28-2012 21:01:25 | More by beagle75

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a clear copper ruby, with a couple fingers of rich and foamy off-white head. This retains with a big frothy finger, which just drenches the sides of the glass with thick sticky lacing. The aroma smells lightly grassy with some festive feeling spices. Bready sweetness and a touch of dark fruitiness, like cherry, mix in as well. This has a bit of a gingerbread feel to it in the nose.

The taste is dark fruit, sweet doughy sugars, and spices, with a bit of green citrus working itself into here as well. Flavors are here but this lacks some pop. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with soft and creamy carbonation and just a light crispness on the tongue. This is really easy feeling in the mouth overall.

Eh. I liked the flavors that were present in this but I just wish that there was more to them. They just lacked robustness and a reason to go back after each sip of this. The easy feeling body kept this in the game some but otherwise, this was fairly forgettable.

Serving type: can

04-25-2012 14:34:39 | More by Kegatron

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high beige head that died down but never completely faded away and left a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong and interesting aromas of brown sugar, caramel, nutmeg, toffee and vanilla in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has a bit of malty sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied, smooth and a bit creamy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a bit of warming from the alcohol.
O: This beer is definitely very drinkable compared to others in the style and has some interesting aromas and flavors.

Serving type: can

04-11-2012 01:46:16 | More by metter98

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce can into pint glass, no canning date. Pours hazy red-orange color with a nice 1-2 finger dense khaki head with good retention that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Minimal lacing on the glass. Aromas of caramel, biscuit, brown sugar, toasted malt, dark fruit, and light spices. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance. Taste of caramel, toasted malt, toffee, biscuit, molasses, raisin, fig, light chocolate, nutmeg, and herbal spiciness. Lingering notes of caramel, molasses, biscuit, and spices on the finish for a bit. Nice and enjoyable balance of flavors. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden at 6.9% with only a slight warming after the finish. Very smooth to drink as well. Overall this is a very nice and enjoyable winter warmer offering. Plenty of enjoyable and balanced flavors.

Serving type: can

03-19-2012 01:18:28 | More by superspak

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought a single bottle of this as part of a M&M 6-pack from Binny’s in Downer’s Grove, IL for $9.99 in Early 2012.

Pours a medium brown with a thick fluffy head. Scent is mostly malts with some hints of spice. Taste has a great blend of malts and spices as well as some bready tones. Quite smooth and drinkable. A well made beer for a cold night.

Serving type: can

02-13-2012 21:43:54 | More by Lemke10

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a can into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a medium red-orange amber, lively carbonation with a two finger light tan head that dissipated fairly quickly leaving light lacing. Looked nice. Pleasant aroma of seasonal spices, light fruit and caramel malt. Unusual flavor of sweet malt, light fruit dominated by apple, vanilla, undifferentiated seasonal spices, and a slight eathiness sweet but not cloying. Light to medium bodied with decent carbonation. Flavor is somewhat mild, but the elements work together well and the moderate vanilla makes it a bit unusual. I enjoyed this take on a winter warmer and will buy it again.

Serving type: can

02-05-2012 03:51:12 | More by LiquidAmber

GilGarp

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz can served slightly chilled into a pint glass.

Winter Solstice is a hazy dark amber color with thin white head.

Aroma is sweet with caramel and dark fruit.

Flavor has similar notes with milk chocolate, caramel, and cherries. A little bit of hop bitterness but mostly balanced towards the sweet end.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and low in carbonation.

Overall a really good winter warmer. All of the right flavors and enjoyable even at cellar temp.

Serving type: can

01-28-2012 03:31:22 | More by GilGarp

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Actually a nice looking beer. Nice red body with an offwhite head floating on top.lots of bubbles coming from the nucleation point in the center of my DFH chalice looking glass.

Smells sweet, like cane sugar and honey sweet. Dry grains and a hint of ginger in there. But thats pushing it, no real spices. I think thats probably because its a bit late for Winter seasonals. Sad I know. Overall, smells sticky sweet.

Very light body, almost watery. Spices are very muted, but still there. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice are low, but there. Ginger gives it a full body. Subtle spices are overpowered by honey sweetness and a grainy body reminiscent of Great Lakes. Kind of like a watered down GL Christmas Ale. Hm I like it.

Leaves a nice grainy feeling that seriously reminds me of Great Lakes.

Serving type: can

01-25-2012 22:28:16 | More by VncentLIFE

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Trying the Winter Solstice from a brewery that I dont think gets enough credit or publicity. The beer pours a clear amber topped by a finger of off-white foam that is lacing nicely. The scent is not all that present....subtle notes of caramel malt and holiday spices. The taste includes cinnamon, light nutmeg, ginger and vanilla extract. The mouthfeel is a medium to light body with moderate carbonation. Overall it is another decent beer from AV.

Serving type: can

01-22-2012 01:29:29 | More by WoodBrew