Anderson Valley Winter Solistace Review #74

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Winter Seasonal Beer
ABV: 6.9%
12oz Bottle Poured Into Dogfish Head Tumbler Pint Glass

Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Boonville, California
Trey White And Partners
1987

Each year, when people are starting to unpack their winter clothes and replenish their firewood, our tiny brewery in the coastal redwoods of Northern California makes seasonal preparations of a different kind. As the cold arrives, we release a unique beverage created to add warmth to even the coldest and darkest of winter's days. Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale begins with a very high original gravity to create a hearty and spicy brew with a deep amber hue and a smooth finish. Anderson Valley Brewing Company wishes you the very best for the holiday season and the New Year. 

Appearance:
Rust Colored Body
Tightly Packed Off-White Bubble Wrung Quality Head
Head Runs Out Off Steam Quickly
Stringy/Leggy Lacing On The Glass 
Clear Enough To Read Through
Restrained Carbonation

Aroma:
Mediocre Aroma, You Have To Dig In To Achieve Smells
Spiced Plum Pudding
Waffle Cone Aroma
Coconut
Fresh Mountain Air
Pretzel
Black Cherry
Carrot Cake
Cinnamon 
Cream Soda
Toasted Cranberry

Mouth Feel:
Not Overly Spiced Filled
Medium Bodied
Sweet/Bitter Balance
Easily Able To Enjoy Multiple Beers In One Sitting
Finish Has A Kind Of Breakfast Feel, Like Eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Mouth Feel Is Fantastic Cream Soda Quality
Aftertaste Is Not That Sweet Or Sappy Like Most Brown Beers
Reddish Wine/Fruit Juice And Has A Sneaky Bitter Bite Quality Aftertaste
Exceedingly Refreshing And Drinkable
Sessionable- The 6.9% ABV Will Not Get You Terribly Drunk That You Are To Wasted To Function
Weird Complex
"Fun House" Beer With The Mixture Of Flavors
Strong English Ale/Eggnog Hybrid Texture
Whoppers Candy Palate

Some hop or malt on the initial taste, then it fades to some cherry and possibly a hint of vanilla. Next taste revealed some citrus or orangey flavors. Another smell yields a leathery background aroma. Its interesting that the flavor and aroma are in a state of constant flux, very dynamic. In the middle is the malt-forward flavor is of plum, brown sugar and baking spices with bit of a spicy hop note coming forward. Next taste is roast and malty. Next sniff is vegetables! This beer is very complex, I must admit. Next sniff is like whiskey.  This beer might not be the best beer, but it does have a lot of personality.

4 Out Of 6
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