I'm slammed with the amount of winter seasonal beers I have in stock
right now, a quick trip to my local packy last week yielded a cart
full of six-packs which only added to this problem. Thankfully I've
been to a couple of holiday parties to go through most of my stock.
Hell, I have to start making room for all of the barleywines and
imperial stouts that usually come out mid to late winter and soon
after that the bocks will be invading. A never ending problem that
always ends up being a good problem right? So here is to December
22nd ... the first day of winter.



# Full Moon Winter Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /306/39581

So the switched up this years seasonal to an abbey style ale. I do
remember a good while back when the Blue Moon brand first came out
they did an abbey ale and at the time it was pretty damn good. No
problem in the head department, lots of sticky foam with a nearly
crystal clear amber color. Watery spice, a hint of peppery alcohol and
some husky toasted grain in the aroma. Decent malt character at best,
a tad wet and thin with a toasted husk note throughout. Mild hop
bitterness is trumped by a mild mannered spicy flare from the yeast.
Hint of fruitiness and sweetness in the end like all of the other Blue
Moon beers.

People new to good beer might enjoy this, mild and a bit weak in
flavor for even a small Belgian. I'll pass next year when this comes
around again.

# Our Special Ale 2007 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28/39441

Damn, I think I forgot about the rest of last years which probably
tucked away somewhere deep in my cellar. I'm better off because I
still have some 96', 99', 02' & 04'. Lots of mid-sized brown bubbles
show an active carbonation and a healthy head. Very dark with brownish
garnet hues when put up to the light. Smells of molasses cookies and
fruit cake. Very smooth with a spicy character from start to finish. A
hint of char and deep caramel malt sweetness in the middle. Quick
breath of alcohol and hop bitterness meld with the spicing well.
Finishes spicy and a tad dry.

Without a doubt a must have every year, it ages very well for the most
part and is a great switch up beer during the winter months.

# Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/1881

Perhaps one of the most talked about beers that Boston Beer Co. has,
right after Cranberry Lambic. Another spiced winter warmer but its
limited availability drives the demand up IMO. Big towering densely
rocky tan head from a hard pour, glowing reddish brown color. You can
smell all of the spices used; cinnamon, ginger and orange peel ... mild
chocolate malt tone in the back of the nose. Smooth and creamy with a
slick full body. Mild burnt tone goes away quickly as the malt
sweetness layers the palate and the spicing picks it right back up.
Hint of woody hop gets lost with the spicing. Finishes off semi-sweet
with a vague chocolate flavor.

Spicing does not go too far, maltiness is big enough to hold the beer
together. A solid beer all around and a bit of a conversation beer as
well which is good around this time of year.

# Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (2007)
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/1904

Yeah, here is my hop fix. This one always makes its way into my cart
during my hunt for winter seasonals. As for cellaring this beer, its
still up for debate. In the past I have had versions that were aged up
to 6 years and tasted damn good, others did not last more than a year.
Go Figure. Shiny copper penny color, impeccable head retention from
the hops. Nose full of hops with each whiff, without a doubt this beer
is one of the best examples of a Cascade and Centennial hop aroma
combo. Just and smooth as it is crisp with a hardened medium malty
body that is quickly surrounded and consumed by the sizeable Chinook
hoppiness. Yeah there is malt here, toasted and a touch of caramel.
All of that is cleared out from the hops ... love the hop.

2007 is great, I'll be going out to grab a case of this ASAP and I'll
save a few to cellar. Yeah, the hops just don't want to leave your
palate and that is a good thing.

# Wachusett Winter Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20/2259

They made a great choice from killing off their Winter Fest Ale, a
spiced winter warmer that was always seemed too spiced and too sweet.
Scotch Ale is what they are all about now. Head retention is ok,
clarity is fine as well. Malty and a bit of smokiness with a spicy
alcohol in the back, clean aroma for the most part. Smooth and crisp
medium body with a long drawn out malt character that never reveals
all of it sweetness because the smoke flavor masks some of it. Mild
hop bitterness. As the smoke faded with alcohol kicks in with a slight
spice and lead to a dry toasted malt finish.

Solid all the way, nothing earth shattering ... just flavorful,
drinkable and a bit alcoholic which seems to sneak up on you. More
than two is enough as the smoke started to get to me.

# Winterhook Winter Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /153/27875

One winter seasonal that I have probably seen the most improvement
over the years is Winterhook. Its been around since 1985 in one form
or another but seems to be on the stable path for several years now.
Bright clarity off of the deep copper color brew, awesome looking
lacing as it leaves a web like trail down the glass. Malty aroma of
toasted grain and caramel, hint of floral and grassy hops as well. The
smoothness is certainly there with a small crispness that drops off
quick in the medium body. Spicy, herbal and bit time floral hop flavor
don a balanced bitterness that lingers far into the drying finish.

High in drinkability, flavorful and a bit complex yet approachable
enough to bring to a holiday party. By far its one of my favorites
each year.