Day 6 of the 6th Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 6: Anderson Valley Brewing Company Winter Solstice Ale
This beer has been on the calendar before, but not recently. It’s a classic winter warmer ale. Winter Solstice: “hints of toffee, spice, and caramel tease the senses making this the perfect ale to share with friends and family during the cold days and long nights of winter.”
Reflections
Ben: When I lived in California, this was one of the only “Christmas beers” that was available. Since it never gets cold there, the spiced beer/winter warmer thing isn’t really popular. It was a favorite of mine during the cooler months because it reminded me of home. This…is not like I remember it. There’s something in here I don’t like. It smells nice, almost like a spiced bread. But it has this cloying, raisin-like character that I’m not digging. It almost tastes old, but it definitely isn’t. Hoping we just got a bad batch, going to try it again next year.
Julia: I remember this one being an easy drinking winter ale so I thought I was going to enjoy this again but I was wrong. Upon first sip, I noticed some hints of toffee but it was overpowered with a malty flavor. It tasted like an old can and not fresh if I had to put my finger on it. I wish it was less malty and a bit spicer. Anderson Valley makes pretty good beers so I want to chalk this up to a bad can. I would try this again next year to see if this was a fluke.
Adam: I… hate this. Alex said it tasted like tea and that’s all I can think about. It reminds me of drinking warm Arizona iced teas in high school out of those giant cans. (2 for 99 cents)
It’s cloyingly sweet and finishes metallic to me. Also bears aren’t supposed to have antlers.
Alex: Anderson Valley Winter Soltice ale tastes more like tea to me than beer somehow. It could be a little flat, or maybe it’s the toffee? I can’t really pinpoint it. I can taste a little bit of spice in this, but it feels like something is missing. I wouldn’t say it’s really bad , but I won’t actively seek this one out again.
Scott: Unfortunately the Winter Solstice Season Ale did not live up to the great label. The smell and taste have an artificial caramel aroma and flavor. I’m not trying to be too critical because it’s not a bad beer, but this is one I would skip in the future when there are so many better beers out there during the holiday season.
Christa: The Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale promises to be creamy with a hint of toffee, caramel and some spice. That all sounds delicious but it’s sadly not what I’m getting with this one. I get hit with the caramel first and that’s all I can taste and it’s very sweet. There’s no creamy finish for me. It’s not a bad beer by any means, it’s just not delivering what it said it would and I was looking forward to that! Worth another try just in case it was our batch!!
Tony: I first tried this beer at a Cleveland Beerfest several years ago and I remember writing it down in my phone because I liked it so much. It did not disappoint this time around either! Still a really great beer. Light caramel color and smells great. It has a creamy smoothness to it and really nice flavors of caramel and toffee. Its not big on holiday spices if thats what you’re looking for, but its a deliciouse beer and one of my favorites! Light, easy to drink, and delicious!
Megan: I remember having Winter Solstice before and liking it and this year didn’t disappoint. It’s smells sweet, has a nice amber color and is super fizzy. It’s sweet but not syrupy which is nice and the caramel comes through really well too. Two thumbs up!
Brad: I love a good amber ale and this Anderson Valley Winter Solstice does not disappoint. I picked out this beer because I enjoyed the can, which depicts a bear with giant antlers. The smell is filled with winter spices but the beer itself is smooth and not overpowering. I taste toffee which I’m enjoying. It’s not Heath bar toffee but subtle. I’d buy this again.
Heather: Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is really, really good. This is the kind of holiday beer I love to drink. Super smooth, just the right level of spice, delicious finish. It’s a 6.9% so being the lightweight mom in her late 30s that I am, I could probably sip myself into trouble with this one because it’s so drinkable. I want, like, 20 of them. Love the can design, too! Who needs a Jackalope when you can have an Ursalope?