Anderson Valley Brewing’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is a classic Winter Warmer done right. It’s 6.9% alcohol and brewed with a “private blend of holiday spice.” It’s never overwhelming, either; it’s just what you’re looking for in that winter seasonal.

Appearance: Classic amber ale, very nice—big fluffy tan head. Light shines copper through it—fairly clear.

Smell: Rich malts and a spicy hop—brown sugar, caramel, toasted cracked grains. Nice sweet syrupy Crystal malts cut throughout.

Taste: Clean, malty character that reminds me of a Bock. Hops are spicy and crisp, hints of cinnamon, allspice, white pepper. Warming wash of alcohol lets you know it’s wintertime by the fireplace.

Mouthfeel: Nice chewy medium body that’s a bit prickly.

Overall: Thoroughly enjoyed it. They don’t all have to be monsters, you know.

On BeerAdvocate, it scores a letter grade of B+ (“very good”). On RateBeer, it scores 3.49 out of 5, and is in their 84th percentile.