A dearth of gritty grains hurts up-front appeal of caramel malt-dominated winter brew. Only a hint of spice peeks through moderate bitter hop finish (where grassy wheat husk retreats).

White wine aroma, sweet malt creaminess, and light citric tartness beautifully merged for perfect wintry treat. Snowy “Silent Night”” label gives good indication of what to expect – refreshingly well balanced holiday ale with subtle spices, zesty fruitiness, frisky fizz, and pleasant water texture.

Rich prune-hued winter seasonal proudly displays sugary spice and everything nice. Lovely overripe purple grape landscape picks up burgundy-dried raisin thrust. Tongue-tingling prickly hops awaken mint-y green apple satchel, souring to ester-y white wine reticence.

Eye catching winter scene on label is ale’s most appealing characteristic. Watery hop-teased light body begs for better nutmeg spicing, richer dried fruiting and improved distinction.

Syrupy maroon-hazed winter warmer sustains immediate nutmeg prominence, cinnamon spicing, and herbaceous nip. Spunky prune-raisin convergence moves along pipe tobacco roast to fruitcake finish, but firmer malt foundation needed.

Musty alcohol-fueled winter warmer ripens to sweet-tart red apple simmer with subsiding grain backbone losing out to dark-fruited prune-raisin sharpness. Upon ’08 re-tasting: astringent coffee-burnt walnut-cola nut divergence sidles ashen brown-sugared caramel-butterscotch sweetness, distant cherry-fig wisp, and negligible nutmeg-cinnamon spicing to metallic end.

Though enjoyable brown-sugared cinnamon-nutmeg-allspice seasoning streamlines cola-walnut-hazelnut setting of Scotch-styled winter warmer, waning chocolate-vanilla creaminess and astringent raisin indifference haunt middling metallic ale. Sugar plum, sour cherry, and dry fig lost in metallic mix.

Maroon-hued fruitcake-scented seasonal receives thick nutmeg opening sweetened by cherry glisten, soured by dry raisin concentration, and embittered by burnt wood tones. Darker and bitterer than other Anchor holiday brews, but less pronounced clove-cinnamon-nutmeg spicing chased by enduring brown sugar sweetness.

Boozy nickel-hazed X-mas ale brewed in medieval Irchonwelz castle retains spotted yeast sediment, creamy caramel malt viscosity, and spicy herbal tinge. Dank Belgian yeast mustiness soaks up bruised orange frontage, wintry allspice-cinnamon-clove seasoning, faint vanilla variance, and teensy fennel dividend as heady alcohol warmth rises.

Dry cherry tartness and spiced orange peel bittering reciprocate unripe citric waft as peppery hop fizz receives metallic nutmeg-cinnamon pinch to medicinal finish.

Bright orange-cherry-peach entry of heady traditional full-bodied English-styled winter ale gathers reliable nut-grain confluence and barley-hopped chocolate roast to honeyed wheat bottom. Fresh grass-hay-moss earthiness boosts sharp spicy fruitiness before fig-date souring influences burnt cedar finish.

Full-bodied mahogany-hued winter warmer creases thrifty dry bourbon opening with piney ash, burnt cedar, and cigarette notes as roasted coffee bean theme develops beneath. Thick maple-molasses midst and chocolate-caramel subtext further enrich syrupy malt alleviation.