Aromatic chocolate malts consume robust barley-wheat insistence, secondary vanilla sweetness, and tertiary honey dab. Delicate, yet filling, winter ale allows flowery hop restiveness to enliven sweet and sour red-orange fruitiness mid-palate, but lacks spicy seasonal luster then stuck in a quandary when watery finish flounders.

Bitterly dry-bodied, ruby-glowed, amber-hued seasonal binds holiday-spiced nutmeg-cinnamon-clove serenade, ripe raspberry-strawberry tartness, sharp herbaceous hop resonance, and glancing wood tone to buttery caramel malting. When astringent metallic missive flags, sullen cherry, fig, pear, and red apple nuances sweeten biscuit-y wheat finish, leaving ashy orange rind wake.

Closer to a porter with its mocha overtones, dry barley undercurrent, and raisin notes. Svelte spiced malt finish delicately laden with flowery hop bitterness.

Rich burgundy outpouring, thick puree texture and terse cinnamon-nutmeg nosing of excellent holiday ale capture immediate attention. Black cherry overture spreads above deep prune midst as charcoal, tobacco chew, and resin gain strength at creamy dark-fruited finish for sweet Guinness alternative.

Subtly alcohol burnt medium-bodied winter warmer with visually soothing cascade bubbles and lacey head lacks bitter brutality of “humbug” namesake, as mocha malt dryness, faded orange wisp, and casual nutty bottom lack bite and compromise seasonal spicing.

Affable rust nickel-hued billowy-headed wintry nightcap cascades ravishingly as fig-dried stewed prune creaminess storms Belgian-spiced chocolate sweetness. Prickly hops subsume tertiary tobacco, fennel, and clipped-grass illusions.

Enticing X-mas treat with immediate nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon tea spiciness coating the tongue for discrete brown sugar/ piney maple sap follow-up, hitting all the right sweet spots to relaxing full-bodied finish. Cereal graininess, strong mocha-malt influence, and sly fructose sweetness fortify dry raisin backdrop of robust exhilaration. On tap ’06 version secured tinny-hopped pumpkin-allspice zeal.

Truly middling medium body lacks serious seasonal character and wintry flare. Butterscotch touch feels nice, but limited, as earthy citric hops struggle to gain attention and undesired nutty vegetal finish dies down early.

Strong nickel-hazed rocky-headed yeast-speckled winter ale brings coriander and ‘grains of paradise’ to honeyed malt sinew. Peppery thyme-seasoned lemon-bruised souring and vinous grape tannins mingle with bittersweet orange-peach-cherry tartness, flaunting rum-soaked raisin thwack by gin-soaked 11% alcohol-whirred finish.

Fruity amber-reddish tan-headed Christmas seasonal sacrifices expectant cinnamon-nutmeg adjuncts in favor of thick berry-nut-grain mesh. Lingered dry-fruited tartness picks up spiced hop bitterness and alcohol-soaked acridity for delicately flowing, yet solid-bodied, ’00 winter celebrator.

Tiny bubbles float to glass rim ever so gently, as roasted malt sweetness, moderate nutmeg spicing, and boozy Scotch nose pervade caramel-hued ale. Muted fruit finish adds to the fun.

Bitterer but not better than usual holiday offerings, ‘06 ruby amber seasonal loads prune-soured cinnamon-nutmeg-gingerbread-allspice piquancy above weak brown ale-like nutty dryness, toasted hop astringency, teasing chicory dip, and ashy cinder parch. Dulled out pumpkin-pomegranate scamp fades to orange soufflé vamp. Needs better dimension and distinction.