Copacetic cinnamon-nutmeg influenced holiday brew brings sharp spice-hopped infusion to creamily caramelized full-bodied alcohol warmth. Fruity esters attain bruised orange bittering as dusky floral nature and fig-plum confluence rise.

Treasured ruddy garnet winter warmer’s audible soda-like fizz and corresponding roasted hop compaction may prohibit initial full-bodied complexities, but ultimately, rich fig-dried sugar plum, rum raisin and cherry puree overtones saturate chewy vanilla-chocolate sweetness drifting through molasses-thick Scotch malt goo. Vinous red-wined port, burgundy and pinot noir souring confirms slow sipping intricacy. Anise, nutmeg, banana pudding and spiced pumpkin broach the surface. Fantastique!

Busier and better than most blue-collar High Falls brews, this nifty holiday ale induces amiable allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg spicing to counter subtle orange peel bittering. On downside, brown-sugared chocolate-molasses malts and tertiary pumpkin pie-gingerbread illusions rub up against dismal diacetyl astringency.

Funky yeast souring envelops overripe raisin-fig conflux embodying tingly carbonated elegance of unassuming mahogany-tinted winter warmer. Moderate silken creaminess complements fleeting brown sugar-spiced finish, but indefinite peppery hop bitterness, acrid cork-y grape dryness, scattered cherry tartness and metallic tinniness neutralize overall effect of strong 8.5% alcohol pungency.

Sweet-grained ‘tawny roasted’ malts broaden orange-pineapple tang of harvest gold seasonal. But nary one dry-hopped spice comes forth despite wintry appellation.

Uncertain herbal-toned winter warmer boasts undeniable ginger frontage sweetened by sticky black licorice tongue, peppermint candied coolness, and teasing eucalyptus minting. After few swallows, sassafras-root beer component builds, but ruinous salty seaweed astringency outpaces advertised nutmeg-clove spicing.

Tantalizing brown-hazed beige-headed Bavarian (a.k.a. Festbier) placates rich wheat frontage with heavier candi-sugared yeast sinew than most spicy holiday brews. Caramelized barleymalts linger to softened prune finish, providing delicate tone redolent of a brown ale.

Congenial coppery amber-glowed winter brew finds initial smoked wood seduction settling to barley roast pleasantry overlaying chestnut-butternut lilt and tobacco hint. But seasonal spicing is suspect.

Arguably more prune-y, raisin-y, and mainstream than same-named follow-up seasonals. Cracked wheat spine and biscuit-y cereal graining disguise soft spicing. Caramel-crystal malts create candied subtlety.

Bold bourbon-barreled mahogany-hued seasonal may lack advertised elderberry influence, but smoked molasses malting,  Belgian-styled candied yeast, and restrained medicinal warmth pick up slack alongside compelling chocolate liqueur creaminess. Beneath, earthen peat saturates dry fig-date surge, black licorice splurge, and purple grape-wined swerve to resonant burgundy finish. Burnt toast murk coarsens latent fruitcake whim.

Tinny winter warmer lacks seasonal hop spicing, proper chocolate-crystal malting, and decent body. Slick metallic drear.