On tap at Biggie’s, velvety mocha-bound 43rd annual winter ale features cacao nibs, toffee, roasted nuts and herbal spicing. At the entry, creamy dark chocolate malts pick up casual dried-fruited baking spices to offset moderate hop-charred tarring. Recessive cocoa, coffee, roasted tobacco and berry illusions flutter below.
Pleasingly underwhelming winter-spiced moderation tingles tongue with brown-sugared malt sweetness. Vague cinnamon-nutmeg-gingerbread-cardamom illusions receive mild hop astringency by inconclusive finish of fair holiday celebrator.
Wondrous wintry moderation (in a can) retains pleasant caramelized nuttiness above barley-flaked chocolate piquancy and earthen Glacier hop bittering. Almondine, hazelnut, almond, pecan and chestnut illusions get caressed by citric-candied tartness and mulled cherry wine souring in the backdrop of proudly ‘unspiced’ winter warmer.
On tap at Taphouse 15, indecisive winter warmer lacks sugar-spiced Christmastime expectancy. Instead, wayward anise-dried ginger spicing, dry Baker’s chocolate musk and murky honey tea-like waver subside quickly.
Well-rounded winter seasonal (circa 2016) places sharp-hopped cinnamon, nutmeg and curry spicing alongside brown-sugared gingerbread sweetness to contrast less prominent pumpkin-skinned gourd earthiness. Tertiary walnut-pecan conflux and latent fig snip add depth to refreshingly clean-watered Christmastime treasure.
Recurring winter-seasoned strong ale (2015 limited edition with boisterous 10% ABV) lets curacao orange-peeled thyme adjunct delicately affect brown-sugared raisin, fig and plum scrum as well as caramelized mocha malt sweetness. Sharp hop-prickled cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger spicing stays just beneath the surface alongside dark cherry and red grape undertones while random pencil shavings strangely penetrate light burgundy warmth.
Anchor’s 41st Anniversary holiday ale resembles a dry porter with its burgundy-browned body, roasted mocha malting and ashen hop char. Sweet sugared spicing and evergreen freshness of many previous “Special” offerings lags, relying instead on chalky dried cocoa, nutty chocolate, black coffee and raw molasses tones to enhance dried-fruited black cherry, fig and plum illusions.
On tap at Craft House, dewy dry-spiced dark fruiting muted by soft-toned pumpernickel toasting. Mild hop astringency, ginger-leafed nutmeg seasoning and crisp tobacco roast relegate delicate brown-sugared cinnamon sweetness. Dried fig, dehydrated apricot and green apple illusions casually drift off.
Admirable English-styled winter warmer blends Christmastime spicing with mocha nuttiness and dried fruiting. Creamy chocolate-caramel malting sweetens gingerbread-sugared nutmeg, coriander, clove and allspice seasoning as well as surging raisin, prune, black cherry, blackberry and red wine illusions. Cocoa-powdered chestnut, pecan and cola nut nuances saunter by.
On tap at Ambulance, wintry strong ale (7.6% ABV) brings sweet ‘n sour fruiting to pale-malted dryness and earthen hop astringency. Yellow grapefruit, orange rind, pineapple, mango, kiwi, guava and gooseberry illusions pick up light Scotch whiskey cadence.
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, dryer than expected winter warmer lacks specificity as uncertain gingerbread-cinnamon-nutmeg spicing, murky raisin-plum-date neutrality and reserved nuttiness never come to the fore. Desolate orange peel bittering contrasts molasses-sapped mocha malts in the deep recess.
Intimate Christmas ale gathers wintry cinnamon-ginger-nutmeg seasoning for honeyed citric splendor. Maple-sugared caramel malting contrasts lilting orange and lemon peel bittering. Pine nut, plum, fig and date undertones casually stride by. Subtle ethanol burn lingers softly.
