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.

Pink elephants front Santa’s sleigh on snowy X-mas label of creamy prune-hued 10% ABV holiday treat. Acute dried fruited clove-nutmeg seasoning sprinkled by Belgian candi sugar and gaining spiced rum swirl (as well as dry burgundy wining, tart apple spree and bruised orange tang). In the midst, caramelized raisin, sugar plum and fig luster plus dried-out citrus spurt and subtle chestnut roast pick up slight smoked cedar sweetness. On tap, smoked cedar mouthfeel, burnt nuttiness, and drier citric spurt increase depth and clarity.