Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale
Anderson Valley Brewing Company

Winter Solstice Seasonal AleWinter Solstice Seasonal Ale
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From:
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #36
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,004
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 13.7%
Reviews:
771
Ratings:
1,922
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 26, 2024
Added:
Nov 18, 2001
Wants:
  78
Gots:
  282
Winter Solstice® is our take on the classic style of “winter warmer.” Boasting a deep amber hue and rich mouthfeel, its creamy finish will lift your spirits. Hints of toffee, spice, and caramel tease the senses making this the perfect ale to share with friends and family during the cold days and long nights of winter.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of MartyMaltose
Reviewed by MartyMaltose from Washington

2.66/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
I'm a winter warmer/old ale fan. I wanted to like this but the taste is just ill-conceived. Like it has coffee, pepper, vanilla, plus maybe a teaspoon of mayonnaise in there. Bleah. Drink it very cold and very quickly.
Feb 26, 2024
 
Rated: 3.72 by Iron_x_man from Colorado

Jan 09, 2024
 
Rated: 4.08 by Hockey_Fan from Maryland

Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.56 by Beecham from California

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can into a Becher glass.
L: SRM 10 Pours medium reddish caramel color with a light yeast haze, a thin khaki head that recedes to edge foam, light fine carbonation, no lacing.
S: Caramelized malts, brown bread, figs, raisins, molasses, a hint of red grape.
T: Subtle dark mixed fruits, molasses, brown bread, a touch of honey, caramel malts, toasted cereal grains, figs, raisins, plum, light malty aftertaste and a relatively clean finish.
F: Moderately soft & smooth medium-bodied feel with a medium-fast finish that is very gently drying. Becomes quite smooth and lightly flat with warming.
O: Imagine a lower ABV Barleywine. That's what this beer has within its tastes. A good dose of brown bread taste and a smooth feel. Easy drinking and tasty, gently warming and malty. It is very good in its style.
Nov 10, 2023
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.57/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From the can, it pours a dark reddish amber color with a very nice light tan head that slowly reduces and leaves lacing. The nose gets some roasted malts with some caramel evident. The mouth gets some roasted malts with notes of caramel.
Apr 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.83 by beaulabauve from Louisiana

Jan 21, 2023
Photo of crm871
Reviewed by crm871 from Utah

3.71/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Pours a deep burgundy with a medium white head.

Smell: I’m sensing malt, caramel, toffee, molasses.

Taste: Pretty forward on the malts and caramel but for me it worked. Not a super complex flavor, and I think it would have been better with some attempts at holiday spices , but solid flavor.

Feel: Light and easy, appropriate carbonation.

Overall: There are better holiday beers that are flashier, but this is a solid and enjoyable one at a lower price point.
Jan 02, 2023
Photo of DavetotheB
Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
From a 12oz can dated "21333" into a pint glass. So, if this is julian date. this is from 2021. May have gotten snookered on this one in the mix-a-six...

Pours a murky copper color with about two fingers of off-white head that dissipates quickly leaving very little lacing. Color is like a penny that isn't shiny any more.

Cinnamon, caramel and light pine on the nose.

Taste is non-distinct. Kind of a bready, malty, sweet-ish mess.

Lightly sticky, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Baking spice aftertaste. Low carbonation.

Well, it might be old beer. Don't know for sure based on the goofy date code. It's drinkable. I guess. If this is fresh, it's not so good.
Dec 31, 2022
 
Photo of WayneManor
Reviewed by WayneManor from Washington

3.76/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Caramel, transluscent, a little hazy. Not much head
Smell: Caramel. Not a strong smell
Taste: Wow good yeast flavor almost like a trappist beer
Feel: Perfect level of carbonation for me
Overall: Solid Beer. Bahl Hornin"
Dec 16, 2022
Photo of BillAfromSoCal
Reviewed by BillAfromSoCal from California

3.62/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Caramel color, a finger of short-lived head with very little lacing. No haze, very clear. Fine carbonation rising. Caramel malts on nose and taste. To me this is a nice amber ale but I am not picking up anything that screams "seasonal ale". Somewhat of a one trick pony (caramel) which I don't find impressive since the can states " natural flavor added". I'm not getting any "seasonal" spices that I associate with the winter solstice.
Dec 13, 2022
 
Rated: 2.72 by bendukes86 from South Carolina

Dec 05, 2022
Photo of Mindcrime1000
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

3.67/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours light amber with a decent foamy tan head. Modest lacing.

Aromas of caramel, toast, cardamom, and nutmeg. A touch of dark fruit.

The flavors are pretty complex. Skewed a little sweet, even for the style, but not cloying. It's sort of like a Festbier, with lightly toasted malts and modest but balancing grass hops, amped and mashed up with dark fruits and some judicious spice plus some earthy hop notes.

Medium bodied. Good carbonation and remarkably drinkable. Not a repeater, but it doesn't demand a sipping approach either.

A sneaky good winter warmer.
Nov 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.09 by Hophazzard from California

Nov 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Apr 12, 2022
Photo of trevormajor
Reviewed by trevormajor from Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz can, vintage 2021, poured into an Untappd Snifter at 55 degrees F:
L - amber/caramel in color with a light tan head that lingered
S - biscuit, lemon zest
T - sweet and malty, with a mild biscuit flavor
F - medium mouthfeel and carbonation
O - very nice for a winter warmer, not spicy in the traditional way
Mar 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.78 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Feb 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by chrishiker1409 from New York

Feb 12, 2022
Photo of GStone899
Reviewed by GStone899 from Minnesota

3.87/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a deep amber. Very malty and pleasant on the pallet. Dark fruits along with caramel, cinnamon and a slight nutmeg taste tickle the taste buds. Not much head on the pour straight from the can to a pint glass. Really a nice change of pace peer from an IPA and a nice winter brew.
Feb 05, 2022
Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 1922 ratings