Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

While I was excited about this beer and it was a beautiful color, I am really underimpressed with this beer. Can’t wait for this glass to be gone.

bottle poured a caramel amber color with a thick frothy light tan two finger head that fell very slowly. light carbonation with tiny bubbles. aroma has caramel malt, spice, vanilla, sweetness, and some light minerals. mouth feel is medium light and slight frothiness at the sides of the tongue saving it from becoming thin. has a spicy malt flavor with some hops coming through mid sip bringing in some bitterness. finish follows through with malt and light bitters. actually quite drinkable and held up well for being brewed probably six months ago.

bottle. pours murky light brown, head fades away quickly. aroma of spices and vanilla. flavor is sweet, light roasted grains, mild bitter. the fruity sweetness and spice make a strange combination that reminds me of bubblegum. doesn’t really work for me. re-rate: ugh. couldn’t finish the last one. took one sip and poured it. just a gross combination of flavors.

Bottle. Pours a deep amber with a half inch off white head. Sweet and malty aroma with a dissapointing level of spice. Malty and smooth flavor, not much spice until the end when it hits. Nice smooth palate.

Poured into a nonic. Two fingers of head atop an extremely hazy body that’s a little too light in color for the style. Smells like apple pie beer, if that makes any sense. Lots of brown sugar/cinnamon sprinkled on a fruity base. Interesting but off-putting. Tastes a lot like brown sugar with some caramel. Cinnamon is obvious, and again there’s a chewy dark fruitiness. Carbonation is way over the top, and to complicate things, the body is too light. This makes for poor mouthfeel and drinkability.