Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

Anderson Valley is, all-in-all, a solid brewery where they know how to make some pretty good beers. This example of a malty ale I found quite enjoyable. Not so dark as many winter warmers, and definitely sweeter than some without being grossly so (I'm looking at you Spoetzle), this is a beer I can easily see people celebrating with.

Brother David's

So let's say you're looking for a beer to bring to your friend's house for dinner and you see a beer with your friend's name on it. That's pretty much a requisite buy, right? And what if the guy on the label is waist-deep in a pond the way your friend was once waist-deep in the willow marsh at the base of Mt. Bierstadt ("Beer City"), that'd pretty much make it more than requisite. It'd make it criminal not to buy it, no matter the style, and if you didn't like it, you'd just say, "Well, I had to buy it." And if it were monastic themed and you were going to watch Secret of the Kells, it'd have to be fate and nobody here wants to mess with fate. I've seen that go down and I don't want to be putting my eyes out by the end of the evening.

So, anyhow, I actually liked this pretty well. Yeast, malt, hops all make their presence known. I've read reviews that say this one is too hoppy, but that's probably why I liked it better than many Belgian-styles I've tried. On the strongish side, but the alcohol doesn't show beneath the other flavors.

Boont

An okay amber ale.

Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Hop Ottin IPA

Anderson Valley