223 reviews in 2011 and 240 reviews in 2012

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Samuel Smith Old Brewery
Country: England
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear copper color with a 2 finger white head, nice lacing.  Toasted malt aroma.  Great malt & caramel taste with a slight hop finish.  A nice English Ale.

Heavy Seas Winter Storm

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Heavy Seas Beer       (Clipper City Brewing)
Country: USA
Beer Type: ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours an amber color, with a 1 finger white head, some lacing.  Strong hop  / mild malt aroma. Taste:  malt & spice start, nice bitter hop finish. Nice  beer -  Very Complex!

Smuttynose Winter Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV:   not 5.8%... but 5.83% - per their website: www.smuttynose.com
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium Abbey Dubbel
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Photo is better this time :)   Pours a dark reddish brown color with a 2 finger white head, some lacing.  Malt, caramel, fruit & spice aroma.  Roasted malt, caramel and dark fruit taste.  Very Good.

Snow Day Winter Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Nothing better than a Snow Day.  Pours a dark brown color with a 2+ finger off white head (after an aggressive pour), nice lacing.  A great hoppy aroma.  A nice  pine hop taste with  some chocolate and caramel in the background.  Just the right blend.  Not your normal "winter warmer".  EXCELLENT

Allagash White

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Witbier (Belgium White)
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy lemon color (swirl the yeast from the bottom of the bottle) with a 1 finger white head that disappears quickly.  Aroma is Belgium yeast, spice & lemon.  Taste is wheat, yeast,  fruit & spices.  More complex than Hoegaarden.

Bell's Winter White Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Bells Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Witbier (Belgium White)
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a 2 finger white head.  Wheat, clove and Belgium yeast aroma.  Sweet wheat , clove  & lemon taste. 

Hoegaarden Original White Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 4.9%
Brewery: Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
Country: Belgium
Beer Type: Witbier (Belgium White)
2012 Rating:  B+
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Hoo-gaarden, an old friend.  The original Belgium White Beer, brewed since 1445.  Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a 1 finger head that disappeared quickly.  Lemon, wheat  & yeast flavor and aroma.  After drinking  an Allagash White, the Hoegaarden taste like lemon juice.  Still it is light & refreshing - EASY TO DRINK!

Smuttynose Winter Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5.83
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Belgium Abbey Dubbel
2012 Rating: TDTR
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments: Notice that this photo is BLURRED.  Drank this beer near the end of a Great Christmas Party.   I can't remember what it tasted like.  I'll try it again... later this week.

Bell's Christmas Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Bells Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Scottish Ale
2012 Rating: A-
2011 Rating: B

Comments:  Cloudy copper color with a 2 finger white head, nice lacing.   It's great to taste a Christmas beer that is NOT brewed with spices.  Bells brews this beer with Michigan barley & hops…nothing else.  Aroma is bread malt & pine hops…nothing else.   Taste is sweet bread malt followed by some nice hop bitterness...nothing else.  A GOOD beer...nothing else :)

Schlafly Christmas Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 8%
Brewery: The St. Louis Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Pours a clear amber color with a 2 finger white head.  You smell and taste the spices, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. A good Christmas Ale.

Anchor 2012 Christmas Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2012 Rating: D
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark reddish brown color with a 2 finger off white head.  Dark fruit & spice aroma.    Taste is dark fruit, spice with a weird sour finish.  Crystal thinks it taste like prune juice…she may be right.  Luckily there is only 2 left in the fridge.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 8.1%
Brewery: Brouwerij Corsendonk
Country: Belgium
Beer Type: Belgium Dark Ale
2012 Rating: AAA
2011 Rating: AAA

Comments:  Corsendonk Christmas Ale is a long time favorite of mine.   Could only find it this year in a big boy 750ml bottle     Dark ruby color, massive cream color head, decent lacing.  STRONG fruit aroma dried fruit, (raisins, etc.) Taste: roasted malt, drier fruit - SMOOTH & CREAMY - very Belgium.  EXCELLENT

Hudepohl Classic Porter

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: N/A
Brewery: Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: English Style Porter
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark amber brown color with a 1 finger tan head, no lacing.  Roasted malt & caramel aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma; roasted malt, caramel with a hint of chocolate.  A nice porter.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  Copper color, cream / tan head, cinnamon & nutmeg aroma, sweet spicy ginger & nutmeg  taste with a hint of hops at the end.  One of my favorite Christmas Beers!

Terrapin W-n-B Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 8.1%
Brewery: Terrapin Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial Stout
2012 Rating: A & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours pitch black with a 1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Aroma is espresso coffee & chocolate.  Taste is similar to the aroma, espresso coffee, semi sweet chocolate and dark fruit.  Excellent & Interesting!

Yellow Snow IPA

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery: Rogue Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: American IPA
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a hazy golden color with a 2 finger white head, great lacing.  Citrus & pine hop aroma.  Grapefruit & pine hop bitterness with some caramel sweetness in the background.  EXCELLENT!

Santa's Private Reserve Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Rogue Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Amber Ale
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a reddish brown color with a 2 finger white head.    Pine hop, malt & caramel aroma.  Taste starts with great pine hop bitterness and is followed with a biscuit malt sweetness.  Hoppy & sweet - well balanced.

4/5's Black IPA

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Steve's Home Brew
Country: USA
Beer Type: Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a black color with a fantastic 2+ finger tan head.  Slight pine hop aroma.  Taste starts sweet  & ends with some hop bitterness.  Easy to drink!

Avalanche Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 4.4%
Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Red Lager
2012 Rating: D
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  I would not reorder this brew… just drink a George Killian's Irish Red.

Yellow Snow IPA

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 6.%%
Brewery: Oregon Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American IPA
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Disregard what your parents said...  eat (drink) the Yellow Snow!  Pours a cloudy golden color with a 2 finger fluffy white head, great lacing.  Fruit, spice & hop aroma.  Taste; grapefruit & pine hops, fruit/citrus with a bitter hop finish.  Excellent!

Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5.6%
Brewery: Coors Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Dubbel
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear brown color with a 1 finger white head.  Bread, malt & spice aroma.  Bread, malt, vanilla & spice taste.   Decent.

Samuel Adams White Christmas

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Witbier (Belgium White)
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a hazy orange color with a 2 finger fluffy white head.  Wheat, citrus & cinnamon aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma.  A Hoegaarden with cinnamon added.  A nice Belgium Style Witbier.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Lager
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: B+

Comments:  An old favorite, one of the few reasons I look forward to winter.   Deep amber color, nice off white head, good lacing, malt/spice smell, smooth malt taste with a caramel cinnamon flavor -easy to drink all night!

Rivertown Winter Ale

Reviewed:  December 2012
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: A

Comments:  Pours a dark mahogany color with a 1 finger white head.  Great cinnamon aroma.  Excellent - tastes like a Snicker Doodle!  Cinnamon & molasses.  A nice Winter  / Christmas beer.