Rich burgundy outpouring, thick puree texture and terse cinnamon-nutmeg nosing of excellent holiday ale capture immediate attention. Black cherry overture spreads above deep prune midst as charcoal, tobacco chew, and resin gain strength at creamy dark-fruited finish for sweet Guinness alternative.

Nebulous wintry retreat places thin metallic sheen above reticent brown sugared spices, slick crystal-caramel malting, and chalky cherry-raisin-fig wisp. Vegetal astringency saps tertiary tobacco, walnut, and Brazil nut illusions. Similarly bland 2010 version layered dried-out orange rind sourness above phenol cinnamon-coriander-nutmeg coarseness, abrupt brown-sugared Blackstrap molasses acridity, and mild chestnut-almond-hazelnut whim.

Peculair wintry ale brings expectant candi-sugared lacquer-like medicinal mouthfeel to less stylistic smoked wood chip groove calmly reinforcing green hop-embittered peppercorn fervor. Ashy abstruseness then coddles tertiary tobacco, lemongrass, and clove illusions clustering dry quince souring.

Heavily alcohol-fueled garnet-hued winter cheer gains barleywine insistence, butterscotch spicing and prune-dried raisin hint to syrupy coughdrop finish, but musty malt astringency denies its greatness.

Sweet barley-roasted mocha entry leads to drier chocolate-covered raisin finish, putting this closer to a porter. Flaked oats, instead of expectant nutmeg or cinnamon, contour peculiar full-bodied holiday ale. Barleywine-burgundy undertones add depth. Brewery defunct: 2008.

Ale Mary ‘full of grace’ for well-balanced red ale given sharp-hopped holiday spicing and full-bodied grain richness. Underlying berry ripeness, cherry tang, and cinnamon sweetness receive floral yeast flourish soured by soothing medicinal finish.

Bitter-spiced hop opening and musty dark fruit punctuation lead to moderate lacquered malt pungency. Berries entangle clove, overwhelming creamy sweetness inducing otherwise bitter finish. ’05 version placed savory apple-grapefruit ripeness above peppery hop bed and eternal alcohol bittering.

Zesty lemon-fizzed hop-spiced resonance infiltrates amber-clouded medium body. Grain-toasted mocha malt richness overcomes permeating bubbly fizz to some avail. Persistent oak bitterness tapers off slowly by creamy cocoa finish. But uncertain wintry appeal hurts chances.

Bitterer but not better than usual holiday offerings, ‘06 ruby amber seasonal loads prune-soured cinnamon-nutmeg-gingerbread-allspice piquancy above weak brown ale-like nutty dryness, toasted hop astringency, teasing chicory dip, and ashy cinder parch. Dulled out pumpkin-pomegranate scamp fades to orange soufflé vamp. Needs better dimension and distinction.