I've seriously been meaning to get around to this post for about 2 months now; man can I get lazy.

There are so many winter seasonal beers available around Seattle that I seem to find a new one every week. If you made it to the Winter Beer Fest a few weekends ago, you likely got to try more than a few of them. The majority of winter brews are dominated by malt and often have some spices thrown in to make it interesting. That said, it is not unusual to find a hoppy release every now and then.

Part I of my Winter Beer review:

Port Townsend Winter Ale - I had this on tap at the brewpub 2 weekends ago, and I'm following up with a sample from a 22oz bottle that I just cracked from my fridge. Dark copper with a thin head, this is mostly sweet malt with a little caramel banana flavor. I remember this being much hoppier on draught. There is a definite bitter finish, but only a little bit of grapefruit from the hops.
Grade: C+

Sierra Nevada Celebration - This is definitely one for the hop-heads. From the brewery known for their Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada focuses their winter ale on citrus hops. Backed with malt better than many IPAs, but keeps the focus on the hops. I love this beer. You should be able to find it on tap and in bottles around town.
Grade: A

Bridgeport Ebenezer - This seasonal beer from the Portland brewery is a dark mahogany color and is made with a blend of four roasted malts to give it a pleasant taste that is not too sweet. Although dominated by malt, it is balanced well in the finish with mild hops. The Ebenezer is a very enjoyable brew perfect for any beer drinker this holiday season. It is not going to overwhelm you with taste, but is quite smooth with a bit of smooth caramel/chocolate taste. This is a great six pack to have sitting around the house.
Grade: B

Laughing Dog Cold Nose Winter Ale - I'd love to visit this brewery in Idaho someday that names all of their beers after dog related things. Very dark brown with fluffy head. Nice roasted malt aroma. Sweet malt start with plenty of bitterness coming out in the finish. Another quality brew from these guys. Available in the bottle at Bottleworks and similar bottle shops; on tap if you get lucky? I had it at Brouwer's about a month ago.
Grade: B-