Coach's Brewery has had their winter seasonal, Holiday Spice available at all three Coach's pubs as well as The Library in Norman for the past month. It's best described as an amber ale style with notes of nutmeg, coriander, rosemary and ginger.

Winter seasonals currently available in stores include Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (new to OK - 22oz, $5), Full Sail Wassail (look for the new packaging for the 2005 release), Sierra Nevada Celebration 2005, Boulevard Nutcracker, Anchor Our Special Ale 2005, Pyramid Snow Cap, Breckenridge Christmas Ale 2005 and of course Samuel Adams Winter Lager.

Of these winter seasonals available, I rank them accordingly (out of 5):

Boulevard Nutcracker (4.3)

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (4.2)

Full Sail Wassail (4.1)

Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (3.9)

Anchor OSA 2005 (3.8)

Pyramid Snow Cap (3.7)

Samuel Adams Winter Lager (3.3)

Breckinridge Christmas Ale (2.8)

It's best to compare them side-by-side for a comprehensive analysis, so pick up a selection and compare them yourself some time.

As far as winter seasonal news, I can say that I'm hoping that some time soon we will see BridgePort Ebenezer Ale and maybe even BridgePort Old Knucklehead Barley Wine, but don't cross your fingers. While the new distributor in Oklahoma deserves some priase for the recent influx, they don't seem to be comfortable bringing in high gravity beer just yet. Does someone need to point out to the them just how quickly Bigfoot moves off the shelves every February?