It’s beginning to look a lot like winter beer season

Though the calendar says it won’t officially be winter for another 11 days, this year’s winter beers started showing up a good 11 weeks ago.

Still, it’s a proven scientific fact that they taste better the closer you get to the holidays. (Or maybe that’s just the effect of mounting seasonal stress.)

So in that spirit, for your sipping pleasure, here’s a list (checked twice) of some of the seasonal brews you’re most likely to spot around these parts.

Winter warmers

Pyramid Snow Cap (Seattle) – You can’t go wrong with this darkly fruity rendition of the classic winter warmer style: a strong, reddish-brown beer with a generous dose of hops balanced by a big malt body.

Deschutes Jubelale (Bend, Ore.) – Another perennial favorite, it’s similar to Snow Cap but with a softer texture and spicier flavor.

Full Sail Wassail (Hood River, Ore.) – This seasonal veteran in the same vein is distinguished by its long, dry, mouth-coating finish.

Dick’s Double Diamond (Centralia, Wash.) – There may be a skiing scene on the label, but this one’s a warmer in the truest sense, with an alcoholic kick from the sweet malt body balanced by a lingering hop bitterness. A challenging run, indeed.

Snoqualmie Falls Avalanche (Snoqualmie, Wash.) – Citrusy hops announce the arrival of this smooth, drinkable offering, followed by a nicely dry finish.

Bridgeport Ebenezer (Portland) – A bit brighter, not quite so big and rich, with some caramel/toffee flavors.

Big Sky Powderhound (Missoula) – Another step toward the milder side, it’s still a pleasant brew with a fruity malt body and a hint of tangy hop aftertaste.

Red Hook Winterhook (Seattle) – This moderately malty offering is inoffensive but generally undistinguished – more of a winter lukewarmer.

Home front

Northern Lights Winter Ale (Spokane) – Citrusy, spicy hops are at the forefront of brewmaster Mark Irvin’s typically complex winter warmer. (Coming soon from Santa Mark: whiskey barrel-aged versions of the brewery’s Crystal Bitter and Chocolate Dunkel.)

Coeur d’Alene Brewing Frozen Lake (Coeur d’Alene/Steam Plant, Spokane) – This perfectly respectable rendering of the style best expresses its nutty malt character when served cask-conditioned (pumped at the pub without added carbonation).

C.I. Shenanigans Nutcracker Hazelnut Porter (Spokane) – This aromatic version of the downtown restaurant/brewery’s house porter is, in a nutshell, “Nutcracker” sweet.

Laughing Dog Cold Nose (Sandpoint) – There may be a yellow Lab on the label, but you’ll be thinking chocolate when you taste this rich, roasty warmer. (Buyer beware: I ran across a couple of bad bottles that had a bit of a bite.)

Hoppy holidays

Sierra Nevada Celebration (Chico, Calif.) – This reddish offering from the pioneering craft brewery is chock full of piney, resiny hops that overpower its medium-bodied maltiness (in a good way).

Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve (Newport, Ore.) – Sort of a Celebration junior, this hopped-up version of the brewery’s St. Rogue Red layers citrus and spruce over a relatively light foundation for a winter beer.

Widmer Brrr (Portland) – In the other direction, this big red balances its considerable hoppiness with a firm maltiness. Taste familiar? It was previously released as W’06 in the brewery’s annual specialty series.

Elysian BiFrost (Seattle) – Named after the Norse gods’ bridge between heaven and earth, this golden-amber elixir is decidedly on the earthy side with its tangy hop presence.

New Belgium 2 Below (Fort Collins, Colo.) – An unusually grassy, herbal hoppiness predominates in what could best be described as an acquired seasonal taste.

Seasoned greetings

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (Boonville, Calif.) – This spiced ale strikes a pleasant balance, serving up cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and vanilla flavors without being overly cloying.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager (Boston and elsewhere) – The spices are on the subtle side in this easy-drinking dark lager (a wheat bock, for those of you keeping score at home).

Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale (St. Louis) – This micro wannabe is sweet and thin, heavy on the vanilla with just the slightest whiff of whiskey.

Alaskan Winter Ale (Juneau) – It’s not spices, but Sitka spruce tips that provide the herbal aromas in this candy-sweet seasonal. So now you can have your Christmas tree and drink it, too.