Abita Christmas Ale

Bottle thanks to unclemike. Pours a dark mahogany color with a light brown head of medium size. The aroma is full of caramel, hops and some spices. The flavors is nice; a semi-bitter hop bite, some rich caramel malts, candies, and a bit of spices. Maybe a gingerbread cookie in there. Not bad.

This is a rather nice Christmas ale. I’ve thus far liked all the Christmas ales I’ve had. A nice dark chocolatey flavor with a sweet aroma--smells of cinnamon and chocolate. You’ll like this. Check it out.

12oz bottle. Less than pleasant aroma of hay and dry dog food. That combination really reminded me of Christmas in an ’away in a manger’ sort of way. Poured a clear reddish orange color. The head was two fingers high and off white. It reduced over a minute or two to a thin film and left a bit of lace behind on the glass. Light to medium bodied and dry. The flavor wasn’t any better than the aroma; dry dog food, bitter grains, and unsalted whole wheat pretzel. Merry Christmas!

Bottle. Sweet dusty nose with evident sticky malt, brown sugar, fruitcake, figgy pudding. Deep dark amber pour with a brown-infused beige head. Very dry, bitter taste, woody and earthy with toast and lots of hard nuts. Crackers and slippery malt, medium-full body, crisp initial carbonation. Remains dry and earthy - would have been a solid brown ale in the regular rotation. Enjoyed it. Much better than previous seasons, it appears.

I have tried this several times, ending with the 2006 release. I usually love an amber ale, but there is a taste I can’t pin down in this that really turns me off, maybe a spice.