Alley Kat Weihnachtskatze

Formerly brewed at Alley Kat Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Edmonton, Canada

Serve in Lager glass, Tumbler

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Very pale hazy yellow, big sticky bubbles cling to the sides of the glass but real head was really produced, the beer actually reminds me of pop the way it fizzes. Smells like home made apple pie, cinnamon, apple, faint hints of malt also show up, very interesting and unique aroma I think I like it but could get sick of it. Man this is liquid apple pie; some one took a pie through it in a blender with a malty beer to make the blended pie easer to pour and through it in a bottle. Tons of cinnamon and apple comprise 99% of the flavor and a touch of honey, very clean taste no real lingering after taste to speak of. Strange brew, enjoyable and unique but if I drank more then one a mount I think I would get sick of it.

Originally reviewed Mar. 5, 2007: mmmmm. smells like grandma. uh. yeah. hahahahaa. poured with good fizz, but no head that stuck around. looks very pale with specks of floating bits throughout. of course, smells and tastes like apple pie. very interesting to say the least. has a pop-like feel. mmmm.

341mL bottle poured hazy amber color with big white fluffy head which settled quickly to a fine thin lacing. Aromas of various Christmas spices similar to apple pie. Taste is a blend of spices and sweet maltiness with a very mild hop finish. Overall, a nicley done beer for the Christmas season, it’s just too bad they had to retire this one.

Bottle shared courtesy of Josh. Poured a lighter yellow color with a smaller sized white head. ***Gusher Alert*** Some smaller floaters. Aromas of apples, cinnamon, and all ins of other spices. X-Mas candles. Tastes of the same spices and apple fruitiness. Fizzy body.

***review from Dec, 2006***

Liquid homemade apple pie. Looks like really watered down peach juice that is somewhat hazy - up to a light you can see lots of suspeneded stuff. Super quick fizz-up, then, poof - gone - with midium sized bubbles. Smelt just like fresh, hot apple pie. Lots of cinnamon with some strong spices in the background and a coating of honey. Taste is pie, honey, yeast and the above spices. Kind of has a pop-like feel to it and a dry yeast and sourness with some lingering spice.

(355ml bottle) Sampled at Ciderwinder 5 in Victoria. Cloudy, gold. Nose of Apple Fritter Quaker Oats instant oatmeal. Very satisfying meld of spices amongst the honey finish. So very nicely done. Cheers!

Rated the 2007 braggot. Pale, cloudy. No head. Big cinnamon aroma with nutmeg. Wow - kind of spritzy but otherwise some very cool flavours. You have an intense upfront spiciness. Then sweet, sugary malts, plus a great mead character that kicks in late with honey and alcohol. This really brings it all to the table.

UPDATED: DEC 20, 2006 Tasty, but sweet. Cloudy peach colour with the aroma and taste of this fruit bread I used to eat toasted with butter ages ago so this clouds my judgment somewhat. It does have a warming feel to it and may taste better warm.

Brian Westcott from Alley Kat said "This is the first time we’ve brewed a "braggot" (mead with a little beer in it, as we don’t have the license to produce mead, which is technically a wine I guess). SO, I don’t know how the heck people are going to rate it compared to previous years, since its been different every time its been brewed... not that it really matters, as long as people enjoy it." This years version is 5.5% . The colour was a big surprise. I was expecting copper and got a thin grapefruit. Almost no head. Aroma of honey, apple pie and strong cinammon. Tastes like a thin cider with too much cinammon. Slightly bitter finish. I might try a couple of ounces mulled.

Dave at Willow Park in Calgary is a genius and managed to get this in for the holidays. Now I’m not sure what the previous raters had, but this beer is absolutely nothing like a dunkel. It is pale golden yellow in colour and very hazy, almost like a witbier in appearance. I know the description says it is toffe coloured, but they must have changed this beer considerably since that description was written. To quote Dave, it smells like a glass of Apple Jacks-- fruity and VERY cinnamony. Feels almost champagne-like on the palate, with abundant fine carbonation and some yeasty-doughy character, but then the sweet fruit and rich Christmas spices take over. A really nice holiday beverage to be sure, but extremely sweet. I appreciate the craftsmanship as well as the festive feel of this beer, but in the end it is just too sweet for me.