topherh (878), Kearney, Missouri, USA Jan 12, 2009 2008 Bottle pours deep brown with red at the edges. Aromas of chocolate, ginger and other spices. Flavor is malts, nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate, and a little clove. DocHop (278), Baltimore, Maryland, USA Jan 11, 2009 Pours a very dark brown, ruby with a lasting tan head. Sweet, malty, caramel corn aroma along with hints of vanillas and spices. The sweet flavors come out at first, but the body is too thin to hold the flavor. Turns a little dry towards the finish but leaves a nice candy sweetness as it fades. Slightly roasty caramel dominates the flavor. BillKismet (1897), Seattle, Washington, USA Jan 11, 2009 2008. Deep dark brown with nice creamed top. Light allspice, roast barley, and raisin in aroma. The flavor is again of allspice, perhaps a hint of nutmeg, raisin, and caramel. Subtle spicing compared to the earlier versions, and as such, it comes off as under-powered and disappointing. rocbyter (902), Waterbury, Connecticut, USA Jan 10, 2009 Spicy cinnamon and nutmeg aroma. Dark amber-brown color with a medium light brown head. mild spices and malts in the beginning getting slightly minty in the the middle and fading in the finish. Palate is a little light but besides that this is the prefect Christmas beer. mgermani (862), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Jan 10, 2009 Pours a clear dark brown with a tan head with poor retention. Pfeffernusse aroma, molasses and spice (ginger, allspice). Nice chocolaty malting, lightly buttery and fruity with mild hops. Decent carbonation, and a nice creamy body. Easily my favourite Christmas beer! OldGrowth (1407), North Carolina, USA Jan 8, 2009 bottle, from Cary Whole Foods. Good aroma, sweet, caramel, spice, ginger, clove, evergreen. Some vanilla. Got a whiff of grapefruit now and again. Orangy brown color, Good head, ok lace. Bitter sweet flavor, take on a root beer taste, I mean a good root beer, not some canned crap, Molasses, ginger. Medium body, lite creamy mouth feel, spiced sweet finish. Good beer, another surprise I hadn’t got to this sooner beer. I’ve had it for years. Aroma kept me sniffin’, flavor was good in the spiced, but not overly done. dzzz333 (17), Elkton, Maryland, USA Jan 7, 2009 Its Black! its Darkness in yo mouth! strong, bold, with spices all defines this beer to the fullest. One of my favorite holiday beers and a must have for the season -End FunkyBrewster (437), Chicago, Illinois, USA Jan 7, 2009 Pours a dark brown with a soft red hue and a thick tan head. Aroma is very much like spiced Christmas cookies, like ginger. A nice bit of roasted malt as well. Flavor starts with the same bit of bold baked cookie sweetness and picks up the spices halfway through. The spices are much more bold on the back of the tongue. Finishes very sweet but then gets hit by a short lasting bitterness. Medium-full body and moderate carbonation. Very rich Christmas Ale that is rich and creamy. Represents the season very well!
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