3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Draft at Alehouse 2. Poured hazy reddish brown color with an average fizzy white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate allspice sweet aroma. Medium to full body with a sticky texture. Medium spicy balanced flavor with a medium sweet spicy finish of moderate duration.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
400 beers and no end in sight. Tasted at Barley’s 10th Anniversary Party on November 21st. I have been waiting awhile to try this one, especially since I have heard tales of people visiting family in Columbus over the holidays just to get this beer. While I was a little let down, it was still a very good seasonal. Dark amber color. Spiced aroma of ginger with some hops. A little thinner than I would have hoped, and I think I should have let it warm a little to let the flavor come out more. Either way I will get another shot because I took home a growler.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
The beer pours an orangy copper color with a light white head, light carbonation.
The aroma is light nutmeg, cinamin, pine and alcohol.
The taste is light and delicate which is good because with the aromas this beer could be really overwhelming. The taste you get are a lots of tart pine and alcohol dominating with nutmeg mixed in there.
The beer is too watery and not very drinkable.
Overall a decent spiced winter beer.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
On tap at the Smokehouse. Pours a clear amber with a minimal off-white head. Spicy aroma of cinnamon, clove and ginger. Lots of cinnamon flavor mixed with a bit of tartness, followed by the ginger and clove flavors. Medium finish.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
On draft at the smokehouse - pours bright ruby/amber with a nice tan head that doesn’t stay very long. Aromas of honey, yeast, orange, ginger, and a bit of nutmeg. Flavor is a nice blend of citrus, orange mixed with honey and topped with ginger, nutmeg and just a dash of cinnamon. Palate is medium bodied and the mouthfeel is great on this one. Low carbonation but oh so smooth. This is the best Christmas ale I’ve tried this year.. Good stuff..
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
A freind of mine came over with a growler of this. Nice amber color with a big cream colored head that left some lacing and a strong toasty nose. The beer reminded me of cinnamon toast with cinnamon, white sugar and a grainy astringency. Something green in the finish. Nice spiced Christmas ale.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
On tap at the Ale House: Dark copper colored pour with an off white head. Aroma, some spice, caramel malts. Flavor, caramel, malty, brown sugar, some slight bitterness.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Spice aroma and flavor. Dark amber color.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Looks like a ESB, orangish brown. Maybe not as spiced as last years was decribed. Flavors were malt, with notes of orange, coriander and nutmeg. Balanced finish. Good spice ale.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
UPDATED: DEC 27, 2007 On tap at #1. Clear copper with minimal head. Quite a bit of ginger in the aroma that, other than the underlying malt, is all but overpowering. Not saying there isn’t anything else, it’s just that the ginger is hard to get around. The flavor is a nice bit of sweet caramel and candy like malt. Spices like ginger and ?. Again, ginger dominates. Though it is not bad in any way (which to me means there is more going on behind the scene). Semi-sweet with minimal hop presence (noticeable only in light bitterness). Medium, slightly slick body. Good Christmas brew.
Tried again 12/07. Don’t know if my tastes have changed but I really enjoyed this years. Did not re-rate but I will be bumping up my score.
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