Dark ruby amber colour; mincemeat pie aroma; malty, chewy, raisiny, mincemeat palate. Sweetish finish.

This beer still rocks.

2002 bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is dark amber. Aroma is lightly malty (caramel, cookie), lightly hoppy (flowers), with a prominent note of allspice, hint of clove. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, heavily bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Very bitter for a winter warmer, which is actually kind of nice but it’s a little overboard for the style. The malt and hop components don’t add up to much in the aroma, but it is generously spiked/spiced with allspice (although they don’t list it as an ingredient on the label, it’s pretty obvious), which is expected in a brew of this sort and admittedly pleasant. A bit thin and not especially warming, though.

2002 Re-taste – Reddish brown color, medium head. Aroma is malty and slightly spicy. A medium bodied red-ale. Malts are mild and sweet. Spices are nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and ? Hops are bright and spicy. Very drinkable winter ale, a little thin when compared to others, but still very drinkable. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is mild and smooth. Aftertaste is spicy and malty sweet. ----------------- Medium brown color, small head. Nicely roasted malts, lightly hopped. Nice toffee flavor. Finish is mild. Aftertaste is slightly bitter, very malty.

This brew poured a medium sized head of fine to large sized long lasting light brown colored bubbles that left behind a softly carbonated hazy brown colored body and a poor lacing. The aroma is nice, but so mild and weak it is hard to rate it well. THere were notes of faint malt and something else that I could not put my finger on. Its mouthfeel was smooth and slightly hopped while its flavor was malty with a not well hidden alcohol note to it.