Breckenridge Christmas Ale

Brewed by Breckenridge Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
Denver, Colorado USA

12oz. bottle. Malty aroma of dark bread and brown sugar, some light raisin, cocoa and citrus noted as well as a faint, unfortunate whiff of trash. Clear, deep red-brown color, the head quickly fading. Flavor is sweet, fruity and lightly spicy, with hints of dough, pine, tangerine and a lingering toffeeish sweetness mingling with a light-moderate dosage of hop bitterness for the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, very gently warming and just a tad thin, body is medium. I certainly recall this being a bit more refined, hoppy and just plain enjoyable in times gone by. So it goes.

Original rating - 11/13/01:
Some sweet, dark maltiness and obvious Chinook hops in the aroma. Mahogany color. Appropriate carbonation and head for this style, which is to say somewhat understated. Fruitiness and sweetness of the darker malt selection blends with the spicy hop flavors, balancing rather well. Hops are quite evident throughout, but really come through on the aftertaste, which is quite good, and something that I look for a decent Winter or Strong Ale to have. Somewhat smooth palate and a full-bodied brew. All in all, this is a pretty tasty beer. I’m someone who really likes this style a lot, though. Score: 3.5

Slightly bland. Dark color, semi-sweet flavor but overall too boring.

Name: XMas
Date: December 26, 2009
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Prado
Appearance: clear dark amber, fine beige head, heavy lace
Aroma: sweet spicy malty aroma, cinnamon
Flavor: rich malt flavor, touch of caramel sweetness, balancing spicyness, light bitterness
Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: ** /4

Picked up at Warehouse Beverage, Cleveland. Pours dark colour, virtually no head. Aroma is a touch of roast, and that’s it. Taste is spot-on coca-cola,with spices added such as ginger and allspice. OK, but not so drinkable tonight after so many good spicey meals.Above average carbonation, and mouthfeel.

Nothing special. Bottle. Poured amber, no head, little aroma. No big taste either. The alcohol is hidden, but so is the taste. Maybe it was a bad bottle, but, if it was as good as the label, it would have been better.

12 oz bottle. Tasted this and the Goose Island Xmas Ale back to back on Christmas Eve. Amber, light brown color. Light white head. Fruity, hoppy aroma. Some malt, not much. Floral, hoppy, sour flavor, acidic? Dry, sourish finish. The Goose Island was the far better of the two.

Pours a dark reddish copper colour with a medium size tan head. Lacing is intriquite, Aroma is slightly nutty and a times a bit yeasty. Nice, pleasent mouthfeel. Very smooth with rich flavors.

very deep brown in color with a light tan creamy and thick head with very nice lacing. has a very roasted aroma with some nuttiness and spice. slightly sweet caramel flavor with some nuttiness. mild hops and a bit of oakiness end in a dry finish. mouthfeel is a a bit thin for this style.