Crooked River Yuletide Ale

03-Sep-06 (12 oz bottle: Obtained 21-Mar-05 in trade with jeffin7, thanks Jeff!) I’m becoming a believer that these spiced winter ales age wonderfully. I actually have two bottles of Yuletide Ale, and although pushing two years now, the beer is delicious! Malty, chocolaty, roasty, lightly spicy and a bit earthy and smoky. Spices are surprisingly subdued, perhaps diminished from the aging. Malts are moderately sweet, and with hops playing little role here and the roast not contributing much in the way of bitterness, the chocolaty malts really dominate. Perhaps there is a hint of butter in the background when the beer warms up, but even warm, it remains a tasty brew. Body is medium and carbonation is light. The malty nose is chocolaty and lightly sweet. The initially hazy, brown-colored body turns fairly clear once all the particles settle to the bottom. Small, light-tan head dissipates somewhat rapidly, leaving just a thin ring as a quiet remembrance. Very enjoyable, one of those pleasant cellaring surprises for me.

Reddish-brown color and a tannish head. A spicy aroma and a decent finish.

Reddish brown with an offwhite head and aromas of citrus, dark fruit, and malt. The flavor has some earthiness and spice accompanied by a bit of malt. Finish on the palate is slightly astringent.

Reddish-brown body, slightly congealed looking in glass, with bubbly sediment. Head is eggnog colored, decently thick for being 3 years old or so, and very longlasting (till the last drop). Aroma is cherry, dates, malt of course, and snappy citrus hops. Fun! Taste is jampacked with flavor, nothing mild about the palate on this oldster. Heavy malt, plum, and dark cherries rounded out with caramel backdrop and lemony hops. Alcohol sizzle and caramel round out the aftertaste. Solid beer, deserves a better ranking. Picked this up in a "discount" crate (unfortunately, the date had worn off) at Chevy Chase Liquor and Beer, in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

Crooked River Yuletide Ale pours to a beautiful, bright, tawny brown color with a thick and creamy tan head, and a soft to moderate amount of carbonation. The nose is wonderful with lots of sweet and caramel malt aromas paired with very nice spicy aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is rich and delicious with lots of big sweet and caramel malty flavors. Slick malty flavors of butter scotch, toffee and caramel slide over the tongue. Yuletide Ale finishes with more wonderful malty flavors up front, then ends with slightly warming, spicy cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg flavors that linger.