3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Picked up a single 12-oz bottle at Pick ’n Save in Marshfield, WI. Pours a semi-clear dark copper brown colored brew with a thick light beige head that has some nice retention and lacing. Aroma of roasted dark malt, some spicy clove, vanilla and a touch of cinnamon. Taste is medium bodied, soft carbonation with flavors of light raisin, cinnamon, cloves, a touch of mincemeat pie filling and floral hops. Finish is semi-sweet with a mild sweet hop and light raisin aftertaste. Nice holiday spice detected in the finish.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Bottled. Poured deep garnet with a short, dense khaki head. The aroma picked up nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon over sweet vanilla and caramel.. tangy, lightly-metallic notes on the back of the nose.. OK. The flavor found sweet vanilla, caramel, and a bit of molasses at the core, with a tacky blend of spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and a little cardamom) around.. finished dry and a bit tangy. Lighter-bodied with a little too much reliance on spices on the palate.. overall quite drinkable, though.
4.1 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: DEC 31, 2012 OK, I don’t have the specs or anything for this ale...just found it at the local Copps store. It’s exceptionally good--spicy (nutmeg & cinnamon?), chocolatey, medium-to-full-bodied, and very warming. I did a web search and can’t find out much in the way of specifics for the brew. I’m not sure what style it is, but it packs a bit of a punch; that’s why I classed it as an American Strong Ale.
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