Elysian Valhalla Christmas Ale

Brewed by Elysian Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Seattle, Washington USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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It’s dark in here but this looks ruby maybe copper in color. It has that characteristic elysian swedish fish aroma. Im having a love affair with hops in this. Uber citrus. Kind tropical. I think they tried to do something with malt because theres some lurking off flavors of plastic. But this is just a dark IPA. Love it. Btw, has absolutely no elements of a holiday beer, ie no spice.

Pint @ 418 Public House. Wasn’t sure what this was when I ordered it (and neither did the waitress). Decent enough beer with a nice hop profile. I would exercise caution with the number consumed as that 7% can sneak up on you.

On tap at Naked City. Pours dark orange with a decent carbonation. Smells spicy and bitter, somewhat like Arrogant Bastard. Taste is along the same lines, malty and bitter. Crisp and drinkable, but not my thing. Sort of a let down with a name like Valhalla.

Cask. Light amber-brown. Woody c-hop aroma with earthy malts. Very earthy with lots of hops. The malts are understated and on cask the alcohol comes through a fair bit.

Cask version @ brewpub. Big hoppy aroma, *citra does not small like cat pee* Resinous, yes. Oh and it’s muddy looking! Murky red. Too strong for its own good. But the hop is fun. Silky cask makes the alcohol come out a lot, which detracts from the beer. Might prefer this kegged and more carbonated.

Tap at Elysian. Pours to a hazy deep rusty bronzed body with a foamy off-white head. Aroma of lemon and pine with light peaches. Flavor of sweet nectarines with a light pine and lemon. Bitter but not resiny or oily. Finishes rather clean with a medium body.

Tap @ Elysian. Cloudy dark amber pour, minimal head and lace. Nose is fresh cut oranges, sweet cake (carrot or walnut cake) with some cinnamon and a slight doughiness. Start is citrus and bitter. Body is medium and fruit sweet with minimal carbonation like a cask ale. There is a holiday ale sweetness in the depths of the middle, but I can’t define it well, even after two pints. Finish is a hair tart with some whisky and then bitter spruce. Very sessionable, which is surprising for a holiday ale.

On tap at Elysian Fields at Christmastime. Pours a murky red brown with a cream head and lots of lace. Faint aroma of better hops and flowers. Big flowers in the taste. Lemon, bitter grapefruit, ends with caramel.

@1221 e Pike St. Hazy amber color/ beige head, nice lacing. Nice floral, spicy hop aromas with a marshmallow sweetness. Super smooth medium body. Fresh tea, herbal, and floral hop flavors on a solid spicy sweet caramel base. great esb

tap at elysian fields. dark clear orange color, IPA-ish. sharp bitter taste on initial, keeps a kick going, with a decent spice aroma. very drinkable.