Hoppy Hoppy Claus Holiday Ale

Brewed by Hoppy Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Sacramento, California USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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bottled, big thanks to chris for this one. poured a rich shade of amber with a hint of haze and a lasting off-white head; aroma of apple and rhubarb tart with lemon zest and hints of nutmeg and cinnamon; soft mouthfeel; some rusty tea flavours with a good hit of bitterness and some light lurking grapefruit. nice to drink a holiday beer that balances the xmas spices with some tangy hops

Bottle… Mostly clear amber ale with an orange tint and a mid-sized, creamy, white head. The bouquet lends a “secret blend of spices” – probably nutmeg, ginger and possibly clove – to compliment some really nice date and toffee notes. Medium to full-bodied with a buttery mouthfeel and snappy carbonation. The spicy, moderately sweet flavor presents brown sugar, caramel and sugar cookie flanked and balanced out a bit by medium woody bitterness and Christmas spices aplenty. Finishes bittersweet and dry. The sweetness quickly fades, but the bitterness hangs on a good while. Solid.

Bottled. Dark honey body, lightly sparkling, with an off-white, yellowish head, and nice lacing. Looks great. Mouth is medium to full with light, foamy carbonation and a lightly dry finish. Aroma of honey, flowers and LOTS A HOPS. Smells like...hops, hop flowers, fruit like a bag of fresh oranges, sweet malts, sugary pollen, honey, floral aroma, and rubbing alcohol. Tastes like...pine, wood, something nectar-like that I couldn’t really pinpoint, lightly alcoholic flavor and an astringent apple flavor. There is something like hop oil...or something. It’s unique. Pretty decent.

Bottle. Hoppy chocolate aroma with minor spice. Some pumpkin. Lots of spice in the flavor with strong pie spices, nutmeg, cinnamon and such. Very much like a pumpkin ale. Pretty nice. The hoppiness adds a good dimension to this.

sampled some time back. hazy copper pour with thin soapy head. nutmeg, cinnamon trump hops and malting in aroma. dry hopos. bitterness and rich roasted malt. nice.

Bottle. Poured with a finger and one half head, body is a nice amber color, after head dissipates leaves nice lacing. The nutmeg and cinnamon taste is very strong, but surprisingly enjoyable. I am very surprised how good this beer is for the spicy flavor.

On tap at the brewery. Deep copper color with no real head. Aroma has a variety of spices and is reminiscent of gingerbread. Flavor matches the aroma well with some bitterness on the finish. Medium bodied with a slightly sticky mouthfeel. Overall a nice winter beer.

Rich aroma of spice and malt. Deep coppery amber color with a not longlasting head which demonstrates a small amount of lacing. It’s beginning to smell a lot like Xmas. Starts with those spicy things like nutmeg, probably allspice, and a gingery tingle. Substantial mouth feel. Creamy, yes, but not exactly smooth. Every sip is a fresh expression of spice. And it’s spice that goes well with the ale concept. Imagine anybody doing this with a lager (challenge issued to Boston Beer; Fezziwig isn’t it). The finish is reduced spice, some kind of vegetable, and that light tingle. Not sure there’s much hop in here, but whatever it is works.

Bottle from Hi Time Cellars, xmas 07. Nice amber-straw color, white head that hangs in. Aroma is sweet malt and light spicy that hints of xmas loaf. Flavor is sweet crystal malty with a good balance spice, finishes bitter and clean. A decent beer, not much else to say.

GABF 2004: Pours a clear darkish copper with a thin off-white head. Aroma is rich, complex and well-spiced with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg supported by crystal malts. Body has a nice subtle maltiness and some dry caramel and a spiced finish. A nice holiday beer, but nothing too exciting.