kyzr (1119), Belgrade, Montana, USA Dec 13, 2008 Bottle thanks to riversideAK. Pours a dark amber with small brown head. Hint of some spice and malt on the nose. Flavor has some hop, caramilzed sugar, spice and some dried fruit. Finish is dry with a bit of roasted malt. Was shocked to see it was at 9%, very well hidden. BeerBunker (599), Burbank, Illinois, USA Dec 7, 2008 Pours dark orange with a fizzy tan head. Moderate carbonation. Aroma is of malt, chalk, chocolate, grain, spice, and mint. Taste is caramel malt up front with a heavy spiciness, balanced by a nice oat and pine taste. Lingering mint and spice taste. Very smooth, earthy flavors. Finish is very bitter. danielcurtis81 (879), San Diego, California, USA Nov 27, 2008 Bottle. Pours a dark copper with almost no head. Cinnamon, moderate yeast, apple juice nose. A sweat yeast flavor with some pine resin. Some caramel too. Warm dry mouth. A bit much with the alcohol flavors. it distracts a bit. Overall a nice Christmas beer. IrishBoy (2685), Bakersfield, California, USA Jul 25, 2008 12 oz bottle from Bottleworks; Nose of light citrus hops, caramel, and raisins Hazy rust with a medium beige head; Flavor of light hop bitterness, caramel yeastiness, and dark fruits; finish lightly bitter. Skyview (4007), Papoose Jct., Minnesota, USA Jun 24, 2008 Picked up a 12-oz bottle (2006 Vintage) from Bottleworks, north of downtown Seattle, WA. Pours a semi-cloudy (with particles)orange amber brew with a thin beige head that quickly dissipates to a fine film and no ring. Aroma of sweet caramel malt, a touch of Granny Smith apples, dark pitted fruits, and brown sugar. Taste is full bodied, very light carbonation with flavors of grandma’s mild fruit cake, dark pitted fruits, caramel malt, a touch of yeast and some brown sugar. Finish is quite sweet with a slowly disappearing dark fruit and bread aftertaste. No bitterness in this sweet winter beer. 152219 (14), USA May 27, 2008 354mL bottle poured into an English pint glass
Appearance: Orangey-amber hue with a small white light head that quickly disappeared. Small amount of carbonation.
Aroma: Caramel, yeast, bread, and a hint of hops.
Taste/Palate: Creamy on the mouth. A nice amount of caramel, bread, and fruit is present. A tiny hint of hops is also present. Nice mouthfeel. Surprisingly, the alcohol is masked quite well.
Very nice beer OldGrowth (1405), North Carolina, USA May 7, 2008 bottle, from trade with 5000. Ok aroma, sweet. Caramel, paper/cardboard, little banana, apple. Little hazed brownish orange color, good head, ok lace. Bitter sweet flavor. Not an overwhelming bitterness. Little citrus bite, or maybe a sour apple, Medium body, creamy mouthfeel, bitter finish. Ok, to me, at best. Nothing to excite me about it. None of the usual christmas notes. As an english strong I guess it a tad better, but never comes together with a flavor I liked. hopdog (5525), Lansdale, Pennsylvania, USA Mar 22, 2008 12oz bottle acquired in trade with riversideAK (thanks!). Poured a medium and lightly hazy amber color with a large sized off white head. Lots of suspended floaters. Aromas of yeast, bready, toasted malts, caramel, and all around malty. Tastes of caramel, toasty, bready, and some dark fruits. Alcohol content well hidden.
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