3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Murky brown swirling pour with a short-lived head. Faint gingery spice in the snout with a dusting of cinnamon, vinegar and urine. Robust (US?) hopping for once standing up to the mulled spiciness of a festive ale. Grapefruit tang and sourish fruit giving way to a firmly bitter hop finish. A peppery nip of ginger. Mulled but hoppy, characterful ale. And nothing like the Firebox whatsoever.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle 500ml from Waitrose, Christchurch. This ale has a fine aroma that sits somewhere between rum and a homemade sloe gin. It pours a deep copper colour with a medium off-white head. The taste has a touch of raw Christmas cake mixture to it - reminds me of being a kid and licking out the mixing bowl. There is more to it, though, much more. Flavours of rum and dark fruits come through with hints of spices. This ale is not too heavy and I could go for a good few sessions on this one, especially around Christmastime. In summary, a lovely warming winter festive ale.
2.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 9/20
aroma’s not too bad. the is defeintly a feeling of spices. pour falls flat with minimal carbination. palate is very thin. malts give an astringent after taste.
2.6 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 11/20
UPDATED: NOV 21, 2007 The aroma is interesting with spices especially cinnamon, raisins, malt, and grassy hops. The appearance is copper with a thin head. The flavor is like the aroma but medicinal and astringently bitter. The palate is thin. Overall I like the spice but it’s not that great.
2.8 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Bottled. A hazy amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet combined with a slight acidic touch and notes of berries, malt, and grapefruit. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of peaches and mangos, leading to a dry bitter finish. The body is thin inspite of the 6% ABV - perhaps lacking a bit of residual sugar.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottled. Copper coloured. Quite spicy aroma and flavour. Even tough it is very spicy it is well balanced and pleasant. Nice.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
I had no knowledge of this beer while shopping at Ledgers in Berkeley. The reason I picked it up was simply to try a new ale. Well I VERY glad I did because this was a fanastic brew and it came at the perfect time (a cold October evening).
The aroma is astounding. Strong notes of cloves, buttered rum (think a Tom & Jerry mix), cinnamon, raisins, and ginger. Appearance is amber in color, slightly cloudy with a nice off-white two finger thick head. Mouthfeel was a bit overcarbonated for my liking. Flavors were fantastic with clear cut tastes like cloves, raisins, sweet caramel malts, cinnamon, and various other spices keeping it interesting. Quite the unassuming bottle and label, but don’t be fooled. What’s inside is every bit as interesting a beer you will find for Christmas. So why not celebrate the Holidays now. Do your self a favor. Get this beer.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle. Hazy amber with a frothy yellowish head. Complex hoppy and fruity malts aroma. Spicy flavours- starting out fruity, then the dry spices kick in, but there are also chocolate notes. Quite dry finish. Well-balanced. Very nice.
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