Saint Arnold Christmas Ale

Brewed by Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Style: English Strong Ale
Houston, Texas USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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Too bad no one knows this beer’s abv - it goes down a little warm. Interesting also that it’s not in the spice/herb/veggie category since the taste is a herbal one. Thinner than its brown color would lead you to expect. Really nice if you like the winter warmer style beers.

A distinctly sweeter taste with hints of spice and fruit. Rating would be higher except for the strong alcohol aftertaste.

Smooth and creamy, a little malty. Strange aftertaste that somewhat mimicked kick.

Ah, a little Christmas in July... Let me just say that this beer is *red*! Bright, fiery orangey red. Red like the hair of a fair Irish lass. Head is a small fractal pattern of tiny bubbles. Light berry aroma, with some malt sweetness and pine as well. Fruity and sweet flavor profile, with a very interesting blend of flavors on the finish, having some herbal hops, spiciness, fruitiness and a nice effervescent, smooth feel. Interesting malty flavors for the aftertaste, more berry here too, having some complexity. Feels very light on the tongue, overall body is very soft. This is quite tasty, just anticipate subtlety, not the usual flamboyant character of your typical Winter Warmer. Well, what do you know, it’s all gone... I’d love to try the cask version of this one.

Cask: very herbal and tobacco aromas (barnyard hay?); light palate; bad cask? will resample bottle in a few days. i will give this a good rating so i do not screw things up.

Everything you could want from a Xmas ale. Warming with a HIT of alcohol in the finish. Sweet and hoppy, everything good. Santa loves this beer too!! (2001 CASK)- Much more restrained in the sweetness department; Mouthfeel is PERFECT with no carbonation and smooth as silk. The color is also slightly more orange. As close to perfect as I may have ever had. Rerate-2-28-02 Although I still love this beer, after much soul-searching, I can not let it have a perfect score. There are a few flaws that keep it from being in the same strata as Chimay Blue or Fullers Vintage. I will knock off a point in flavor for being too sweet at times. Sorry Brock, but I gotta.

Brown-red. Creamy head. Very malt accented. Soft and very balanced. Great beer!

Clear, amber. Thin head that didnt last. A nose with a hint of strawberries and subtle spices. Nothing too assertive. Smooooth medium to almost thick body, palate is full of subtle flavors of malt, spices and hops. Very interesting brew. Thanks Legion!

Far superior to the almost abrasive Sierra Nevada Celebration. Full flavor yet a bit too sweet in the aftertaste.

Good start once I got past the aroma of alcohol. I liked the spicy, somewhat fruity taste, and if I could have stayed in the middle I would have liked this ale alot. But the strong alcohol finish took away from an otherwise very good seasonal ale.