12oz bottle. Pours black with an amber shade peeking through. Nice chocolate aroma. Deliciously rich and creamy. Roasted chocolate and cocoa flavors dominate. A great winter beer.

Late 2001 edition: a rye based beer. Nicely zesty - with that great light tingle of nuttiness from rye. Moderate bitterness and smooth sweetness makes this one of the preferable winter beers this year. Amber color with firm lasting head and lacing. Aroma is complex with hints of spice and unusual malts.

I’ve had both the bottled and draft versions. This one pours deep amber with ruby menisci and a creamy, white head. Aroma of malt, toffee, some hops and cabernet. Tastes rich, malty, with toffee/caramel, almonds, and cognac. Firm, slightly dry palate with a well balanced finish. One of the better "winter ales" I’ve had.

coffee, licorice, chocolate aroma. almost black with medium tan head. bitter coffee flavor. could be more robust. dry and chalky finish. i taste no hops. good stuff.

In my limited experience, best holiday ale I’ve had yet...certainly outdoes Sam Adams Winter Lager. Aroma is Christmas all the way, with heavy scents of chocolate, cinnamon, slight tobacco and nutmeg. Pours nicely, with a thick dark brown head, ale itself is nearly Guinness-black. Tastes like it smells; the chocolate really comes through on the palate during the aftertaste. A good sit-by-the-fire beer.