Pours a cloudy golden amber, almost the color of natural honey. Practically no head, but a trace amount of lacing remains throughout. A restrained aroma mainly of stone fruit. Taste is more complex. Sweetness dominates, with stone fruit (cherry and fig) leading the way, followed by alcohol (brandy). Tastes of brown sugar and oak are also noticeable. Mouthfeel is watery, but slightly prickly. In sum, a fine beer, but one that almost tastes more like a scotch ale than the "Christmastime" dark ale that I had expected. Worth a try if you favor boozy, fruity beers.