Below is a brief review of several Christmas beers I collected for my what was suppose to be Christmas in July review but ended up taking longer. Those that enjoy a good taste sensation know its about the flavour but my wife does not drink and she might think I am a drunk if I tried them all in July. So here it is Christmas eve and here is my Christmas beer review. Understand that some breweries change the formula some each year but at least it gives you an idea of what breweries are able to brew something worth trying. This way you get a head start on preparing your winter shopping list even if its for next year.:
Lakefront brewery brings us a treat for the holidays
Holiday Spice lager beer Cinnamon clove orange and honey apparently if you bring them together the holidays will come. This is one of the better gifts from the winter holidays. If you are lacking in holiday spirit then try this holiday beer.
Official specs:
9.4%ALC/VOL
Our version of a winter warmer: brewed with cinnamon, orange zest, clove and generous amounts of honey. Pours a deep amber to ruby color with an off-white head. Aromas are fruity and spicy, with a slight floral undertone from the lager yeast. The flavor is smooth, full and spicy, balanced by the bite of Mt. Hood hops and a substantial, warming alcohol character. This is a full bodied beer, making it a holiday taste sensation that will warm your bones on a cold winter night.
Great with holiday meals; really cuts through the richness of fatty meats like goose and beef roast. Also a nice treat on its own…try sipping our Holiday Spice Lager by the fire on a cold Wisconsin evening and create joyful holiday memories that you'll hold on to.
Bells Christmas ale
One of the most malty Christmas beers I can currently recall the malt and the barley give this beer its flavour. I might find this a change as a regular beer but it does not capture the feeling or spirit of the holidays.
Christmas Ale
Anchor Brewing Merry Christmas Happy New Year 2011
Sometimes I might get chance to try a beer after its been closed out as it were this would be one of those. This is the 2011 version of anchors Christmas beer it is slightly past its available date still a good brew but mostly the taste of roasted malt some spices but more a winter warmer than a Christmas beer. Each year they feature a different tree on the label and so from an educational stand point it is good. If comparing beers to beers it is better than some but falls short of many.
Every year since 1975 the brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale, which is available from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.
ABV=5.5%
Rogue Santa's private selection
What can I say about this brew. Like the one above it is malty maybe even more so. As a beer to drink a few of, that has sufficient taste to stand up against spicy food for example. It is tolerable maybe even ok great it is not but it's also not bud light so lets give it that, and in the generouse nature of the season move on.
Santa's Private Reserve
Style: Red Ale
FOOD PAIRING: Beef,Pork
Tasting Notes: A double hopped Red Ale, reddish in color with a roasty, malty flavor and a well balanced spruce finish.
12 Ingredients:
2 Row, Munich, C15, C40, C75 and Rogue Farms Dare™ & Risk™ Malts;
Rogue Farms Newport™, Rebel™ & Freedom™ Hops; Free Range Coastal
Water and Pacman Yeast
Our Snowflakes Glisten in the dark!
22oz Bottle, 12oz Bottle & 6-pack / 13° Plato / 65 IBU / 73.1 AA / 26.75° Lovibond
6% ABV
Anderson Valley brewing offers up
Winter solstice seasonal ale
This was a nice flavour that although it did not over power you with the feeling of Christmas it did make me think winter could be a little more bearable with a few of these to pass the time with. it mentions toffee spice and caramel tease well I enjoyed being teased!
official word:
Winter Solstice® is our take on the classic style of “winter warmer.”
Boasting a deep amber hue and rich mouthfeel, its creamy finish will
lift your spirits. Hints of toffee, spice, and caramel tease the senses
making this the perfect ale to share with friends and family during the
cold days and long nights of winter.
FOOD PAIRINGS:
Roasted almonds, candied yams, baked spiral ham, pumpkin pie
CHEESE PAIRING:
Brie, Aged Cheddar
GLASSWARE:
Pint Glass
ALC/VOL:
6.9%
BITTERNESS:
6 IBU
MALTS:
Pale Two-Row, Crystal (40L and 80L), Munich (20L)
HOPS:
Northern Brewer, Liberty
AVAILABILTY:
September-February: Draft, 22oz & 12oz bottles, 12oz can
Troegs Mad Elf Ale
I had heard great things about this usually this is a recipe for disaster. I go into it expecting lots come out very disappointed. This time however I very much enjoyed it. I will not pretend that the cherry Honey and chocolate leapt out to me but I will say it excited my palate in a way that whiskey often does. It's high ABV might have had something to do with this I don't know. Ask me if I would drink it again I would say a resounding yes. Sadly this was a one of a kind at least till next winter.
Official word:
Tröegs Mad Elf Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 11.0%
Hop Bitterness (IBUs): 15
Color: Ruby Red
Availability: Seasonal (October - December)
Malts: Pilsner, Munich, Chocolate
Hops: Saaz, Hallertau
Yeast: Spicy Belgian
JuJu: Pennsylvania Honey, Sweet and Sour Cherries
Seasonal Release (Mid October - December)
The Mad Elf is a cheerful creation to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. The combination of cherries, honey, and chocolate malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious Ale. The Mad Elf is a jolly and delicious beer for the holidays.
Serving Suggestions:
Temp: 50-55° F | Glassware: Chalice or Tulip
Mt Carmel
Winter Ale
Its not Christmas let's see if it feels like it when you drink this....
Yes!
I will not claim that the sound of jingle bells can be heard but, tastes that remind you of some of the winter holidays taste sensations can be found in this bottle. You might even do a double take to see if the tree lights are plugged in. All joking aside here is the official word:
This festive ale calls to mind the holiday season with scents of spruce and ginger, mingling with flavors of orange-spiced bread, perfectly complementing a frosty evening.
Ok this was what I pulled from the fridge for my Christmas eve review. NOT BY BEST CHOICE EVER.
Brooklyn Brand Winter Ale
As a dark beer it was ok not a favourite but decent. However this Brews name suggests it as something more it was not. As a Christmas or Winter beer this was severely lacking.
Now the official word.......
BROOKLYN WINTER ALE
When the days grow short and the beach recedes into our dreams, we need a very nice beer to get us through the long winter. Based on the satisfying malty ales of blustery Scotland, Brooklyn Winter Ale will have you looking on the bright side of things. Rich Scottish malts bring deep bready flavors to a beer with a full copper color, a round, smooth palate, and brisk hopping that pulls the sweet malts into balance. See - things are looking up already!
Style: Scottish-style Ale
Malts: Scottish Floor-malted Maris Otter, English crystal malts, Belgian Aromatic malt, American Roasted malts, American oats
Hops: Willamette
Alcohol by Volume: 6.1%
IBUs: 25
Original Gravity: 16.5° Plato
Calories: 205
Food Pairings: Brooklyn Winter Ale is great with robust winter foods such as stews, steaks, lamb, game, duck, pork, barbecue, and it's a very nice match for a wide variety of fine cheeses, particularly farmhouse cheddar, Stilton, Gruyere and sheep’s milk cheeses. And should you decide to enjoy a cigar in your favorite armchair in front of the fireplace, this beer will play along very nicely.
Availability: November-March
Format: 15.5 gal kegs; 5.2 gal kegs; 24/12oz bottles
Well as Christmas approaches I will leave you to try these or any of the many Christmas/ winter brews.
Tomorrow will offer many taste sensations so until I taste again I bid You peace and wish you a Merry Christmas.
