Weyerbacher Winter Ale (7/10)

This beer was produced by Weyerbacher Brewing Company of Easton, Pennsylvania.  It’s and English Brown Ale brewed with a deep-roasted chocolate malt.  Weyerbacher Winter Ale is generally available from November through March.

Pours a nearly black dark brown, a bit darker than a cola but not as dark as a typical stout.  As you can see in the photo at the left, it’s a little bit clear rather than cloudy, and produces a healthy head of beige foam that lasts for a while.

The aroma is that of dark malt and chocolate, fitting for the beer’s grain bill of deep-roasted chocolate malt.

The flavor is very malty, with a little sourness and a bit of smoky charred grain bitterness to it.  I get a hint of cola in the flavor as well.

Rate Beer gives this a 61 overall, which I think is a bit rough on it.  Beer Advocate’s 78 out of 100 is closer to my own rating of 7 out of 10.


Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Dark malt and dark chocolate
ABV: 5.6%
IBU:  Unknown, but probably in the 25-30 range
My Rating: 7/10

Weasel Boy Snow Ermine Holiday Ale (8/10)

Zanesville’s Weasel Boy Brewing Company makes this holiday ale.  It starts with their Blackfooted Porter, but with added gravity, Ohio honey, imported vanilla, and organic cocoa nibs.

It pours a clear-ish dark brown with a beige head that lasts a while.

The aroma on this beer is amazing.  It would make a nice air freshener.  It’s something like a smore and a cup of dark coffee at the same time.  There is a definite marshmallow aroma, probably from the honey and vanilla.  There is dark chocolate from the cocoa nibs.  The malt adds a coffee note to it.  

The flavor follows the aroma. It starts malty and somewhat mocha-like, then becomes more like a very dark chocolate with some marshmallow, finishing with a coffee-like bitterness.  It’s a very satisfying experience.  It’s not unlike having a glass of dark hot chocolate with marshmallow in it.

This is a new enough beer that Beer Advocate currently has only a few ratings, too few to give it a score.  Most of the Beer Advocate reviews that exist as of this writing give it something in the 3.78 to 4.4 out of 5 range (something like 76-88 on a 100 scale).   Rate Beer is in the same boat, with reviews ranging from 3.5 to 4 out of 5.  I’m giving it a solid 8/10.  A little sweeter and a little less bitter and this could easily jump to a 9 or a 10 for me.  It definitely works as a holiday beer.  It’s like sitting down in front of the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and marshmallow.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty, slightly sweet
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, dark chocolate, and a hint of marshmallow
ABV: 7.2%
IBU:  37
My Rating: 8/10

Avery Old Jubilation Ale (7/10)

Avery Brewing of Boulder, Colorado, produces Old Jubilation.  This is an English Old Ale which features a blend of five specialty malts and no spices of any kind.  It’s released in September each year in six-packs, cases, and (as in this review) draft kegs.

It pours a dark mahogany brown with a thin off-white head that lasts a while.   The aroma is definitely malty, which is not surprising given the ingredient list.

The flavor follows the aroma.  It’s malty and nutty, with a touch of sweetness to it.  The finish is also malty, and very slightly bitter.  Overall, it strikes me as a fairly standard brown ale.

Beer Advocate rates it an 87 or “very good”.  Rate Beer gives it a 96 overall.  It’s a little more hoppy than I’d like it to be, but overall it’s a good beer.  I’m giving it a 7 out of 10.




Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level:  Medium
Dominant Flavors:  Malt and hazelnuts
ABV: 8.3%
IBU: 45
My Rating: 7/10

Sierra Nevada Celebration (3/10)

I have a lot of respect for the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  They entered the craft beer market at a time when relatively few Americans knew or cared much for craft beer.  I’m sure it wasn’t easy, and they deserve all the success they enjoy today.  But to be completely honest, as much as I want to support them and enjoy their products, I don’t really like most of them.  The only exceptions to that are the Ovila Abbey Ales.  In fact, their brandy barrel aged Ovila Quad is unquestionably one of the finest beers I’ve ever had. I’ll happily drink that every chance I get.

Celebration Ale is Sierra Nevada’s holiday beer.  According to their web site, “First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers.  Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook hops – honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada.”

It pours a coppery brown color, very slightly cloudy, with a finger-thick white head.  The aroma, as Sierra Nevada intended, is very pine-like with a hint of grapefruit, from the very generous hops load.  The flavor follows this aroma.  It’s pretty much “just another IPA” as far as I’m concerned.  It’s bitter, with pine and grapefruit elements dominating, and little else in the way of flavor or complexity.  The only thing making this a winter or holiday beer is the label artwork which features a cabin in the snow.

It’s only fair to Sierra Nevada and this beer to say that I simply do not like IPAs.  To me, they are a “one note” beer.  It’s pretty much all about the hops and the bitterness, at the expense of all else.  That means I’m predisposed to rate this beer very low.  This does not make it a bad IPA.  In fact, I would guess that it’s probably a very good IPA, given that Rate Beer gives it a 98 overall and Beer Advocate gives it 93-96 (which is “outstanding” or “world-class”).  With all due respect to Sierra Nevada and the beer fans on the other sites, I’m rating this a 3/10.  I don’t enjoy drinking it as a beer, and I don’t see anything unique about it as a Christmas, holiday, or winter seasonal.  It’s simply another IPA.  We have more than enough of those on the market to suit me.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter, like any other IPA
Spice Level:  Little or none
Hops Level:  High
Dominant Flavors:  Bitter pine tree and grapefruit
ABV: 6.8%
IBU:  65
My Rating: 3/10

Brooklyn Winter Ale (8/10)

Brooklyn  Brewery produces this Winter Ale.  According to their web site, it’s a Scottish-style Ale brewed with a variety of malts and oats with Willamette hops.  It won a silver medal at the 2011 World Beer Championships and a gold medal in 2009.  It’s available from November through March.

It pours from the bottle a clear, deep coppery brown color. with a tan head that lasts a while.
The aroma is malty with a hint of hops.

The flavor easily makes it the best Brooklyn Brewery product I’ve ever had.  It’s balanced slightly toward the malty side (rather than hoppy), which is what I prefer in a winter beer.  It’s smooth and not overly carbonated.  The hops presence is light, leading to an IBU rating of only 25.

Beer Advocate doesn’t care so much for this beer, with The Bros rating it “okay” at a 75/100 and the visitors giving it an 82/100 or “good”.  Rate Beer gives it a 57 overall.  I’m more in line with the visitors at Beer Advocate here.  I think it’s a very good beer, and rate it 8/10 (which equates to their 82/100).

The beer is reportedly available at Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Lucky’s Grille in Hilliard.  I bought this particular bottle at Kenny Road Market.

Flavor Profile:


Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  Non-existent
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Dark roasted malts with a well-balanced hops presence
ABV: 6%
IBU:  25
My Rating: 8/10

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale (6/10)

I’m a big fan of St. Bernardus Abt 12.  I also like their Prior 8 and Tripel beers.  When I saw that they also offer a Christmas Ale, naturally I had to grab one (in this case, from the Giant Eagle at Sawmill and Hayden Run). 
The beer pours a dark, slightly cloudy brown with a massive, massive tan head that takes a while to dissipate down to a drinkable level.  It leaves behind spotty rings of lacing.

The aroma is yeasty, with some spice, fruit, and caramel to it.

The flavor is a nearly evenly balanced mix of malt, caramel, sourness, and hops bitterness.  The usual Belgian spices are in the background.  The overall flavor profile, while not unpleasant, is very disappointing.  I’d still rather drink this than a macro brew, but I’d rather drink anything else I’ve had from this brewery than this beer.   I thought that maybe I’d gotten a bad bottle, so I picked up another a few weeks later and had the same experience.  For curiosity's sake, I've even bought a third and will age that until Christmas 2014.

December 20, 2014 Update:  That bottle I aged from last year was opened tonight.  The first and most obvious change was the carbonation level.  The cork blew out of the bottle and out of my hand like a shotgun blast.  It hit the ceiling and bounced across the kitchen.  In the glass, it created about twice the head you see in the photo above... The aroma after a year of aging is now more a balance of malt and yeast, with a mineral element.  The flavor has definitely changed.  The hops bitterness has dropped to a more subtle level, but there is still a bitterness to it.  Caramel is pretty much gone, though it's plenty malty.  Dark fruit is more pronounced.  It's definitely better than last year when it was fresh, but I have to say that I still don't love it.  I'd rate a year-old bottle of this a 7 out of 10.  It's a good beer but just doesn't "wow" me.

I’m in the minority here.  Beer Advocate rates this 90-94 or “outstanding” with over 1,000 ratings.  Rate Beer gives it a 99 overall.  I don’t particularly like it, so I’m rating it a 6 out of 10.  Without the sour element, I might give it an 8.

As mentioned earlier, I’ve seen this beer at Giant Eagle near Sawmill and Hayden Run Road.  I don’t recall having seen it at any other local retailers.  Price is around $13.99 per large bottle.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Slightly tart
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, hops, and a kind of mild vinegary sourness
ABV: 6.5%
IBU:  25
My Rating: 7/10

Ommegang Adoration (10/10)

Adoration is brewed as a limited edition beer by Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown, New York.  It’s brewed in the style of Belgian winter or noel beers.  Ommegang’s web site says that it’s “dark, malty, and assertively spiced”.  It’s brewed with dark malts, coriander, orange peel, mace, cardamom, and grains of paradise.  It’s available for a limited time in 12-ounce bottles and 1/6 kegs.

It pours a clear cherry brown color with a thick tan head that lasts a while.

The aroma is caramel malt and Belgian-style spice.

The flavor follows the aroma, with a strong malty sweetness, backed by citrus and spices.  There is a warming alcohol note, but not as much as you’d expect for a 10% ABV beer.  It’s an excellent beer and exactly the kind of thing I’d be happy to sip at Christmas time, or any time.  It’s a shame that it’s a limited edition brew.

Beer Advocate, Rate Beer, and I are all pretty much in agreement.  This is an outstanding beer.  Rate Beer gives it a 96 overall.  Beer Advocate rates it a 91.  I’m giving it a solid 10.  It’s everything I like in a beer, and nothing I dislike.

I purchased this particular bottle as a loose single at Kenny Road Market.  I’ve not seen it at other retailers yet, but when I do you can be sure that I’ll pick some more of it up.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Sweet
Spice Level:  Moderate
Hops Level:  Minimal
Dominant Flavors:  Dark fruits, caramel, spice
ABV: 10%
IBU:  Unknown
My Rating: /10

Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale (8/10)

Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. of Akron, Ohio, produces many fine products, including 12 Dogs of Christmas, their entry into the Christmas beer marketplace.  According to the label, 12 Dogs is brewed with honey, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg… like many other Christmas ales.

It pours a clear coppery color with a thick tan head made of very coarse bubbles that lasts around a minute.

The aroma is malty and spicy.

The flavor has a strong malt character, with prominent nutmeg and ginger elements.  When colder, it tends to be a slightly sweet beer with some bitterness coming from the nutmeg and ginger.  (I’ve seen beers do ginger and nutmeg so that they don’t contribute a bitterness or sourness, but this isn’t one.)  Hops takes a back seat in this one.

I’m sure that many readers will disagree with me on this, but I think 12 Dogs of Christmas is a better Christmas ale than the much sought-after Great Lakes Christmas Ale.  It also tends to be much easier to get.  Don’t get me wrong.  I like Great Lakes Christmas Ale and I’ll happily drink it, but given the choice between that beer and this one, I’ll take 12 Dogs of Christmas every time.  And I’ll take The Brew Kettle’s Winter Warmer over both.

Beer Advocate readers give 12 Dogs of Christmas an 89 or “very good” rating with over 375 people weighing in, and The Bros give it 92 or “outstanding”.  Rate Beer is tougher on it, giving it a 78 overall.  It’s a solid 8 for me, though the draft version (which I find to sometimes be a bit smoother than the bottled one) leaning in 8.5 territory.

Flavor Profile:




Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  Medium
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, ginger, nutmeg
ABV: 8.3%
IBU:  21.5
My Rating: 8/10

Sixpoint Global Warmer (3/10)

Sixpoint Brewery of Brooklyn, New York, produces a long line of canned craft beers.  Global Warmer is a 2013 release, labeled as a “winter warmer” style beer.  In their blog post about it, Sixpoint wanted to show that you could follow the prevailing trend of cramming a lot of hops into every beer style.

The beer pours a cloudy reddish brown color with a coarse white head that leaves behind sheet-like lacing.

The aroma is pine and grapefruit, which you’d expect for something intended to showcase hops.

The flavor follows the aroma to the letter.  It’s like drinking a glass of concentrated grapefruit juice into which a Christmas tree has been steeped for two or three months.  It’s bitter and unpleasant.  To call it a winter warmer is to insult all other winter warmers.  The only thing that warmed my heart about this beer was that I bought only a five-ounce sample.  It warmed my heart to know that once that sample was gone, I’d never have to drink this beer ever again.

The Beer Advocate folks gave it an 88 or “very good” rating with over 130 reviews.  Rate Beer gives it an 84 overall.  For me, this is just not what I want, expect, or like in a winter warmer, so it gets a 3 out of 10.

I sampled it at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington, but I’ve seen Sixpoint’s products at various local retailers in Columbus.


Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter, bitter, bitter
Spice Level:  Undetectable
Hops Level:  High
Dominant Flavors:  Pine tree and grapefruit
ABV: 7%
IBU: 70
My Rating: 3/10

Lagunitas Brown Shugga (4/10)

While preparing for all these December seasonal beer reviews, I did some research on beer forums online.  I looked for all the beers that forum visitors rated highly from among the Christmas and winter beers.  A name that came up frequently was Lagunitas Brown Shugga.  The beer features a strong malt load, combined with Brown Cane Sugar, as well as hops.  It’s available starting in October.

At a tasting at Weiland’s Gourmet Market a while back, I got to meet a couple of their employees and try their products.  While I think their IPA is a little smoother and easier to drink than most other IPAs, I also think that everything Lagunitas makes tastes the same.  That is, everything they make tastes like an IPA… and I really don’t care for IPAs.  Still, as highly rated as Brown Shugga was, I had to try it.  I picked up a 6-pack at Kenny Road Market for around $10 and brought it home.

The color is a clear reddish amber with a thick white head that dissipates somewhat slowly.
The aroma is a mix of caramel and hops, with hops being front and center.

The flavor is… well… what I expected.  It’s quite hoppy.  This hoppiness is offset only by the sweetness of the brown sugar used in brewing it.  Ultimately, for this “not an IPA fan” beer guy, it’s too much like an IPA and too little like a holiday or seasonal beer.  As an experiment, I've cellared a couple of bottles to try during the Christmas 2014 season.

Beer Advocate readers and “The Bros” seem to love it, giving it 90/100 or “outstanding”.  Rate Beer does also, giving it a 97 overall.  While I respect those ratings, for my taste this is just not a pleasant beer to drink.  I’m giving it a 4/10. 

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter: Bitter foremost, with sweet in the background
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level: High
Dominant Flavors:  Hops first and foremost, then sweet caramel
ABV: 9.99%
IBU:  Unknown, but I’d estimate in the 40-50 range
My Rating: 4/10

Guinness Red Harvest Stout (6/10)

Guinness is well-known for its stouts.  Red Harvest is an irish dry stout.

It’s shipped in a can with a device inside to provide serving-time carbonation.

It pours with a  thick whipped-cream-like head that lasts for a very, very long time.  The beer itself is a deep mahogany (reddish brown).

The aroma mixes coffee and chocolate, which you’d expect for a stout.

The flavor differs a bit from the aroma.  It pretty much tastes just like a standard Guinness stout.  The difference is that the flavor is very, very subtly more smooth.  Mouth feel is thinner and more watery than a standard Guinness.  The head gives it a bit of a milkshake-like creaminess.  In the end, it’s nothing I’d rush out to buy again but it’s not a beer I’d turn down if someone offered it to me.  I find myself asking much the same question Marc Bona of the Cleveland Plain Dealer did… Why did Guinness bother to brew this, given that it tastes exactly like their signature stout?  If they wanted to impress me, they’d come up with a stout that tastes like Jamaica’s Dragon Stout or Dragon Stout Spitfire.  Now that’s a beer I’d rush out to get…

Beer Advocate rates it a 72-75 or “okay” while Rate Beer was much tougher, giving it only a 31.  My rating of 6/10 is closer to Beer Advocate’s in this case.

I purchased the can used for this review at Kenny Road Market in their single beers section for about $2.50.  You can probably find it at other local retailers.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Dry
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level:  Mild
Dominant Flavors:  Standard Guinness stout
ABV: 4.1%
IBU:  Unknown
My Rating: 6/10

New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA (4/10)

Those of you who know me, or have been reading this blog a while, are probably saying “Wait, he’s actually reviewing an Imperial IPA?  He’s actually drinking an Imperial IPA?  What gives?”

Well, this is “New Belgium Week” on Columbus Beer Scene.  The Fort Collins brewer has been kind enough to bring its products to us, so I’m going to give seven of them a write-up this week.  I received this beer as part of a gift pack back in September.  But you need to know up front that I really don’t care for IPAs.  Too many of them are all about cramming hops in a bottle with little concern for what else is in there.  If that’s your thing, that’s fine with me.  It’s not mine.  I prefer a smoother, easier-drinking, more complex flavor profile.  That said, let’s begin.

The beer pours a clear amber with a two-finger-thick head of whipped cream like white foam. 

The aroma is undeniably hoppy, with a strong pine element to it.  I also get some grapefruit.  As with most IPAs, that’s all I really get in the aroma.  If you can smell the malt or anything else, your nose is better than mine… or maybe I’m just allergic to hops?

The flavor is less hoppy than the aroma would indicate.  That’s not to say it’s not a hoppy beer.  It is.  It clocks in at 85 IBUs, which is pretty bitter.  Still, it’s no Stone Ruination (100+ IBUs).  If I was asked to estimate the IBUs on this one, I’d clock it in a bit lower, maybe at a 70.  On the other hand, this is a 90-day-old bottle of Rampant, so maybe it’s mellowed a bit.  Or maybe my hops tolerance is a little higher.  Beer Advocate’s reviewers described it as a “hop bomb” – which you can take for what you will.  For me, it’s an indication that I’m probably not the target market for Rampant.
Like any other IPA, there isn’t much to the flavor of this, at least for me.  There’s a hint of citrus, a lot of pine, and only the barest notion of malt being a part of the beer.  And no, I don’t particularly like it any more than I do any other IPA.  The lack of much complexity in the flavor combined with the sledgehammer approach to hops just doesn’t work for me.  I love you, New Belgium, but I don’t love this beer.  Your Trippel is good.  Your Abbey double rocks.  Your Cascara Quad, I absolutely adore.  But Rampant… this is simply not a beer for me. 

Beer Advocate doesn’t love it, either, giving it only an 84 out of 100 or “good” rating.  Rate Beer loves it a bit more, offering up a 92 out of 100 rating.  For me, it’s just another IPA, and those don’t rate well with me.  I give it only a 4 out of 10, which means in my world, I’d rather drink a Budweiser, Miller, or Coors product. 

This beer isn’t available in Ohio, yet.  You’ll have to travel outside our fair state to pick up a bottle.  Their Ranger IPA is in stores now, and sells (at least this week) for $2.99 for a 22-ounce “bomber” bottle.  Personally, I prefer the Trippel, which is also $2.99 a bottle.  Those beers can be found at Kenny Road Market, Giant Eagle stores, Ale Wine and Spirits in Powell, and probably many other local retailers.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter
Spice Level:    None
Hops Level:   High
Dominant Flavors:  Pine and grapefruit hops
ABV: 8%
IBU:  85
My Rating:  4/10

Southern Tier Krampus (4/10)

Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, New York, makes this Imperial Helles Lager.  The name Krampus comes from the legend of a fanged, horned goat that punishes the naughty children while Santa’s out giving presents to the good ones. 

It pours something of an orange-looking cloudy brown color with a thick off-white head.

The aroma practically screams “hops” at the top of its lungs.

The flavor starts with a moderate to high amount of hops bitterness and pine-like flavor.  This hides a subtle caramel sweetness which is difficult to make out with the hops blasting at you.

The hop fanatics at Beer Advocate rate it 88-90 or very good to “outstanding”.  The Rate Beer crowd similarly adores it, giving it a 96 overall.  To me, this beer lives up to its namesake.  It’s a punishing, hoppy thing that I hope never visits me again.  There are many other Christmas and winter beers I’d drink first.  I’m giving it a 4/10.  If you’re an IPA fanatic, you’d probably rate this a 9/10.

I tried this on draft at The Daily Growler.  I’ve seen the bottled version at Giant Eagle Marketplace and other local retailers.



Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter: Bitter, bitter, bitter
Spice Level:  Non-existent
Hops Level:  According to Southern Tier, “our highest”
Dominant Flavors: Hops, Caramel
ABV: 9.0%
IBU:  Unknown, but probably in the 60+ range
My Rating: 4/10

New Belgium Pumpkick (7/10)

Pumpkick is New Belgium Brewing’s fall seasonal, an ale brewed with pumpkin, cranberry juice, and spices.   Pumpkick is brewed with Pale, Munich, and Caramel malts, Target hops, pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cranberries, and lemongrass.  It was introduced by New Belgium in July 2013.

The aroma gives off a strong pumpkin funk element, followed by cranberry, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

The color is something of an orangey amber.

The head is about two fingers thick, and somewhat coarse off-white color.  It lasts quite a while and leaves behind sheet-like lacing which eventually dissipates into a permanent lace-like arrangement

The flavor matches up somewhat with the aroma.  It starts very tart, with the cranberries, nutmeg, and lemongrass up front, then gives way to a burst of pumpkin funkiness.  It’s then fairly mild and malty, finishing mildly bitter and sour with a pumpkin flesh note.  While not an unpleasant beer, it’s not what I look for in a pumpkin beer.  The tart, sour nature of it is OK, but only that.  The result is a beer I wouldn’t mind drinking occasionally but wouldn’t put in my regular rotation even if it were available year-round.

Beer Advocate gives it a 77-79 out of 100 or “okay” rating.  Rate Beer gives it only a 61 overall.  My rating of 7 out of 10 is right about in the middle of that.  I like Pumpkick a little, but there are many other beers (including many pumpkin beers) I’d much rather drink.

Pumpkin Beer Flavor Profile:
Dominant Flavor Element (Beer, Spices, Pumpkin):  Tartness from cranberry juice and lemongrass
Pumpkin intensity:  Moderate
Spice intensity:  Low
Malty or hoppy:  Malty
Sweet, balanced, or dry:  Sour
Major flavors:  Cranberry/lemon sourness, pumpkin funk, malt
ABV: 6.0%
IBU:  Unknown, but I’d estimate in the 10-20 range
My Rating: 7/10

New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale (7/10)

Next up from New Belgium is their 1554 Black Ale.  This ale is brewed with Pale, Carapils, Munich, and Chocolate malts, along with Target hops.

It pours a nearly black color with finger-thick beige head that lasts a couple of minutes.  The head leaves behind rings of lace-like lacing at last a while.

The aroma is sweet, chocolate and malt both making an appearance.

The flavor is a semi-sweet chocolate malt combination with a just a hint of hops.  It’s not particularly complex, but certainly pleasant enough to enjoy drinking.

Beer Advocate rates 1554 an 85/86 out of 100.  Rate Beer gives it a 93.  While I find 1554 a pleasant ale to drink, I don’t think it’s quite deserving of an 8 or 9 out of 10, so I’m therefore giving it a 7.  It’s an easy and pleasant beer to drink, but it’s not outstanding or fantastic.

This beer is probably not yet available in Ohio, though a number of other New Belgium products are.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors: 
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 21
My Rating:  7/10

Dark Horse 4 Elf (8/10)

Dark Horse Brewing Company of Marshall, Michigan, produces this winter warmer ale called 4 Elf.  It’s brewed with nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and “other holiday flavors”.   It is released in September, and is available in draft form, as well as 4-packs and cases.

I t pours a dark brown with thin beige head.  The aroma is very spicy, with cloves dominating that scent.  Nutmeg and ginger take a back seat in this. 

The flavor is malty, with plenty of cloves, and a certain amount of bitterness.  It’s not a bad combination at all.

Beer Advocate rates it 87/100 or “good”.  Rate Beer is more fond of it, giving it a 93 overall.  I’m in that same ballpark with my rating, an 8 out of 10.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Mildly sweet
Spice Level:  Moderate
Hops Level:  Mild
Dominant Flavors: Cloves, followed by nutmeg
ABV: 9%
IBU:  Unknown, but probably in the 24-28 range
My Rating: 8/10

New Belgium Fat Tire (7/10)

The fourth in our New Belgium series is their most famous beer, Fat Tire. 

Introduced in 1991, Fat Tire is an amber ale brewed with Pale, C-80, Munich, and Victory malts with Willamette, Goldings, and Target hops.

The aroma gives hints of biscuits, caramel, and fruit.
The flavor is a very well-balanced one.  The hops and malt are nearly perfectly balanced.  You won’t find hops or malt overwhelming each other here.  While it’s not a very complex beer, in that you’re not going to get a lot of spice, fruit, or other flavors in it, it’s a very easy to drink beer.
Rate Beer doesn’t care much for this one, giving it only a 48 out of 100.  Beer Advocate is kinder, with an 82 out of 100 rating.  Mine is closer to Beer Advocate’s on this, at 7 out of 10. 

Fat Tire should be available at many local retailers at the time of this publication.  I know that The Winking Lizard Tavern is planning to carry it for the month of December, that World of Beer at Easton will carry it, and I’m certain a number of local retailers will as well.  While I won’t advise you to rush out and buy this one, it is a good beer and I certainly recommend giving it a try.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Balanced. If anything, very slightly bitter.
Spice Level:  Non-existent
Hops Level:  Low, in balance with the malt
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, hops
ABV: 5.2%
IBU:  18.5
My Rating:   7/10

Shiner Holiday Cheer (8/10)

Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas, produces Shiner Holiday Cheer, a Dunkelweizen brewed with pecans and peaches. 
Pours a clear deep mahogany with finger-thick beige head that lasts for a while.  Leaves behind no visible lacing.
Aroma primarily consists peaches and pecans.

The flavor puts peach up front and center, with pecans adding a slightly bitter element that seems to take the place of hops.  Malt presence is strong but serves mostly as a carrier for the peaches and pecans.  It’s a very pleasant beer to drink and although not necessarily a flavor I’d associate with the holidays, it’s very nice.

Beer Advocate rates this one 80-84 or “good”, while Rate Beer gives it only a 48 overall.  I have to admit that I like it quite a bit, though it doesn’t put me in mind of the holidays.  I’m giving it an 8 out of 10.


Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Slightly sweet
Spice Level:  Extremely low
Hops Level:  Extremely low
Dominant Flavors:  Peaches, mild pecans
ABV: 5.4%
IBU:  22
My Rating: 8/10

New Belgium Cascara Quad (9/10)

The third New Belgium beer we’re going to examine this week is their Cascara Quad, a member of the Lips of Faith series of beers.  Cascara Quad is a Belgian style Quadrupel, brewed with Belgian Candy Sugar, Date Sugar, and Cascara tea (coffee cherries).

The beer pours a cloudy reddish, or even slightly purplish, brown color with a thick white head that leaves behind thin rings of lacing.

The aroma is sweet, with dark fruits, cherries, and malt dominating.

The flavor reminds me of Ommegang Three Philosophers, which is another excellent beer.  It’s sweet, with a definite cherry note, and a small amount of alcohol warmth.  Dark fruit flavors also play a part here.  I found it simply delicious.  (The photo at left was taken in the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado, in May 2013.)
This is one of those occasions where I simply disagree with Beer Advocate and Rate Beer.  Beer Advocate gives Cascara Quad only an 82-85 rating or “good to very good”.  Rate Beer gives it only a 70, which seems unfairly low to me.  This is a bold, smooth, sweet, complex Belgian style beer that ranks among the best I’ve had.  I give it a 9 out of 10.

As of the time this review was written, New Belgium’s products were not yet available in Ohio.  The “Lips of Faith” line is expected to become available, so I am hopeful that this excellent beer will be found on Columbus retailer shelves very soon. 

Flavor Profile:


Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Sweet
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Cherries, Dark Fruit, Malt
ABV: 10%
IBU:  22
My Rating:  9/10

Mt. Carmel Winter Ale (6/10)

Cincinnati, Ohio, based Mt. Carmel Brewing Company produces this Winter Ale.  They say it “calls to mind the holiday season with scents of spruce and ginger mingling with the flavors of orange-spiced bread.

It pours a clear medium-to-dark brown with a thin beige head.  The aroma is that of sweet caramel with a touch of pine. 

The flavor is big and malty with a smoky element to it.  I get a little bit of a cola flavor in it as well.  The finish is malty and bitter, with the bitter element coming out just a little more.  It’s a nice beer and not hard to drink.

Beer Advocate rates Mt. Carmel Winter Ale 84 or “good”.  Rate Beer comes in with a similar 77 overall rating.  I like it well enough, but don’t love it – so I’m giving it a 6 out of 10.

The beer is available on draft and in bottles.  I had my sample at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington, but I’ve seen the bottled version of Mt. Carmel products at The Andersons and some other retailers.


Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty and mildly bitter
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Roasted malt and hops
ABV: 8%
IBU:  36.8
My Rating: 6/10

New Belgium Giddy Up Ale (7/10)

Continuing from yesterday’s review of New Belgium Abbey Grand Cru ale, tonight we look at New Belgium’s Giddy Up Ale.  This beer was introduced in 2008.  It’s an espresso-infused ale with lemon peel.

Giddy Up is brewed with Pale, C-80, and Black malts along with Target hops. 

The aroma is that of coffee with a hint of citrus.
The color is a clear, dark mahogany with some copper to it.  The head is off-white and dissipates within a minute or so, leaving behind very lace-like lacing in the glass that tends to dissipate over time.

The flavor starts with a moderate coffee note.  The mouth feel has some creaminess to it, but not a lot.  Lemon makes an appearance but definitely takes a back seat (maybe even the trunk) to the coffee flavor, which dominates.  Aftertaste is bitter, like a cup of coffee that might have gotten slightly stale or been brewed a bit too strong.  It’s not unpleasant, but not what I want my beer to taste like.

Beer Advocate gives it an 81 or “good” rating.  Rate Beer gives it an 85 overall.  I’m giving it a 7/10 overall.

Since this review is being written before the arrival of New Belgium beer in Ohio, I don’t know where you can find this beer in Ohio, if at all.  This review is based on a taste test from Indiana, where New Belgium products have been available for much longer.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Coffee, Malt
ABV: 6%
IBU:  15
My Rating: 7/10

New Holland Cabin Fever (7/10)

This brown ale comes from New Holland Brewing of Holland, Michigan.  Cabin Fever is available from November through February.  New Holland describes it as a “roasty brown ale and a hearty, comforting companion for long, mind-bending winters”.  It features 2 row, rye, Munich, crystal, and black malts with Brewer’s Gold and Nugget hops as well as Michigan beet sugar.

The beer pours a pitch black color with a finger-thick beige head that doesn’t last long.

The aroma is chocolate and coffee in equal measure.

The flavor is in line with the aroma.  There is an intense dark malt presence, with moderate coffee and chocolate flavors, and a mild hops presence as a backdrop.  There’s a creaminess to it as well.  It’s something like having a rich Starbuck’s coffee with a hint of whipped cream and chocolate syrup in it.  Despite all the malt and the beet sugar, it’s a very well-balanced, perhaps even slightly dry flavor.  The bitterness is well balanced here by the malt sweetness.

Beer Advocate calls this a “good” beer, giving it an 83 with over 500 ratings.  At Rate Beer, with nearly 300 ratings, it gets a 75 overall.  Viewing it as a winter warmer, a Christmas Ale, or a similar beer, I’d have to give it a 6/10.  But it’s not really positioned as that.  The label refers to it as a brown ale, so I’m going to rate it as one. As such, it earns a very respectable 7/10.



Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Dry and Malty
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Coffee, Chocolate

ABV: 6%
IBU:  23
My Rating: 7/10

New Belgium Abbey Grand Cru Ale (9/10)

In honor of the arrival of Fort Collins, Colorado’s New Belgium Brewing’s products in Ohio, I’ll be presenting a few bonus reviews of their products this week in addition to the Christmas and winter seasonals.  First up is New Belgium’s Abbey Grand Cru Ale.  This is one of their “Lips of Faith” series of beers, which are special and sometimes limited run products.  Since its introduction in 1992, it’s won 16 medals at the Great American Beer Festival (7 of them gold medals).

Abbey Grand Cru Ale is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale brewed with Pale, Chocolate, Carapils, C-80, and Munich malts and bittered gently by Willamette, Target, and Liberty hops. 

It pours from the bottle a medium brown that’s clear and just slightly coppery in color.  The head is beige in color, about one and a half fingers thick, and lasts a while.
The aroma is very enticing.  You’ll get sweet malt, dark fruit, and a hint of cherry.

The flavor stacks up well against the aroma.  It starts sweet, with a strong malt and dark fruit presence.  This initial sweetness gives way to a well-balanced chocolate malt with warming alcohol presence with a touch of something like a dry red wine.  The finish is very mildly bitter and includes very dark chocolate and coffee notes. 

New Belgium suggests letting this one age, which I did for a few months.  They’re right.  While it’s an excellent beer when fresh from the brewery, given a few months in the cellar it becomes a bit better.  If you have the cellar space and the patience, I recommend buying and holding on to a bottle of this.  It does pay off.

For a change, I think Beer Advocate, Rate Beer, and I agree on one.  Beer Advocate rates Abbey Grand Cru 89-94.  Rate Beer gives it a 98.  My rating of 9 out of 10 is right in line with them.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Sweet and Malty
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malty sweetness, dark fruit, dark chocolate, coffee
ABV: 9.5%
IBU: 20
My Rating: 9/10

Penn Brewing St. Nikolaus Bock (7/10)

When I lived in Pittsburgh, I had a boss named George who was a big fan of the Pennsylvania Brewing Company or “Penn Brewing”.  He often encouraged me to try their products, which were always really good.

Penn Brewing follows the German “Reiheitsgebot” beer purity law that limits beer ingredients to water, barley, and hops.   St. Nikolaus Bock is a winter bock beer available from November through January.  It was the highest rated American bock beer at the National Beverage Tasting Institute in 2004.

The beer pours a deep reddish brown color with a thin white head.

The aroma is very malty, with some hint of spice to it.  The flavor is a kind of toasted bready malt with a hint of cinnamon.  It’s a very nice beer but there is nothing particularly outstanding about it.

Beer Advocate readers rate it an 89 or “good” while The Bros give it a 90 or “outstanding” rating.  Rate Beer gives the brew a 76 overall.  That’s pretty close to my own 7/10 rating. 

November 2014 update:  The folks at Kenny Road Market had a special on this beer, cases of it leftover from the 2013 season.  After having a year to age, the flavor improved considerably.  There is a lot more malt, caramel, roasted grain, and complexity to it. I'd rate the cellared version at 8/10.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Sweet
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level: Very Low
Dominant Flavors:  Honey. malt, and citrus peel
ABV: 6.5%
IBU:  25
My Rating: 7/10

Harpoon Winter Warmer (7/10)

Boston’s Harpoon Brewery produces this Winter Warmer style beer.  Their web site describes it as a “dark copper ale” that has a medium body and “no aromatic hop added that might overpower the distinct spice character”.

The beer pours a clear brown with a coarse off-white head.

The aroma is distinctly cinnamon and nutmeg.

The flavor aligns perfectly with the aroma.  It’s malty, slightly sweet, spicy, and overall very pleasant.  I get a hint of cola in the bottled version, but it comes through more strongly in the draft.

Beer Advocate was pretty tough on this one.  The Bros gave it a 50 or “poor” rating, while the readers were a bit more kind and rated it 73 or “okay”.  Rate Beer put it at a 57 overall.  I’m in agreement with the masses at Beer Advocate, rating it a 7/10 overall.  I don’t like it as well as The Brew Kettle’s, but I like it better than some of the others.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Sweet
Spice Level:  Medium
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, cinnamon, nutmeg



ABV: 5.9%
IBU:  23
My Rating: 7/10

Bell’s Winter White Ale (7/10)

Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, Michigan, produces this Belgian-style white ale.  Bell’s Winter White Ale is reportedly fermented using a Belgian ale yeast with a mix of barley and wheat malts, and no spices.

The beer pours a cloudy pale gold color with a thin white head that vanishes quickly.

The aroma is a mix of yeast, cloves, and malt.

The flavor (and this is surprising for a Bell’s product) is not particularly hoppy.  In fact it is much more like a Belgian white ale like a Wittkerke than it is a traditional Bell’s beer like Two Hearted.  I think it might be the first Bell’s product that I actually like and would buy a second time. 
Beer Advocate rates Bell’s Winter White Ale an 83 or “good”.  Rate Beer gives it an 86 overall. 

As a White Ale, it deserves an 8/10 rating because it’s as good as any other I’ve had.  As a winter or holiday ale, it’s a nice change, but not really what I’m looking for, so I give it a 7/10.

I found this particular bottle at Kenny Road Market.  I would imagine that it’s available at other local retailers as well.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  Virtual non-existent apart from cloves in the aroma
Hops Level: Very Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, mild cloves
ABV: 8.2%
IBU:  25
My Rating: 9/10

Breckenridge Christmas Ale (6/10)

The Breckenridge Brewing Company of Denver, Colorado, produces this Christmas Ale.  They describe it as a full-bodied beer with a warming caramel flavor with medium hop character.  It’s available from November through December.

The beer pours a clear dark brown with a thin beige head that lasts mere seconds.

The aroma is on the yeasty side, and very malty, with a hint of hops.

The flavor is similar to that.  It starts with a  kind of dark-roasted malt bitterness, followed by ginger and nutmeg.  The finish is mildly bitter, a combination of the bitterness of the roasted grain and hops.

Neither Beer Advocate or Rate Beer is especially fond of this one.  Rate Beer gives it a 51.  Beer Advocate rates it 79/83 or okay/good.  I’m somewhere between the two, with a 6/10 rating.  It’s not bad, but there are other Christmas Ales I like much more.



Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Roasted grain, hops

ABV: 7.4%
IBU:  22
My Rating: 6/10

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (8/10)

Anderson Valley Brewing Company of Boonville, California, produces some really nice beers.  Their Brother David’s Double is especially nice.  Winter Solstice is their Winter Warmer style beer.  It’s available from September through February.

It pours a beautiful clear coppery brown with a thick beige head that dissipates within a short time.  It leaves behind spots of lacing.

The aroma is sweet, caramel, and dark fruits.

The flavor starts mildly sweet with some apricot or peach, a hint of spice, and caramel.  The finish has a kind of orange peel bitterness to it with a bit of peach pit.  That sounds kind of unpleasant, but it’s not, really.

Beer Advocate visitors rate it an 87 or “very good” while The Bros rate it a 94 or outstanding.  Rate Beer is in the same ballpark, giving it a 90.  I like it, but The Brew Kettle’s Winter Warmer is better to me, so I’m giving it an 8/10.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty and Tangy
Spice Level:  Very Low
Hops Level: Extremely Low
Dominant Flavors:  Apricot, citrus peel

ABV: 6.9%
IBU:  6
My Rating: 8/10

CBC Winter Warmer (4/10)

This Winter Warmer comes from Columbus Brewing Company here in Ohio.  It’s a winter ale brewed with malts imported from England, combined with some ginger and cinnamon.  It’s available from late October through December.

It pours a cloudy, slightly reddish brown with a finger-thick head that dissipates slowly. 

The aroma is mildly hoppy and yeasty. 

The flavor, unfortunately, is pretty much hop-forward with some malt.  Ginger and cinnamon take a back seat, or maybe they’re riding in an entirely different car, it’s hard to say.  Like most CBC beers, it tends to be over-hopped to me.

Beer Advocate definitely disagrees with me, giving Columbus Brewing Company Winter Warmer an 85 or “very good” rating.  Rate Beer gets closer to my opinion, rating it a 52.  For me, it gets a 4/10.  That places it just a notch below a Budweiser or Coors, to put the rating in perspective.

CBC Winter Warmer is available on tap at a number of local establishments.  I had this glass at The Winking Lizard on Bethel Road.  The bottled version can be found at a number of craft beer retailers, such as Kenny Road Market.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter and Dry
Spice Level:  Very Low
Hops Level: Moderate
Dominant Flavors:  Hops, Malt
ABV: 7.5%
IBU:  Unknown, but probably in the 28-35 range
My Rating: 4/10

Winking Lizard adds New Belgium Handle

The Winking Lizard locations feature a number of “handles” which each offer a product from a particular brewery (e.g., the “Great Lakes Handle”), from a particular region (e.g., the “Belgian Handle”), or a style (e.g., the “Hoppy, Hoppy Handle”).   During a visit there on December 9, I see that they’re now adding a “New Belgium Handle” to their regular rotation.  This means they’re planning to have a different beer each month from the New Belgium product line.

Starting on December 16, the New Belgium Handle at the Bethel Road location will feature New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale.

No word yet on what January will bring. 

Sam Adams Winter Lager (7/10)

This beer is produced by the well-known and advertised Boston Brewing Company (Samuel Adams) brewery in Boston, Massachusetts.  It’s available during November and December.

It pours a medium brown with a thick white head that lasts a while.

The aroma is primarily malt with some hops behind it.
The flavor follows the aroma. You get mostly a nice malt flavor and body, with a mild amount of hops.  Some amount of ginger, cinnamon, and orange peel do come through. The orange peel adds to the bitterness of the hops.  The ginger adds a very mild sourness.  There’s nothing wrong with it, but nothing outstanding about it either.

Beer Advocate rates it an 82-84, or “good”.  Rate Beer is tougher on it, giving it only a 65.  My rating is squarely in the middle of those, a 7 out of a possible 10. 

You can find Samuel Adams beers at many locations around town.  This particular bottle was served at the Longhorn Steakhouse near Tuttle Crossing Mall. 

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  Very Low
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, hops

ABV: 5.6%
IBU:  22
My Rating: 7/10

WOB New Belgium Release Party Dec. 16, 2013

On December 16, the first official day of New Belgium Brewing Company beer sales in Ohio, the World of Beer location at Easton is having a New Belgium Release Party to celebrate.
This is an all-day event.

On draft, they’ll have Fat Tire, Ranger IPA, and Accumulation White IPA. 

In bottles, they’ll be offering Trippel, Paardebloem, and Heavenly Feijoa Tripel.

For those of you not familiar with New Belgium Brewing’s products, here’s a quick run-down of the ones you’ll see at this release party:

• Fat Tire:  This Amber Ale is New Belgium’s signature product.  It’s brewed with pale, C-80, Munich, and Victory malts along with Willamette, Goldings, and Target hops.  It’s typically described as having the flavor of “toasty malt, gentle sweetness, and a flash of fresh hop bitterness”.  I found it to be a very well-balanced and drinkable beer when I tried it at the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Rated at only 18.5 IBUs, this isn’t another bitter beer.
• Ranger IPA:  Those of you who like IPAs won’t be disappointed by this 70 IBU version.  Brewed with Chinook, Simcoe, and Cascade hops along with pale and C-120 malts, this beer is described as “deliciously bitter”.   Since I’m not an IPA fan, all I can tell you is that it tastes like any other IPA I’ve ever had.
• Accumulation White IPA:  This is New Belgium’s winter seasonal.  Brewed with four kinds of hops and clocking in at 70 IBUs, IPA fans should be quite pleased with this one.  It’s described as “big and bitter”.  I haven’t tried this one, and since I’m not crazy about bitter beers, I doubt that I will.
• Trippel:  Here is one of my favorite New Belgium brews.  Their Trippel is an excellent example of the style.  They describe it as “bittersweet and spicy, with herbal notes from the yeast and hops”.  At 25 IBUs, it’s not a particularly sweet rendition of a trippel, but still quite nice.
• Paardebloem:  This is a beer produced in partnership with Red Rock Brewing.  It’s brewed with several kinds of malt, Target hops, dandelion greens, and grains of paradise.  The flavor is described as a “fruity sweetness, fresh yeast and lactic tartness.”  I’ve not had this one, but am anxious to try it.  At 14 IBUs, it should be toward the sweet side.
• Heavenly Feijoa Trippel:  This beer is brewed with two malts and two varieties of hops.  It’s another partnership beer, brewed in cooperation with Dieu de Ciel.  It combines hibiscus flowers, feijoa fruit (also known as pineapple guava fruit), along with New Belgium’s Trippel.  I’ve not had this one either, but look forward to trying it.

The links above go to the New Belgium web site pages for each listed beer and provide more information.

Abita Christmas Ale (5/10)

Abita Brewing Company of Abita Springs, Louisiana, makes this Christmas Ale.  It’s a dark ale brewed for the holidays.  The recipe reportedly changes annually.  The beer is available November through December.

It pours a dark brown color, about like a slightly watered down cola.

The head is beige and relatively coarse, and leaves behind quite a bit of spotty, stringy lacing in the glass.

The aroma is mildly hoppy, with a hint of pine to it.  I get some malt and maybe a bit of nutmeg there.

The flavor matches the aroma.  It’s mildly hoppy, hoppier than I’d care for in a Christmas Ale but not nearly as hoppy as Revolution Fistmas or Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Ale.  There is a strong malt color, as you’d expect for the color.  There’s something else here, too.  I can’t tell if it’s ginger or nutmeg, or maybe both.  It’s subtle.  The “holiday” flavor I look for in a Christmas Ale just isn’t here.

Beer Advocate, with only 25 ratings, gives it a 74 or “okay”.  Rate Beer gives it only a 32.  If you average out those ratings, you’ll get mine: 5 out of 10.  That puts it in the “more or less as appealing as a Budweiser” level.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter
Spice Level:  Very Low
Hops Level:  Medium
Dominant Flavors:  Hops, Malt
ABV: 5.5%
IBU:  Unknown, but estimate around 24-28
My Rating: 5/10

De Dolle Stille Nacht (8/10)

Brouwerij De Dolle of Belgium produces this excellent Belgian Strong Pale Ale for the holidays.  It’s considered one of their “prestige beers”.

It pours from the bottle a very cloudy (almost milky) coppery reddish brown color.  The thick white head is very creamy looking but doesn’t last very long.

The aroma reminds me of a sweet wine, like a zinfandel.  The flavor starts out malty and a little sour, but then turns sweet, malty, fruity, and mildly spiced.  The finish is warming, but not as warming as you might expect for a 12% alcohol beer.

Beer Advocate loves this one, with visitors giving it a 93/100 or “outstanding” rating, and The Bros giving it 100 or “world class”.  Rate Beer is similarly impressed, giving it a 99.  I find that, for me, rating it is a little tougher.  As a beer, and ignoring the holiday aspect of it, it’s great.  It definitely deserves a 9/10.  But it’s lacking something as a holiday ale, as far as I’m concerned, so I’m docking it a point on that.  I’m giving it an 8 as a Christmas ale, but honestly this is an 8.5 or 9 kind of beer.

Where can you buy this in Columbus?  Hard to say.  I’ve had it at The Winking Lizard Tavern on Bethel Road.  I have yet to see it in a store in the Columbus area, but I’d certainly buy a few bottles if I did.  If you find it in town, please post the location and price in the comments.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Sweet (but with an initial sourness, kind of like a zinfandel wine)
Spice Level:  Holiday spices are low or non-existent, Belgian style spiciness is present.
Hops Level: Very Low
Dominant Flavors:  Fruit, malt, citrus, candi sugar spices
ABV: 12%
IBU:  Unknown, but likely well below 25
My Rating: 8/10

Troeg’s Mad Elf Ale (9/10)

One of my favorite beers of the Christmas season is Troeg’s Mad Elf.  Mad Elf is an ale brewed with Pennsylvania honey and both sweet and sour cherries.  At 11% alcohol by volume, it also packs a bit of a punch.  It comes from Troeg’s Brewing Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The beer pours a deep reddish brown that’s also transparent.

The head is a finger-thick off-white soft-drink-like affair that dissipates within seconds.

The aroma is very clearly that of cherries and honey, with a hint of malt underneath.

The flavor is where Mad Elf shines for me.  While I like cherry flavors well enough, I’m not someone who seeks them out in desserts or candies.  I’m far more likely to get something orange flavored, chocolate, or grape flavored than cherry.  In spite of that, what really draws me in with this beer is that sweet cherry aroma and flavor.  At 15 IBUs, this is a beer that’s about flavors other than hops bitterness.  (Yes, hops makes an appearance in the form of Hallertau and Saaz varieties, but it’s no more than a bit part.)

Compared with Scaldis Noel, which has a 12% alcohol content and a strong warming presence, Mad Elf with its 11% alcohol content hides that alcohol pretty well.  Yes, there’s a warming note, but it’s the difference between the subtle tap on a cymbal and a whack on a bass drum.  Mad Elf’s 11% is the cymbal.

I’m pretty much in alignment with the Beer Advocate crowd on this one.  Beer Advocate gives Mad Elf an 85-87/100 or “very good” rating, which matches with my 9/10.  RateBeer likes it a little bit better, giving it 93/100.

I’ve seen Mad Elf at most Columbus area craft beer retailers.  I’ve seen it at The Hills Market Worthington, Ale Wine & Spirits of Powell, Kenny Road Market, and many others.  It’s available from mid-October through December (but I’ve seen it as late as April in some retailers).



Flavor Profile:

Malty, Hoppy, or Balanced:  Malty

Sweet, Bitter, or Balanced:  Moderately sweet

Strongest Flavor Notes:  Cherries, honey



ABV:  11%
IBU:  15
My Rating: 8/10

Fat Head's Pimp My Sleigh (9/10)

This Belgian strong dark ale is produced by Fat Heads Brewery of Cleveland, Ohio.

It pours a dark brown with a thin beige head.

The flavor is sweet and malty with notes of honey, clove, and a touch of orange zest.  The hops presence is perfectly balanced with the sweeter and spicier elements of the flavor, resulting in what is probably one of the best Christmas ales out there.

The Beer Advocate reviewers rate Pimp My Sleigh 87/100, which is pretty much in line with my 9/10 rating.

Because this is a seasonal beer, you might not find it outside the holidays. I found it at World of Beer in Easton in January 2013, and it's currently available (December 2014) at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington.



Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Slightly sweet and malty
Spice Level:  Moderate
Hops Level: Low
Dominant Flavors:  Honey. clove, and orange zest

IBU:  30
ABV: 10.5%
My Rating: 8/10

Fat Head’s Holly Jolly (4/10)

Fat Head’s Brewery is located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, near Cleveland.  They produce Bumble Berry, which is one of my wife’s favorite beers (a honey and blueberry ale).  They also produce Pimp My Sleigh, which is a very nice Belgian-style Christmas Ale.  Holly Jolly is their traditional Christmas Ale.

It pours a slightly cloudy mahogany color, bordering on brown.  The off-white head dissipates fairly quickly.

The aroma contains hints of licorice and honey.

The flavor follows the aroma somewhat.  It starts with a kind of bitter grain flavor, backed up by a sour ginger and nutmeg element.  The finish is bitter.  Spices may be present, but they are well hidden.

Beer Advocate’s 60+ ratings give it an 84 or “good” rating.  Rate Beer doesn’t like it quite as well, giving it only a 73.  I think both are being too kind.  It’s barely identifiable as a Christmas Ale to me, and isn’t very pleasant as a simple beer.  I’m giving it a 4/10.  It’s not the worst thing I’ve had, but it’s not what I want from a Christmas beer.

I had this particular sample at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington, on draft.  I’ve also had it at World of Beer at Easton in 2012, and didn’t care much for it then either.  I’ve seen the bottled version in several local stores, including Kenny Road Market.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level: Medium
Dominant Flavors:  Grain bitterness, sour ginger
ABV: 7.5%
IBU:  28
My Rating: 4/10

Revolution Fistmas (3/10)

Chicago’s Revolution Brewing Company produces Fistmas, a “red ale brewed for the holiday season with specialty malts to achieve a beautiful deep red hue and the aromas of fresh baked bread, caramel, and stone fruits. Steeped with ginger root and orange peel.”  It’s available on draft and in cans.  This review is based on a sample draft from The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington in late November 2013.

The beer pours a clear mahogany with a thin, off-white head that dissipates fairly quickly.

The description above, which comes from the brewer’s web site, says that you’ll smell fresh baked bread, caramel, and stone fruits.  I beg to differ.  This beer does have a Christmas-like aroma to it.  It smells like an entire Christmas pine tree was squeezed and pressed into the glass.  If there’s any other aroma to this beer, I can’t find it.

The flavor follows the aroma closely.  There’s a hint of malt and spice, covered under twelve feet of very aromatic, very strong evergreen scented hops.  It’s got to be one of the least pleasant holiday beers I’ve ever tasted.  Revolution claims it’s a 31 IBU beer.  It seems much higher.

The Beer Advocate visitors rate it 86, or “very good” with over 150 ratings. Rate Beer gives it a 92.  I couldn’t disagree with them more. If you’re an IPA fan, and that’s your definition of what beer should taste like, you’ll probably rate this beer high and maybe even think it’s a little light on the hops.  But if you’re like me and most of the beer fanatics I know, you’ll wonder what Revolution was thinking here with its “Christmas IPA”.  I’m rating this one only 3/10.  There are beers I’ve liked less, but not many.

Revolution’s products are available at a number retailers around town.

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level: Low for an IPA, very high for a Christmas ale
Dominant Flavors:  Christmas tree sap and hops bitterness

ABV: 6.1%
IBU:  31
My Rating: 3/10