6.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Draft from Kips bay waterfront ale house. Poured dark, your standard winter warmer malty notes, nothing great, not too bad either.

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle. I really like winter seasonals. Just something about sipping on one standing in the snow during the holidays. Aroma was spicy. Taste was well balanced and spice.

7

RB score 3.11

7.2

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Ruby brown pour, small off white head. Aroma is very bready, very malty, soft caramels, subtle cherry, and dark fruit notes. Soft carb, soft mouthfeel. Soft grassy hops, more bready malts, reminds me alot of an english strong ale.

7

Mini keg. Pours a ruby hue with a large beige head. A light malty spicy nose. Spicy, sweet, bitter pine. Solid.

6.2

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

On Taps & Apps, pours a clear dark amber with a small beige head. Aroma reveals toasted bready malt, subtle Xmas spices, and more toasted notes. Flavour is very dry and woody, with toasted bready malt, Xmas spices and light wood. Bready, dry, and spicy finish with barely any residual sweetness. It's alright.

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle from the Advent Box Pours a mostly brilliant light auburn color with a small short lived bubbly off white head. Light caramel Christmas spices and a hint of oxidation. Not my style but not bad.

7.4

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

I have a 12 oz bottle that was picked up at one of the Total Wines in Austin a couple of months ago. Using my Great Heights snifter for the tasting this evening, so I lift the cap and pour. Red-amber in my opinion followed by a slender but consistent skim of light tan foam. The nose comes across with grain and an indication of sweetness. I follow with the drink, hey, better than I expected. Whole grain bread, caramel, malt and dry crackers. There's more depth than anticipated, I thought it would be mostly a basic amber ale. A nice balance between the bitterness and the sweet effect. I'm not sure what makes it a Christmas ale but there you are.

5.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Bottle/Fest. A- Malt, plastic, spice. A- Copper color, clear liquid, off white head. T- Malty, mild spice. P- Medium body, average texture, average carbonation, malty finish. O- Meh. Malty and a bit of holiday spice. Hard to believe it took me over 12 years before having tried this.