Festive Ale

Bottle courtesy of Mr_Kimchee: Poured a dark black color beer with a medium off-white foamy head with average retention. Aroma of dry roasted malt with some faint spices. Taste is dominated by roasted malt with a very dry finish. I could not detect very much spice presence overall though and was surprised by the fact that this is classified as spiced beer since I honestly though it was a porter.

Bottle courtesy of BrewEngineer on 01/15/2011 at the 13th Richmond Gathering. Clear dark brown body with a small creamy tan head. Sweet toasty, light roast and spice aroma. Sweet toasty and light nutty flavor with some spice. Medium body with moderate carbonation. 7/4/7/4/14 - 3.6 06/11/2006 - 2005 Bottle. Dark mohogany color with a thin white head. Sweet malty aroma. Sweet caramel, chocolate, molassas, and almost soy flavors. 6/5/7/3/14 - 3.5

2005 bottle shared by SuIIy on 6/8/06. Medium-high to high clarity in a deeply chestnut-auburn body, with some deep mahogany notes. Head immediately fades to a ring, and is dark beige in color. Ginger and sticky chocolate complement each other well, with light hints of molasses and allspice providing lightly playful sweetness (though well-tempered). Very light, candied plum overtones brace the spices, and a medium strength is the aroma, overall, with no alcohol. Seems very OSA-ish to me, like a 2004 or 2005 (not as much obnoxious ginger as the 2003). Nothing rises sharply and there is a faint, smoothing creaminess (some hints of vanilla wafers). Still, as in the recent OSAs, the ginger is strong. In the flavor, sweet candied ginger, flecks of dusty nutmeg and clove are all lightly rinsed in mellow chocolate milk-like maltiness. Loose carbonation translates in to not much creaminess, with some wateriness growing. Light spice or roasted malt astringency on the finish, with bits of vanillin and tired malt flavors. Seems a bit too filtered...... As it breathes, the carbonation loosens (and it’s already loose to begin with), and though the spices don’t build up terribly, some dusty cinnamon-nutmeg and wateriness really don’t add much to making it complex or engaging. Still, if you like OSA, you certainly can’t discard this one. No alcohol noted.
2015 bomber drunk 7/8/17.
Clear chestnut with a small, beige head of low retention.
Caramel, spicy ginger and vanilla are pretty par for the course. Bready malts, light sweetness and on the thin side, but drinkable. Meh. Rating is about the same as it was the previous time I had it.

Bottle provided by beastiefan2k at Heavyweight Open House - thanks Eugene! - 2005 vintage - dark chocolate color, with minimal head - smells and tastes like Christmas, all right - lots of cinnamon and nutmeg (I know nutmeg isn’t listed as an ingredient, but dammit, It taste it!) - kind of thin at the end, leaving the overall flavor falling flat - kind of an ersatz version of Anchor OSA.

Vintage 2003: Dark brown ale with a thick big bubbled light moka heads, with big floatiesat bottom of glass. Sweet prunes and light cinnamon hearts in aroma. In mouth, sweet caramel malt, with licorice qualities, definite cinnamon, surrounding the whole mouth, burned coffee beans, but some little off notes, showing the age of the beer. Bottle from Goldtwins in May 2004.

2004 vintage. Deep cranberry juice-colored body with some suspended sediment, thin cream head. Aroma of toast, chocolate, red wine and a distinct Concord grape character. Nice dry toasty body with grapeskin highlights, a bit woody and earthy. A touch vinous. Alcohol barely perceptible. Light on the spice for the style, this fits nicely with other winter ales that trend more towards the English Strong Ale style. Thanks Larry (goldtwins) for the bottle!

Bottle Pours a very dark brown witha small light tan head. Lacing is light and disipates quickly. Aromas are a nice sweet, woody, malty combination. The high ABV is detectable as well. Flavors are subtle and difficult for me to pick out. Light on the hops, some chocolate and roasted malts. Easy and fairly tasty. Soft finish with not much carbonation.