22 ounce bottle into signature pint glass; no bottle dating, but is a 2013 release. Pours fairly hazy ruby red color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of orange zest, grapefruit, lemon zest, caramel, toast, brown sugar, biscuit, floral, grass, herbal, pine, light nuttiness, and floral/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of malt and hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of orange zest, grapefruit, lemon zest, caramel, toast, brown sugar, biscuit, nuttiness, floral, grass, pine, herbal, and floral/toasted earthiness. Good amount of earthy pine resin bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, citrus zest, caramel, toast, biscuit, brown sugar, floral, pine, and floral/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Good balance and complexity of malt and hop flavors; with a good bitterness/sweetness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a moderately creamy and sticky mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is a nice amber ale style. Good balance and complexity of malt and hop flavors; and smooth and crisp to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Bottle 0.335l at home (via alesbymail). Colour is orange with small white head. Aromas and flavours: Hops, some spices and roasted malts.

Bottle: Pours cloudy brown with a large tan head. Pine, caramel nose. Taste is spruce....malty. Nice leafy hopping. Pretty good.

About 500 yen from Asahiya. A bitter amber colored beer, very hoppy with great head & lacing. Nice but too bitter for me. Dec. 2013 5% Bottle from Yamaichi. A clear amber pour with a beige head. A nice caramel mildly hoppy aroma. A very citrusy, lemon hop taste with some caramel from the malts. It has a lingering bitterness, a nice hoppy amber but not all that Christmasy.

Bottle, Nina’s Edinburgh. Dark copper pour with a middling off-white head. Sweet malt, fruits, a little spice and grassy hop in the nose. Some metallic notes in the flavour which was hop driven and lacking in depth. Nowt special.

16th December 2012
Cloudy amber - brown beer, big pale cream coloured head. Palate is light and a little soft. Mild carbonation. Creamy malt with a caramel streak. Piney hops with an undertone of mandarin. Softish finish with a mildly bitter pine hop linger. Easy going and pretty drinkable.

Bottoe shared at Sander’s in NYC. Pours clear amber with a small white foam head. The aroma is dirt and light bred. Light sweet flavor, some leafy hops, hints of dry caramel and pine. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Moderately sweet finish, some bread, dry pine. So so.

Bottle at home ... copper ... thin tan head ... soft toffee malt ... little creamy caramel nose ... soft toffee fruits ... dull toffee ... light bitter

Bottle from Ninas mini market Edinburgh cons 2013-04-04 Uddingston AR: hoppy, pine, ripe appricot, old butter AP: amber, frothy wee creme beige head F: roasted malt, a bit floral, heavy grape fruit, pine, troical fruits, a bit tired (BB?)

From a 12 oz bottle shared Iota Club in Arlington. Pouts a deep amber with a thick white head. Fruity hop aroma. Flavors if orange zest with caramel notes. Bitter finish.