Christmas Town Ale

Pretty spicy under the cap. Pours a deep reddish brown, with a fizzy off-white head. I get the regular spices that go into pumpkin spice beer; cinnamon, a little nutmeg. The malt is deeper than the usual pumpkin spice, though. And then there's a side of ginger. The alcohol is a basic 6%, so there's a lot of malt sweetness left. That would make this more of a beer for a main course when doing holiday meals, or a pre-meal. Probably a little too sweet to go along with a Christmas dinner dessert.

Crisp and beautiful amber and copper coloured body with a muddied brown and ruby glow and a nice, dense four centimetre tall tan head that fades relatively fast, but still leaves a nice thin tan head atop. Aroma of allspice, canella, cinnamon, toasted malt, raisins, figs and earth - nice and robust. Medium-bodied; Assertive nutty and earthy flavours dominate at first, then show some nice light spiciness along with some noticeable caramelised sugars throughout. Aftertaste shows some robust earthiness along with a nice balanced sweetness and even better - a very nice blend of spices throughout that isn’t overly harsh. Overall, a very nice spice-based beer that is almost exactly what you’d expect and desire for this style at a 6,0% offering. I can’t believe it’s rated as low as it is, because to me, this is what you’d want for the style. Great to sample and well worth finding to sample or to have on hand for the season! I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Merchant’s in Dearborn, Michigan on 10-December-2016 for US$1,99 sampled on 09-February-2017 at home in Washington, the day that my Red Wings visit Washington. Rating for Sample 1: 8,4,8,4,16 Sample #2: s: light spice - toffee - toasted malts a: nice deep copper and bronze body - thinnish off-white head t: cookies - soft canella - deeper allspice p: mild sugars - lager yeast - crisp finish o: balanced - easy-ish-drinking - moderate complexities 12 ounce can - Beverage Warehouse: Beverly Hills/Troy, Michigan - 10-November-2023 - US$1,49 - sampled: 23-January-2024 7,3,7,4,14

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, bottled on 10/18/2013. Pours moderately hazy reddish copper color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings down the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas of caramel, toast, raisin, plum, apple, brown sugar, bread, light cinnamon, herbal, and toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of malt, spice, and yeast ester notes; with decent strength. Taste of caramel, toast, brown bread, raisin, plum, apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, herbal, and toasted earthiness. Lingering notes of caramel, toast, brown bread, raisin, plum, apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, herbal, and toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice balance and robustness of malt, spice, and fruity ester flavors; with no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a moderately creamy and bready mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is a nice winter warmer style. Good balance and robustness of malt, spice, and fruity ester flavors; and very smooth to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Very malty, biscuity.