8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
This beer absolutely rocks. It is honestly better than the "standard" lower-ABV Christmas Ale. Draught version: Hazy dark orange with a thin beige head and decent lacing. Aroma of cinnamon, hops and malt. Warming flavor of alcohol and malt. Cask-conditioned version: This is the pinnacle of Christmas brews as far as I am concerned. An absolutely fantastic brew that has all of the qualities mentioned above. This version pours a more hazy unfiltered color and a thicker head. Flavor is much more mellow and warming, with the alcohol and spices just oozing out. Excellent!
Tried
from Cask
on 07 Dec 2002
at 14:21
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
This beer isn't really breaking any ground in the Brown Ale family, but it is another solid offering from Barley's. Maybe the fact that I had one on the way home from the OSU vs. Indiana football game caused me to give it a more favorable score than it deserves...Nah, but I found it to be rather enjoyable. Dark brown color with a thin beige head. Sweet malt and brown sugar flavor. Maybe a new tradition after OSU victories?
Tried
on 29 Sep 2002
at 21:47
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Firkin version at Barley's 2nd Annual Mini RAF (03/27/04) (3.6): I wasn't as impressed with this beer's cask-conditioned version as with others during this event. The beer is a dark murky brown color with a medium tan head. The aroma is sweet maple and toffee, along with the telltale brown sugar. Medium-bodied and syrupy sweet, it appears the cask conditioning mellows out the hops bite in the normal version, making this a little too cloying with the sweetness. Same goes for the finish. Where the normal version is a great session beer, this one is just a little too much.
04/21/02: Outstanding offering from Barley's. Their seasonal stuff is top notch. Perfect hint of brown sugar make this a sweet and easy to drink ale.
04/21/02: Outstanding offering from Barley's. Their seasonal stuff is top notch. Perfect hint of brown sugar make this a sweet and easy to drink ale.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Apr 2002
at 00:44
8.5/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 9
This may be my favorite local beer. Served in a wine-style glass for obvious reasons (impressions of fermented fruit). Chestnut color and fruity finish is hands-down the most unique beer I have had from a local brewer.
Tried
on 10 Feb 2002
at 01:29