Holiday Brews 2009

Ho, ho, ho, and a bottle of brew - 2009 version. One of our favorite food and beverage traditions of the holiday season is the release of the various holiday, winter, and Christmas beers from around the world.

Thanks to greater interest and a far more sophisticated import network, we in the US now see a greater number of holiday beers than ever before not to mention the growing number of fantastic brews made in the USA.

Here is a look at our notes. To get the details on these, and all of our Beer reviews, see our Beer Review section.

Abita Christmas Ale, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
A beautiful amber to mahogany color with great clarity and a generous white head. The nose is dense and spicy with scents of treacle and well-done gingerbread, roasted nuts and grain. The palate echoes the nose being a bit drier than expected with toasted grain notes completing the flavor profile with a healthy dose of acidity. We wanted a bit more stuffing as it became a bit thin.
2 Stars

Ayinger Weizen-Bock, 500ml btl. (Germany)
Deep, golden color with a dense haze and generous white head that lasts for the entire Beer. The nose reveals classic hefe-weizen notes with a dense fruit and spice driven core, fresh baked bread, and accents of tropical fruit. The palate echoes the nose delivering richness with ideal balance, vibrancy, and length. Notes of citrus, clove, ginger, and toasted grain mingle seamlessly. Spectacular.
5 Stars

Batemans Rosey Nosey Holiday Ale, 500ml btl. (England)
Bright tawny color with a perfect clarity and a modest white head. The nose is wonderfully fruity and rich with a great sense of balance due to English hops and a modest - dare we say session worthy - strength. Interwoven is a fresh layer of toasted grains with accents of caramel and fruitcake. A treat.
4 Stars

Eel River Brewing Climax Noel 2009, 22 oz. btl. (USA)
Dense amber to brick red with a good bit of haze and a creamy layer of foam. The nose is bright and assertive with berry fruits, cherry, sweet caramel, allspice, and dried raspberry. The palate confirms the nose being rich and quite sweet veering toward dessert flavors with pumpkin pie spices, ginger, and caramel. Far from shy.
3 Stars

Full Sail Wreck the Halls, 22 oz. btl. (USA)
Bright amber with golden tones. Semi-cloudy with a thick, rocky head of foam. The nose is fresh with sweet malt and citrus forward hops. The palate carries on where the nose has led us offering a firm hop driven profile with a sharp, bitter finish. This brew will thrill the hopheads.
3 Stars

Full Sail Old Broadhead Barleywine Ale, 22 oz. btl. (USA)
Deep amber/burgundy color. The nose is rich with sweet, caramel, a touch of allspice, rich malt, roasted nuts, toffee, and baked apples. The palate concurs being rich and lush while ideally balanced with fresh acidity and bright hops notes. A blockbuster Ale with super balance and layers of flavors to add interest. A very stylish Barley Wine.
4 Stars

Full Sail Wassail, 6 pk 12 oz. btls. (USA)
Deep, dark mahogany being nearly opaque. The nose is filled with dark, roasted malt veering toward espresso, dark cocoa nibs, and campfire. The palate is in full agreement with the nose with dry, semi-bitter roasted grains and hops dominate with a long trailing finish of tart fruits and toasted nuts.
3 Stars

Great Lakes Christmas Ale, 6 pk 12oz. btls. (USA)
Deep amber, reddish color with a thick and persistent head. The nose is dense with rich, sweet malt with accents of brown baking spices, ginger, cardamom, and pinecone. The palate is in full agreement being rich while never cloying. A harmonious brew with great length and balance.
4 Stars

Harpoon Brewery Winter Warmer, 6 pk 12 oz. btls. (USA)
Deep, brilliant amber color with a thick generous head. The nose is a generous dose of the holidays with scents of fruitcake, brown spices, toffee, and ginger. The palate is far more understated with dry entry and a mid-palate that offers a bit of chewy malt driven ale notes. The finish is fresh and a bit resin-like with pine needles coming to mind and accents of toasted walnuts.
3 Stars

Mahrs Christmas Bock, 500ml btl. (Germany)
Deep bronze color with a short head. The aromatics offer classic scents of fresh yeast, early morning bakery style while also floral with a deft accent of hops, caramel, and roasted nuts, The texture is amazingly silky while vibrant showing incredible balance and complexity. The finish trails with a pretty marriage of malt and hops with a complimenting note of cocoa nibs. Wonderful.
4 Stars

Samuel Smith Winter Welcome 2009/2010, 4 355ml btl. (England)
Deep amber chestnut color with a thick, generous white head. The nose is wonderfully complex with aromas of dried fruit, toffee, roasted nuts and grains, and earthy English hops. The palate is in full agreement as it offers layers of fruit, malt, spice, and earth tones that marry perfectly with great balance and style. A classic that nearly begs for smoked meats and young cheddar.
4 Stars