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Young's Christmas Ale
Young & Co Brewery PLC
- From:
- Young & Co Brewery PLC
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Bitter
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- Needs more ratings
- Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 10.1%
- Reviews:
- 4
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 23, 2012
- Added:
- Nov 30, 2004
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
Seasonal bottled ale - 2006 release in gift tin is now available in some UK supermarkets. Note, strength amended as 2006 release is 5.0% ABV
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by wl0307 from England
3.48/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I spotted this 4.5%abv. ale on cask at a JDW pub in Sheffield, the Swim Inn, on Boxing Day 2007. There was no proper pump clip, apart from a temporary one with hand writing: "Wells&Young's Christmas Ale"... so I presume this is Young's old product produced now in Bedford? Tasted by a half-pint, served by a sparkler-fitted hand pump.
A: copper-ish in colour, clear, coming with an off-white creamy froth and pretty low carbonation.
S: a light whiff of hops comes forward upfront, decorated by a touch of dried fruits and caramelised sliced apples; a closer sniff reveals more dried fruits and an almost Mild-like, brown-sugary plus roasty malt base.
T: full of dried fruits, oat-meal bread, burnt sugar, longan-fruits, and roast nuts... very mild applely-fruity hops and amber malts develop slowly, with a lingering but mild bitterness in the end, as in dried tea-leaves as well as in roast malts & nuts. Slightly dry and soothing in the finish.
M&D: I tried the bottled version a while ago and couldn't remember how it tasted apart from being a fruity, autumny bitter. But this cask version, despite remaining a fruity and moderately-hoppy bitter, is not more memorable. For, the body falls a bit too light for the flavour, and the texture shows the sparkler-forced silkness glossing over a rather flat platform, only in vain in the end. Furthermore, it definitely drinks more like a Wells' ale now than Young's, Wansworth brewed, ale, as the unique yeasty edge from the old London brewery is conspicuous by its absence~~ That said, I'm sure Mark (the first reviewer of this ale) would be delighted to know that this ale survives the moving of the old Ram brewery.
Dec 27, 2007A: copper-ish in colour, clear, coming with an off-white creamy froth and pretty low carbonation.
S: a light whiff of hops comes forward upfront, decorated by a touch of dried fruits and caramelised sliced apples; a closer sniff reveals more dried fruits and an almost Mild-like, brown-sugary plus roasty malt base.
T: full of dried fruits, oat-meal bread, burnt sugar, longan-fruits, and roast nuts... very mild applely-fruity hops and amber malts develop slowly, with a lingering but mild bitterness in the end, as in dried tea-leaves as well as in roast malts & nuts. Slightly dry and soothing in the finish.
M&D: I tried the bottled version a while ago and couldn't remember how it tasted apart from being a fruity, autumny bitter. But this cask version, despite remaining a fruity and moderately-hoppy bitter, is not more memorable. For, the body falls a bit too light for the flavour, and the texture shows the sparkler-forced silkness glossing over a rather flat platform, only in vain in the end. Furthermore, it definitely drinks more like a Wells' ale now than Young's, Wansworth brewed, ale, as the unique yeasty edge from the old London brewery is conspicuous by its absence~~ That said, I'm sure Mark (the first reviewer of this ale) would be delighted to know that this ale survives the moving of the old Ram brewery.
Reviewed by GreenCard from Maryland
3.87/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.87/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: light goldy-brown, great clarity, huge laer of bubbly tan froth, good head retention
Aroma: unripe green pears, luscious caramelly malt, hint of toast, woody hops
Flavor: dry malt backbone with a burnt toast edge; pine sappy hop flavor and bitterness; kir royale; finishes as dry as it starts with a lingering hop bitterness
Mouthfeel: medium body, mild carbonation, crisp
Other comments: Generally, you'd expect xmas beers to be a lot fuller and sweeter to sort of fit in with the season, but when you think about it, you're better off with a crisp, but flavorful, beer like this as a counterpoint to all the rich food you're usual faced with over the holidays. Pretty good stuff.
Oct 15, 2006Aroma: unripe green pears, luscious caramelly malt, hint of toast, woody hops
Flavor: dry malt backbone with a burnt toast edge; pine sappy hop flavor and bitterness; kir royale; finishes as dry as it starts with a lingering hop bitterness
Mouthfeel: medium body, mild carbonation, crisp
Other comments: Generally, you'd expect xmas beers to be a lot fuller and sweeter to sort of fit in with the season, but when you think about it, you're better off with a crisp, but flavorful, beer like this as a counterpoint to all the rich food you're usual faced with over the holidays. Pretty good stuff.
Reviewed by Daredevil from Switzerland
3.88/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Lighter than the London Special Ale from the same brewery and not nearly as sirupy as expected (for that try the X-Mas Pudding Ale). A firm head, light elegant smell and a very decent taste of dark wood, cashew, butter and barley ...
A nice ale, really ...
Jan 30, 2006A nice ale, really ...
Reviewed by Mark from California
4.57/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.57/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Granted I'm a Young's man but it shows the difference between bottled and cask. The previous review slams this brew, well we all have our opinions but cask is where it's at mates! I had this ale at the "shrine" Young's brewery tap tasting pub and visitor center. The body was a standard amber and was topped by a thin white head that left rings of decorative lace. Aroma was earthy, fresh, and slightly herbal. Taste profile was a solid malt base with raisin and plum flavors. Smooth, rounded, complex and wonderful. Suzanne loved it too. Thanks Young's.
Dec 24, 2004
Young's Christmas Ale from Young & Co Brewery PLC
Beer rating:
4.06 out of
5 with
5 ratings
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