Blitzen Festivus Ale
North Peak Brewing Company

Blitzen Festivus AleBlitzen Festivus Ale
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From:
North Peak Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #130
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
81
Ranked #25,957
Avg:
3.5 | pDev: 16.86%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
68
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 05, 2023
Added:
Dec 17, 2011
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I picked up a bottle of North Peak's Blitzen Festivus Ale a week ago for $1.99 at The Lager Mill. Today is Christmas so I think that this would make a very fitting beer to have today, so let's get Festivus started the right way and see how it goes. Bottled on November 23rd 2011. Poured from a stubby brown 12oz bottle into a snifter.

A- The label looks good and like most North Peak beers, I really like the name of this beer and the reference to one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes, you always need a beer to quench you thirst after some feats of strength. It poured a ruby red/brown color that was pretty clear and it had two and a half fingers worth of fluffy off white head that died down to a thin layer that stayed till the end and left some lacing. It looks good.

S- The aroma is nice, simple, straight forward. It starts off with some nice bready and grainy smelling caramel malts that have a medium amount of sweetness. Next comes some various spices and dark fruits. Then comes the hops which seem to stick out the most and have a piney aroma with a little bit of citrus. The aroma is pretty good and unique most Winter Warmers don't have this much of a hop aroma.

T- The flavor isn't too strong but it still manages to be pretty complex with a lot going on. It starts of with a slight amount of malts that have a medium amount of sweetness and slight brown bread flavor. Then comes the dark fruits and the spices, the black cherry's stick out the most and the typical Winter Warmer spices like cinnamon and nutmeg show up, but they aren't as bold as most Winter Warmers. Then comes the hops which have an earthy and piney flavor with a medium amount of bitterness at the end and aftertaste of cherry's and spices. This is a unique tasting Winter Warmer, it taste like half Winter Warmer and half typical North Peak IPA.

M- Smooth, slightly creamy, medium bodied, with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel on this beer is good.

Overall I though that this was a pretty good beer and descent and unique Winter Warmer. I like how North Peak took the road less traveled with this beer and made a Winter Warmer that really sticks out in it's style with a heavy hop profile, but I wish the spices were kicked up a notch so they weren't so drowned out by the hops. This beer has pretty good drinkability, the alcohol is hidden well and it makes for a pretty sessionable beer that won't get you burnt out on spices, I could go for another one if I had it. What I liked most about this beer was the look and how unique and different this was from most Winter Warmers, the flavors aren't what you would normally expect from this style and it's a nice surprise and the cherry flavor was nice. What I liked least about this beer was the lack of spices in the aroma and flavor, they were there but they got washed out by the hops so I would like to see more spices, normally I think Winter Warmers can have to much spice but this one needs a little more. I would buy this beer again when I want a unique Winter Warmer for the Holidays. I recommend this beer if you are tired of the average Winter Warmer, this should be a nice change of pace. North Peak went of the beaten path with this Winter Warmer and while it isn't the best I have had it is still good and really different, I like that they switched it up, there are too many over spiced Winter Warmers, it is time to get creative and push the boundary with this style, good job guys. It's a Festivus for the rest of us, Happy Festivus.
Dec 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.84 by NateTrooper7 from Michigan

May 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.53 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Dec 18, 2022
Photo of FredTetusky1952
Reviewed by FredTetusky1952 from Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I love the taste of rye in a brown ale. It seem that all the ingredients balance each other well. To bad You can only find this brew a round the holidays. Good job Northern Peak Brewery!
Dec 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.52 by Meddwol from Michigan

Dec 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.9 by Z-man from Michigan

Nov 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.29 by wjbent from Florida

Sep 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Feb 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Karibourgeois from Texas

Feb 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by -Andrew- from Michigan

Dec 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.27 by Billydoughnuts from Michigan

Feb 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by DbbC from Illinois

Jan 27, 2016
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.99/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, copper color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and great lacing. Smells of citrus hops, sweet malt, alcohol, hint of caramel malt, hint of roasted malt, hint of yeast, Fits the style of a Winter Warmer. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong sweet malt, alcohol, hint of roasted malt, hops, slight caramel malt, hint of yeast, hint of rye, and a hint of biscuit. Overall, good blend, perfect complexity, good appearance, and body.
Jan 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by cb8282 from Michigan

Dec 28, 2015
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.57/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This is a mahogany brown beer from a stubby bottle, with a light tan head. The aroma is of spice, chocolate, malt, and hops. The tast is drier and mor bitter than I expected. Malt is there as well. And a peppery spice. Full in body and warming.
Dec 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.34 by Raime from Korea (North)

Dec 12, 2015
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.54/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured out a cloudy, copper/ruby color with a tan, bubbly, foamy, one-finger head. Sweet aroma with hints of caramel malt and spices. It tasted of sweet caramel, toffee and seasonal spices.
Dec 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by SoftestPeach from Michigan

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by Theogre83 from Kansas

Dec 07, 2015
Photo of mwar
Rated by mwar from Kentucky

1.23/5  rDev -64.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.25
Second beer I have had from North Peak. Unfortunately both were awful. This one was gritty and undrinkable.
May 01, 2015
Blitzen Festivus Ale from North Peak Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 68 ratings