Festive Ale
SweetWater Brewing Company

Festive AleFestive Ale
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From:
SweetWater Brewing Company
 
Georgia, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #50
ABV:
8.1%
Score:
86
Ranked #19,224
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 12.3%
Reviews:
318
Ratings:
847
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 26, 2023
Added:
Nov 14, 2002
Wants:
  36
Gots:
  185
A strong ale brewed with generous amounts of rich malt, coupled with a taint of cinnamon and mace
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can, dated best by 10/24/24

pours a very dark brown, cream colored head that eventually fades. aroma of cola, black cherry, a little mulling spice. similar taste, on the sweeter side. medium bodied.
Dec 26, 2023
Photo of Cm55
Reviewed by Cm55

3.69/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Can
L-very dark with a 1F tan head that fades moderately
S-rich, malty with some hints of leather
T-the beer itself features a minimally spiced malt forward ale with hints of vanilla. Not much yeast influence. But something goes off the rails in the aftertaste with a strange,dominating medicinal finish
F-heavy bodied, notable degree of carbonation for the style
O-a solid beer that, for me, is hampered by its aftertaste
Dec 10, 2023
Photo of Death_Adder
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina

5/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours a heart of darkness black, chocolate smell on the nose, tastes like a thick chocolate coffee with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg. It's a great beer, but even just a 6 pack would be too rich tasting for me, pick up a single or two.

Style: Winter Warmer | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 8.1% | Rating: 5
Dec 09, 2023
Photo of gonesail
Reviewed by gonesail from Florida

4.3/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
awesome cool weather beer .. comparable to samuel smith winter warmer but a bit smoother. lots of malt in this one. the alcohol will sneak up on you. just enough hops and spice for me. a nice dark color. i enjoyed it very much while watching a football game.
Jan 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by Wrigfen from South Carolina

Apr 16, 2022
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a sixer, based on a friend’s recommendation, from Greens Discount Beverages in Greenville SC on 12-29-21 for $11.32. Enjoy by 10-25-22; consumed the first two bottles 1-9-22.

Beer poured brown with a nice off white head with the original pour.

Nose is malty and cinnamon forward.

Taste is a mildly roasted malt base in which cinnamon and allspice are infused nicely. Finishes balanced.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall a nice seasonal beer that was fun to try!
Jan 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2021
Photo of ArchimedesSox
Reviewed by ArchimedesSox from Georgia

3.56/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Really dark, almost opaque, thick khaki colored head
S: Brown sugar, molasses, spices
T: Sweet, baking spice flavor, molasses. Coffee flavored aftertaste
M: Medium
O: A really tasty holiday beer. I would buy it again during the cooler months.
Dec 26, 2021
Photo of jeffdr123
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida

4.09/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Sweetwater brewery in Atlanta. Pours a dark Coca Cola brown. The spices aren't too dominant. Raisins and light flavors. Doesn't taste boozy, so it can sneak up on you. Very smooth.
Sep 24, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chipwells from Georgia

Feb 02, 2021
Photo of Nass
Rated by Nass from Florida

3.87/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The pour is dark brown. The taste is roasted malt, cinnamon, nutmeg, char, & molasses. Cheers! B
Jan 07, 2021
Photo of RedbirdRona
Reviewed by RedbirdRona from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes like caramel, roasted nuts, and cinnamon. Dangerously smooth for 8.1% abv. Look is black similar to a Guinness. This is one of my favorite styles to explore. Overall this is a solid brew but their are better examples of this style. I plan to enjoy this again come winter 2020.
Mar 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.22 by MeganandDana from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by JayKay412 from Pennsylvania

Jan 11, 2020
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 fl oz pull-tab CAN from a variety box:

Currently ranked #36 in the Winter Warmer category.

"Ale brewed with spices." "unique seasonal blend brewed exclusively for the holidays." Best before: 03/11/20. 8.1% ABV per my can. From their website: "has a sleighload of Centennial and Golding hops and is capped with a dose of cinnamon and nutmeg." (Some online sources claim mace - not nutmeg per se - was utilized).

27 IBUs.

Malt Bill: 2-Row, Munich, 40L, 70/80, Carapils, Chocolate, Black.

Hops: Centennial, US & UK Golding

Dry Hop: N/A

Served cold into a nonic pint glass.

I get some cassia and faint herb (I guess mace...it doesn't remind me of nutmeg) atop a bready malt base with some herbal leaning English hops. Hints of bread crust, licorice/anise fennel family herbs, and toast. Caramel and toffee weave their way in and out.

It's certainly on the sweeter side, downplaying its hops, but aside from finishing a bit too sweet I think it's fairly well balanced. Malty to style. The Jagermeister-redolent herb profile isn't unpleasant, but I don't pick up on any true cinnamon or evocative nutmeg...it's less distinct and tends more towards licorice to my palate.

I can't say it's up there with the best winter warmers I've had, but it's nice to see an American brewery trying their hand at the style - I'd love to see more on the market. I wouldn't buy this in sixers every year or anything, but I'm glad I got to try it once despite ample room for improvement.

High C (3.00) / AVERAGE
Jan 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by jkermitj from Mississippi

Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.48 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Dec 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by cdub70085 from Connecticut

Dec 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.23 by markallmon from Tennessee

Dec 14, 2019
Festive Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 847 ratings