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Christmas Ale 2014
Abita Brewing Co.
- From:
- Abita Brewing Co.
- Louisiana, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
- ABV:
- Not listed
- Score:
- 77
- Avg:
- 3.35 | pDev: 14.33%
- Reviews:
- 24
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 14, 2017
- Added:
- Nov 13, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 36
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jdwilliamson79:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
3.59/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
My Bottle Backlog just continues to discharge all sorts of forgotten beers! I had purchased this at The Friendly Greek Bottle Shop with every intention of a timely review, but once it fell into the abyss of the backlog, it became forgotten. I am happy to resurrect it on Valentine's Day 2016.
From the bottle: "Each year at the Abita Brewery[,] we craft a special dark ale for the holiday season. Each year[,] the recipe changes so that Abita Christmas Ale is always the perfect gift."
Following the Pop!ping of the cap, there was no way that I was going to do anything more than gently pour it into the awaiting glass. A swirl produced a foamy finger of light-tan head with decent retention. Color was Copper(y)-Brown (SRM = > 17, < 22) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a very bready quality, underlain by a light spiciness. I was put in mind of spice cake, which I kind of prefer to gingerbread over the holidays. Had the spice subsided during its aging? I don't know, but if the alternative was Manayunk's Festivus (2015), then I will opt for this every time. Mouthfeel was medium. Man, despite its relative age, this was still a very spice-forward beer! Yes, I was getting the breadiness of the malt, but it was secondary to the cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg of the inherent spices. The possibility exists that I may be able to score a bottle of 2015, so I will be curious to see how spiced it is when fresh. This was at about what I would consider my upper limit and it was over a year old! Finish was dry, thanks to all of the spices, but it was not as gasping as I can imagine that it was originally. Phew.
Feb 14, 2016From the bottle: "Each year at the Abita Brewery[,] we craft a special dark ale for the holiday season. Each year[,] the recipe changes so that Abita Christmas Ale is always the perfect gift."
Following the Pop!ping of the cap, there was no way that I was going to do anything more than gently pour it into the awaiting glass. A swirl produced a foamy finger of light-tan head with decent retention. Color was Copper(y)-Brown (SRM = > 17, < 22) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a very bready quality, underlain by a light spiciness. I was put in mind of spice cake, which I kind of prefer to gingerbread over the holidays. Had the spice subsided during its aging? I don't know, but if the alternative was Manayunk's Festivus (2015), then I will opt for this every time. Mouthfeel was medium. Man, despite its relative age, this was still a very spice-forward beer! Yes, I was getting the breadiness of the malt, but it was secondary to the cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg of the inherent spices. The possibility exists that I may be able to score a bottle of 2015, so I will be curious to see how spiced it is when fresh. This was at about what I would consider my upper limit and it was over a year old! Finish was dry, thanks to all of the spices, but it was not as gasping as I can imagine that it was originally. Phew.
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia
3.62/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep amber producing 2+ fingers of frothy, tan, somewhat lasting head that leaves soap bubble rings & washes of lace. Aroma is dark malts, toast, faint brown sugar, lightly spiced with hints of cinnamon. Taste is toast, yeast, brown sugar, cinnamon, faint hints of chocolate, cooked apples & floral hops. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with light-medium carbonation, slick, a little bit peppery but smooth.
Jan 10, 2016Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas
3.75/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Clear, dark amber in color, with a robust,persistent, dense white head, substantial glass-ringing lacing, and modest carbonation.
Aroma: Dark caramel and toasted biscuit dominate the aroma.
Taste: The taste begins with roasted malt and prominent herbal hops. As the taste progresses, a pronounced wave of woodiness dominates the taste. Finishes with a lingering hop presence.
Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, and pleasant.
Drinkability/notes: Wonderful complexity, with abundant Christmas spices.
Packaged in a short twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.
Aug 13, 2015Aroma: Dark caramel and toasted biscuit dominate the aroma.
Taste: The taste begins with roasted malt and prominent herbal hops. As the taste progresses, a pronounced wave of woodiness dominates the taste. Finishes with a lingering hop presence.
Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, and pleasant.
Drinkability/notes: Wonderful complexity, with abundant Christmas spices.
Packaged in a short twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.
Rated by ohiobeer29 from Ohio
2/5 rDev -40.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2/5 rDev -40.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
your basic christmas ale was pretty good though
Mar 27, 2015Reviewed by Chickenhawk9932 from Pennsylvania
3.62/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark Amber with a frothy tan head that has good retention and leaves a trail of lace.
Smells of resinous pine hops, caramel malt, and herbal hops.
Taste is big resinous pine up front followed by a slight caramel malt middle. It finishes dry with a bitter herb hop punch. A nice solid brown ale.
Mar 14, 2015Smells of resinous pine hops, caramel malt, and herbal hops.
Taste is big resinous pine up front followed by a slight caramel malt middle. It finishes dry with a bitter herb hop punch. A nice solid brown ale.
Christmas Ale 2014 from Abita Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
128 ratings
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