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Christmas Ale
The Schlafly Tap Room
- From:
- The Schlafly Tap Room
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.69 | pDev: 12.74%
- Reviews:
- 194
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 21, 2020
- Added:
- Nov 02, 2006
- Wants:
- 28
- Gots:
- 89
Our Christmas Ale is a warming winter ale that blends the spices of the season with sweet caramel malt. Orange peel, juniper berries, ginger root, cardamom and cloves are added for spiciness. We use honey in the fermentation process, which raises the ABV without producing too much heat from the alcohol content.
Many breweries produce richer, higher alcohol beers for the winter holiday season, bolder than their year-round offerings. The inspiration for this beer came from spiced holiday beverages such as wassail and mulled wines. Around the holidays, the sweet and spicy aromas, not to mention the booze, in such libations tend to smooth the rougher edges of enjoying each other’s company and spreading goodwill.
30 IBU
Many breweries produce richer, higher alcohol beers for the winter holiday season, bolder than their year-round offerings. The inspiration for this beer came from spiced holiday beverages such as wassail and mulled wines. Around the holidays, the sweet and spicy aromas, not to mention the booze, in such libations tend to smooth the rougher edges of enjoying each other’s company and spreading goodwill.
30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Rhettroactive:
Reviewed by Rhettroactive from Virginia
4.03/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From bottle to Bruges hybrid class on 2/10/11
*I'm performing a "Spring Cleaning" of sorts, and finishing off the holiday beer in and around my home - this being one of them.
A: Like a shiny, new Christmas ornament. It's simply gorgeous - rich carmine in color, it's slightly hazy and when poured, yields a robust 1.75 finger head with great retention and lacing.
S: Alcohol first and foremost, then undertones of cinnamon spice and orange citrus. I don't detect any hop presence, but I'm certainly not complaining as this is really well done.
T: Extremely well balanced, as the spicy cloves and nutmeg dance ever so gracefully with the 8% alcohol. Coriander and orange zest work their way around the taste buds. It all finishes a bit hot, but isn't that the point on a cold winter's night?
M: Heavy and thank God for it. This isn't a lawnmower beer, it's to be enjoyed by the fire while telling tales of yore. Creamy and inviting.
O: The review above was performed two months after purchase. For as quaffable as it is today, it is simply outstanding when fresh. Most of the lovely spices are still there, but have been slightly muted, even while sitting in my fridge for a couple of months.
Schlafly's Christmas Ale is one the best holiday brews I've encountered. Like their Pumpkin Ale, they really know how to walk the fine between too little and too much. This is so well balanced, and it makes for supremely enjoyable drinking. Like Christmas itself, I'll be looking forward to this one all year.
Feb 11, 2011*I'm performing a "Spring Cleaning" of sorts, and finishing off the holiday beer in and around my home - this being one of them.
A: Like a shiny, new Christmas ornament. It's simply gorgeous - rich carmine in color, it's slightly hazy and when poured, yields a robust 1.75 finger head with great retention and lacing.
S: Alcohol first and foremost, then undertones of cinnamon spice and orange citrus. I don't detect any hop presence, but I'm certainly not complaining as this is really well done.
T: Extremely well balanced, as the spicy cloves and nutmeg dance ever so gracefully with the 8% alcohol. Coriander and orange zest work their way around the taste buds. It all finishes a bit hot, but isn't that the point on a cold winter's night?
M: Heavy and thank God for it. This isn't a lawnmower beer, it's to be enjoyed by the fire while telling tales of yore. Creamy and inviting.
O: The review above was performed two months after purchase. For as quaffable as it is today, it is simply outstanding when fresh. Most of the lovely spices are still there, but have been slightly muted, even while sitting in my fridge for a couple of months.
Schlafly's Christmas Ale is one the best holiday brews I've encountered. Like their Pumpkin Ale, they really know how to walk the fine between too little and too much. This is so well balanced, and it makes for supremely enjoyable drinking. Like Christmas itself, I'll be looking forward to this one all year.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.41/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.41/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours orange amber body with small white head with ok retention and lacing
S: nice, cinnamon and allspice notes; malt notes
T: nice, spicy notes; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice; subtle biscuit sweet malt
M: medium bodied and pretty smooth; solid overall
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; pretty solid drinking beer
Nov 21, 2020A: pours orange amber body with small white head with ok retention and lacing
S: nice, cinnamon and allspice notes; malt notes
T: nice, spicy notes; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice; subtle biscuit sweet malt
M: medium bodied and pretty smooth; solid overall
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; pretty solid drinking beer
Rated by Idrink from New York
3.54/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
good but not great.
Mar 21, 2018Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany
3.67/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a reddish mahogany coloration with a medium, fizzy head. Smells of caramel malts, with a faint hint of ginger and clove. Taste is quite malt-forward, with caramel and bready malts taking center stage. Quite a bit of spice coming through as well, with nutmeg, cardamon, ginger and clove being most noticeable. Perhaps a hint of cinnamon in there as well. Finishes with a medium, spicy bitterness. This reminded me a lot of a Pumpking Ale, which shouldn't be too surprising, I guess. Nice enough, with a decent malt bill and nice spicyness and bitterness. Nothing too outstanding, but well-balanced.
Feb 08, 2018Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.68/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
**
12/30/17
Bottle to snifter.
LOOK: red, brown, lasting medium head.
AROMA: allspice, cinnamon, fruitcake, baking soda
TASTE: bread, spice, cranberry, orange
An above average Christmas beer.
**
Dec 30, 201712/30/17
Bottle to snifter.
LOOK: red, brown, lasting medium head.
AROMA: allspice, cinnamon, fruitcake, baking soda
TASTE: bread, spice, cranberry, orange
An above average Christmas beer.
**
Reviewed by KLHBB from Arkansas
3.93/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fuzzy mahogany, smells of caramel and nutty malt. Taste of spice, gingerbread, not too sweet. Medium mouthfeel, quite excellent, Schlafly is always good.
Dec 26, 2017Rated by krh from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Struck me as a flatter Oktoberfest beer with a little spice added. Expected more from Schlafly based on previous tastings.
Dec 24, 2017Reviewed by Qbdoo from Illinois
4/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I do not generally like Christmas Ales but this is the best I've had. A dark nut brown color. Aroma is a caramel and just a hint of nutmeg. Taste similar. The spices are subdued, which for me is the key to a good winter warmer. There's also a slight sweet syrupy quality. Very nice.
Dec 24, 2017
Christmas Ale from The Schlafly Tap Room
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
565 ratings
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