Friggin Yuletide
Nelson Brewing Company

500ml brownish bottle, bottle-conditioned ale. No freshness info. is shown on the beer label, apart from it stating that "Full bodied hoppy version of Friggin in the Riggin, strong malt and fruit flavours well balanced with hops and a warming finish"... Served cool in a broad-rimmed goblet.

A: light copperish hue, a thin layer of creamy-frothy head with relatively good retention; surprisingly low carbonated body for a bottle-conditioned ale, though.
S: semi-roasted/smoked nuttiness upfront with a hint of sesame seeds even~~ followed by a mild dark-fruity overtone. A very mild chocolatey maltiness closely ensued, underlined by a soft bed of floral hoppyness at the back.
T&M: smoothly-textured nutty maltiness prevails on the palate, backed by a more subtle, dark-chocolatey maltiness at the back. A touch of floral hops with a pinch of salt sustains at the back, leading to a lingering, nutty yet softly dryish aftertaste. The mouthfeel is smooth and soft, against a harmonious flavour profile with a nutty theme to it.
D: overall this is a easily-approachable winter brew yet with a good depth. Not as hoppy as the bottle claims to be, but a nice balance is not missable.