Christmas IPA
Goose Island Beer Co.

Christmas IPAChristmas IPA
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From:
Goose Island Beer Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #3,088
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,907
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 12.97%
Reviews:
57
Ratings:
122
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 18, 2024
Added:
Oct 27, 2019
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  9
Christmas IPA is a malt forward IPA using 6 different hops throughout the process. Subtle stone fruit and wood notes balance with caramel malt on the palate dry-hopped with Meridian, Ahtanum, and Cashmere. It’s got a bit of an old school feel on the malt side with caramel malt and a lovely red hue to go wit the classic kettle hop backbone. Nicely balanced and dry, this little number dons a big fruity aroma.

IBU: 38
HOPS: NORTHERN BREWER, CASCADE, MERIDIAN, CASHMERE, ATHENEUM
MALTS:2-ROW, C-20, DEBITTERED BLACK, CANE SUGAR
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ChainGangGuy:
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Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

2.8/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
12 ounce can - $2.29 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours an amber-toned body, a bit of haze to it. Medium-small, off-white head.

Smell: Very dry toasted grain, a sliver of middling roast. Faint caramel. Stale citrus, wood shavings, shredded mint leaf.

Taste: Toasted grain with a brief, minimally sweet hit of caramel. Citrusy, woodsy with a minty-menthol kick. Medium bitterness. Lethargic malts, apathetic hop character, anemic mouthfeel.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body, a tad watery. Medium carbonation.

Overall: Lackluster. Feels like a very clunky attempt to recreate Sierra Nevada's Celebration.
Nov 13, 2021
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.69 by rorjets from Connecticut

Jan 18, 2024
Photo of mothman
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2023 can. Eggshell head with lace. Burnt orange color.

Malty for sure. Caramel, toffee, honey bread. Pine and resin. Citrus. Bitter finish. Medium bodied. Fun holiday brew.
Dec 25, 2023
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one is from a twelve ounce can, bought for the Holidays. It is a hazy, deep gold color. The head is soapy and off-white. Lots of hop flavor in the smell…at once it has both juicy fruit and pine. There is some malt backing up the scent. There is a lot going on here. The taste has a sweetish tilt, but a nice bitter backstop. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.
Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.78 by Oktoberfest from Ohio

Dec 16, 2023
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Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from TJs
Dec 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.73 by Boone757 from Virginia

Dec 08, 2023
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Reviewed by Weisenbeer from Ohio

4.06/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nicely aromatic brew which I would qualify as solidly above average .... Haven't had a new Goose Island in a while and was satisfied with this variety
Dec 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by db9000

Nov 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.96 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.73 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Nov 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Mar 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.46 by stanale from Illinois

Feb 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Feb 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by ItsBeer4Me from Pennsylvania

Jan 31, 2023
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Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a 12oz can dated 01APR23 (best by) into a pint glass.

Pours a murky copper color with about two and a half fingers of light tan head. Great retention and pretty good lacing.

Smells of sweet pine needles, light caramel and a bit of dirt.

Taste is on the malty side-bready, light caramel sweetness and light piney bitterness.

Medium-bodied, slightly sticky mouthfeel. Light bitter aftertaste. Touch of alcohol warmth. Low carbonation.

This is a nice enough beer. Solid.
Dec 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Timmmmaaayyy from Pennsylvania

Dec 23, 2022
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Reviewed by Bitburger from Vermont

4.36/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Great winter IPA. For me it´s tradition during christmas time to drink this stuff... Nicely integrated cinnamon spice, really good mouth feel and enough ABV to warm you up. Cheers!
Dec 20, 2022
Photo of jameswaldo
Reviewed by jameswaldo from New York

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured a 12-oz can, its drink-by date 29MAR23 today, 18DEC22, real gently into a Spiegelau pint glass. Gently as it was clear this ale wants to make a huge fluffy head. A nearly clear, barely turbid SRM 15 reddish orange keeps hosting tiny rising bubbles to a persistent skim of foam that leaves excellent lacing.
Smells of yeasty roasted biscuits, can't find the hops till a mouthfull with rightous carbonation delivers gentle bitter not quite as biting as I like best. But the aftertaste! Goose Island advertises a 38 IBU on the Xmas sweater knit can, with motto "festively smooth," and I figured I'd serve this to guests and drink a more deliciously bittered IPA myself. The aftertaste holds on to a long-lasting tongue-tanning bitter that makes this brew feel better than it tastes. Hops-salivation! Yes. I'll try to upload a photo of the new 2022-style sweater can, and thank the Geese for getting this good party drink to upstate NY.
Dec 18, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can

Pours a mostly clear dark orange golden color, thick cream colored head. Hop aroma of citrus, mint, pine. Similar flavor, with a little mild caramel and fairly strong bitterness underneath. Longer finish. Medium bodied.
Dec 18, 2022
Christmas IPA from Goose Island Beer Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 122 ratings