Yuletide Abbey Ale
Great Waters Brewing

 

Appears golden-amber by way of the direct light of the sun (and closer to ruby-amber in the waning light), capped with a thin medium-tan head and moderate lacing.

Nose is phenolic and somewhat herbal, also estery and tangy, with a familiar yeast presence.

The taste is dynamic, with notes of caramel and plum, lighter notes of cherry and candied-orange. Not overly sweet, instead the bitterness is mild and lingering; I thought I caught a light hint of citric hop but then remembered the candied-orange (orange zest, likely) and spice notes from the nose. Impressive any way you slice it!

Warms brilliantly, especially as it's served cold from the tower. As it warms there's a pleasant vinuous quality that emerges (methinks from the Belgian yeast strain used) and together with the specialty malt and candi sugar begins to suggest a light note of cherry liqueur (Heering doncha know).

Body is medium-full, and mouthfeel -though it leans toward simply smooth- is fairly complex, with a lot of texture.

The alcohol, although it's always present, behaves itself, never overpowers the drink, and only truly shows itself from the middle of the drink onward, making Yuletide dangerously drinkable to some and a tasty sipper to others.

I had picked up a growler of this and taken notes around the holidays. Trading in my growler yesterday I decided I needed to enter my notes here.

Dark amber color and perhaps a little bit cloudy. Very light lacing on the surface. Sweet malty nose with hints of of spices. Spicy attack with characteristics like orange peel or orange zest. Creamy and thick mouthfeel. Spicy finish with a very mild aftertaste. This beer is reminiscent of many of the bigger and maltier holiday beers that seemed to be more prevalent a few years back. Perhaps I just haven't looked hard enough in recent years. I would call it a throwback type of beer. I think that having a growler was a little too much especially since my guests gave it a try and then moved on to other beverages. That left me drinking the balance of the open growler. I think I may have overdosed on it as it was too much spice and all for me.

Served in a snifter glass, this pours an opaque brown color, with little or no head. The smell is fruity and pleasant. The taste is complex. I taste raisins, plums, a hint of banana, and a warming alcohol presence. This is a very nice beer-rich and full bodied. It goes down easily, especially as it warms, but the high alcohol content makes this a slow sipper. Another terrific addition to the Great Waters linup.

On Tap at the brewpub: Served in a snifter- Browned crimson with a tan capping of medium height thats fluffy, thick, and firmly creamy. Good lacing in all sorts of goopy strings and spots.

Pleasingly set aroma of rounded malt fruityness and crisp, dried, accents on top. Nutty, bready, figgy, with some raisin, and nutmeg notes.

Taste is well developed in a firm malt tone thats snappy with a bit of wheat and marbled rye breads. Again, has nice fruityness thats milding yet flavorful with figs, raisins and some nuts. Very nice draw through the middle and has a swell finish of chewy leftover warming bready sweetness and has that certain Trappist yeast sugary tone. Quite nice on the flavor palate, especially in the finish. Quite cookie sugared and lasting.

Soothing, creamy. mediumish body with a well-rounded malt tone throughout. Has a certain snap of crispness and freshness thats rewarding in each sip. Makes a nice warm entrance and solidifies itself in darkly set bready sweetness well into the finish with a great cookie doughish finish.

A very solid and yummy beer. I'll be back for more during this holiday season, as a growler will be enjoyed by all my family this coming x-mas.