Christmas Saves Ernest
Pizza Port Solana Beach

 

 

Served from tap into a shaker. Poured a dark brown brown almost black with a red hue when held up to the light with a minimal off-white head. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, clove, coriander, ginger, and caramel. The flavor was of sweet malt, chocolate, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. It had a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall I wasn't really a big fan of this one. With that said, it really wasn't like the beer was horrible or anything like that. I just felt that it could have been cut back on the spices a bit in both the aroma and flavor. The main culprit was definitely the ginger that was present as it was very evident. This is worth trying, but I doubt I would have it again.

Poured a dark brown in color with ruby red highlights that had a thin frothy head and left a little lacing sticking to the glass. Some spices herbs and mint pop out first on the aroma with mild roasty, chocolate, and brown sugar notes. The taste was also big on the spices, herbs, and mint character with roasty ginger accents but also had a touch of underlying brown sugar notes as well. The brew was medium in body with a good amount of carbonation which had a spice, herbal, roasty, and sweet creamy finish. I really enjoyed this take on a winter warmer style and did drink quite well. Glad I got to try it.

Growler from San Clemente. Thanks, James.

A: The beer absolutely gushed out of the growler as I opened the top. Never seen that before. But the actual pour is a dark amber, maybe chestnut color with a finger of tan head.

S: An absolute ton of ginger on the nose. There's a bit of a gingerbread thing going on here, which is nice, but lots of fresh, slightly woody, ginger. A bit of a spruce note along with nutmeg, chocolate, and roasted malts.

T: There's still a lot of ginger on the palate, but it seems to be a bit more under control. Quite a bit of gingerbread, bitter dark chocolate, and nutmeg. A little bit of fresh pine flavor, too.

M: The body is medium with a fairly lively but creamy carbonation.

D: Not bad overall. The super-spiced beers are a bit hit or miss with me, but I enjoyed this one.

On tap at Toronado SD. Looks like root beer, thin head. Smells like a gingerbread + molasses cookie. Taste is molasses and licorice. They definitely put some anise in this beer. Body is about that of a porter, maybe slightly less. Tons and tons of spices in this thing. Limits the drinkability for me even tho it is festive. Some people may love that though.

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, from Port San Clemente,

A: Pours amber red with a medium white head, some lace.

S: Smells just like a gingerbread man, heavy spicing, always a delight to smell beers like this.

T: Strong spice flavour - cinnamon, allspice, though the malt plays a role here. Hops bring Christmas tree sap/pine in a nice interplay of flavours.

M: Medium-bodied, long aftertaste, resiny at times.

D: A very unique and very CA winter warmer. If you're a fan of the spice and CA hops go here.