Blitzen Holiday Ale
Maumee Bay Brewing Company

 

 

 

LOOK: Semi-opaque dark amber with a nice head of coarse but quickly-dissipating foam.
SMELL: Orange and honey very present, along with malt and a twinge of alcohol.
TASTE: Not overly flavored, which is what I hoped for. Lovely balance between the flavorings and the underlying brew. Nice and robust with some fruit and spice flavors.
FEEL: Thicker than a regular ale. Almost IPA levels of thickness. But it’s nice!
OVERALL: It’s definitely holiday-centric, but I think this is a solid choice for the season.

 

 

This beer was poured from a 12 oz. bottle that Inpurchased at a local craft beer store. It poured a hazy amber with an off white head that was about one half finger width thick.

The aroma was hoppy with some citrus and a nice bit of honey.

The initial taste was sweet with a heavy dose of honey up front. Thee was some citrus and hops in the middle, and the honey returned at the end as the beer warmed on the tongue.

The mouthfeel was on the smooth side.

Overall, this was a decent brew. It fit the Christmas Ale style, but there was nothing overly exciting or out of the ordinary about it. There was a good bit of honey, which I enjoyed.

 

That I am drinking this in May is a horrible decision. But it turned cold here, so I can pretend it is Winter. You taste just enough cinnamon to appreciate it with touches of orange and honew. Dark orange in color with a combo of the aforementioned flavors when you dip your snoot into the glass. Thick, two-finger head which dissipates in a few minutes. Definitely seasonal, but lacks that something special, not one of my favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

Great Christmas beer. Cinnamon sugar rim on the punt glass makes it special.

 

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, 2015 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy ruby red/copper color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of raisin, plum, fig, apple, caramel, honey, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, cinnamon, orange peel, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt, spices, and fruity yeast ester notes; with solid strength. Taste of big raisin, plum, fig, apple, caramel, honey, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, cinnamon, orange peel, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal/spice bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of raisin, plum, fig, apple, caramel, honey, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, nuttiness, cinnamon, orange peel, and herbal/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, spices, and fruity yeast ester flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy/bready, and slightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is a very nice English winter warmer style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, spices, and fruity yeast ester flavors; and very smooth and easy to sip on for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.