Family Christmas Ale
Alewerks Brewing Company

Poured from a 16 ounce can dated 10/20/2025 into a shaker pint glass.
L - Pours a dark cola color with a slight whitish head.
S - Smells of spices and caramel.
T - Tastes of ginger, molasses and caramel.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Very tasty Winter Warmer.

 

 

16 ounce can poured into a dimpled mug.

Very nice ale. Clear and dark brown with a two finger khaki head that hangs around for a minute or so. The robust nose is malty, doughy bread and baking spices with hints of caramel and grain/corn. Flavor is baking spice over bread and caramel malt, herbal hops stand out a bit on the back half. Feeling medium-weight and creamy with a small crisp bite to finish. Unlike most spiced ales I finished it without feeling I was eating dry spices out of the jar. It drinks very easy for 8% and leaves me wanting a second pour. Outstanding!

Pours a dark brown with half finger of head. Smells of light spices and vanilla. Mild and tasteful at 8%. Not over powering with spice or flavor. A solid warm Christmas ale!

 

 

 

 

Look: It pours brown with a tans head. Head retention is good.

Smell: It has plenty of holiday spices aromas that feature nutmeg and cinnamon with clove and ginger. There are light orange notes.

Taste: There are caramel flavors with cinnamon and ginger upfront in the flavor. It also has nutmeg and clove with a touch of vanilla.

Feel: It has a medium full body with a slight bit of sweetness in the finish and pleasant alcohol warming.

Overall, the beer has a nice blend of spices with some nice alcohol warming.

 

L - Copper/reddish brown with a tan head that dissipates somewhat quickly but leaves behind a nice cap
S - Bready yeast, cloves, nutmeg, allspice. Smells like the holidays
T - Follows the nose: bready yeast and malt up front and throughout intermixed nicely with winter spices (nutmeg, allspice, cloves, some ginger and cinnamon as well)
F - Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O - A very well done Winter warmer. Alewerks always seems to put out some nice ales.

 

Could cross to spices beer - winter warmer base with warming seasonal spices, though the nose seems to hide these aspects a bit. A bit of a Scotch ale base with some earthiness in the nose veers to an amber spiced ale in the flavor department. The spices are warming and the ABV only supports it. A decent holiday spiced ale.

Grabbed a Crowler of the 2019 version at Alewerk’s Little Auxiliary Brewery. Brought back memories of British winter warmers I’ve had in the past. In this case flavor was banana bread with hints of allspice, clove and nutmeg. The pour was very light bubbly on head. It firmed up with a vigorous pour and produced a reasonable 1/2 inch head to top a dark brown ale in a Fuller’s Imperial Pint glass. Then had quickly disappeared wet itch no lacing. While the untopped dark brown was pretty much unattractive ... there was a nice mahogany/cherry quality when held to light. Nose and taste were as noted and pleasant. However as is also a British trait...there is some dry sour aftertaste. Carbonation was favorably restrained and body was slightly full and oily. Made for a nice sessionable sipper as you would hope for a winter warmer. Not my favorite type of English Holiday Ale but Alewerks has replicated it very well. A good showing on their part.

 

 

From the barcode: "BOTTLED ON 10 30 2018"

Appearance: It's a hazy dark brown with a minimal cap of off-white with minimal retention and no real lacing.

Aroma: It smells like nutmeg and ginger.

Taste: It has a pleasant flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and toast.

Mouthfeel: The spice level is mellow and it makes the beer very easy to drink. Carbonation is low and it has a medium body.

Overall: It is a nice and easy to drink beer, especially for the "ALC. 8.0% BY VOL." advertised on the label. It has a nice mellow spice and good flavor. I would recommend it and I would drink it again.