Christmas Ale
Upslope Brewing Company - Lee Hill

Appearance: Small, fairly coarse off-white head with good retention crowns a bright amber. The lacing is Belgain-style. Before a strong light, reddish-amber highlights are seen.

Aroma: Very sweet aroma of Belgian candi sugar, and as an esteemed reviewer noted, the aroma has a pronounced similarity to a Dubbel. Molasses, caramel, dark fruit, cloves, ripe bananas, coriander, yeast notes and a little bitter orange rind add dazzling complexity. Sweet, vinous alcohol is also notable.

Taste: The taste opens with strong notes of brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits, dark bread and caramel. An undercurrent of earthy yeast runs throughout the taste. Sweet and warming alcohol is prominent throughout, as well. Coriander and ginger add spiciness. Toward the finish, some understated earthy hops help to counterbalance the sweet profile of the taste. Finishes with sweet and spicy flavors against the mild hop bitterness.

Mouth feel: Full and soft, quite pleasant, with a mere intimation of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Dramatically complex; would make a spectacular addition to the holiday table. I haven't traditionally associated the Belgian Dark style with the holidays, though surely it is worthy of serious consideration. Hopefully, Upslope will choose to offer Christmas Ale again.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a South American-style Pilsener glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz. Can

Pours a nice brown color, pretty nice carbonation, with a nice small thick/creamy off-white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, with some dark fruits, yeasty, spice notes. The taste is malty, yeasty, dark fruits, spicy. Medium body, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a tasty brew.

 

Beautiful deep copper and rust color. Little head that dissipated quickly. Light to medium effervescence. Easily drinkable for high ABV. Fruity bright nose. First scent is fresh, later scents start to show the Christmas seasonings. Love the stout combination with the Abby yeast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flirts between smooth sweetness and carbonated bite which detracts but overall very good

 

From notes taken 05/15/16:

Appears a spirit-like deep copper, very clear. There are sparse, fine flecks here, but darkness and clarity hide these well. Thick, fine, foamy, almost creamy head of good retention, perfectly tan. Decent lacing and legs. Definitely detect the Abbey Ale yeast character on the nose. Cinnamon and perhaps ginger and nutmeg aromas. Breadiness, toastiness as well. To the taste, cinnamon strongest, but not overpowering. Overall very Belgian and dark. Bread flavors more subdued, taking a back seat to spiciness and metallic, leathery, funky, and caramel qualities of hops, yeast, and malt. Medium-bodied, nearly syrupy, excellent smoothness, carbonation mostly creamy with tingles and sloshes here and there. As the style suggests, warming. Works well with spiciness. Good work, Upslope! Compare to Belgian Darks and Strong Darks as much as other Winter Warmers. Even certain high ABV Altbiers.

 

 

 

Picked up a single from TW Arrowhead in early January for $3.49. Received at TW on 11-24-15, best by 2-18-16...whoops.

Beer poured reddish brown with an OK head that dissipated quickly.

Nose is holiday spices and a hint of bubbelgum.

Taste is allspice and abbey yeast phenols.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and not as light as i would expect from an abbey ale.

Overall not a bad beer but nothing special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a clear amber color with a tight off-white head that leaves little bits of lacing.

Smells of yeast spice and dark fruits.

Tastes of the dark fruits layered with sweetness and spice. Dark fruits lead off with notes of cherries and raisins. Spice notes come next with clove and some pepper. Caramel sweetness adds towards the middle along with some bubble gum. Next comes herbal hop notes. Finishes with a little sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is a pretty good Belgian Christmas style ale.