Holly Jolly Christmas Ale
Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon
- From:
- Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #91 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #28,134 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 11.87%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 75
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 18, 2025
- Added:
- Dec 07, 2012
- Wants:
- 15
- Gots:
- 131
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Once upon a frozen evening way up north, a sweet local honey named Holly inspired our Jolly Fat Man (as only Holly can) to create this festive spiced holiday ale. We think you will enjoy this holiday creation with it's aromas and flavors of Christmas day. Sweet malt, ginger, honey and cinnamon spice. Sip this by the fire with your significant other. Who knows, maybe it will lead to a little inspiration of your own. From our Jolly Fat Man to yours, Happy Holidays.
Chill out man, have a beer!
Matt - Chris- Glenn
Chill out man, have a beer!
Matt - Chris- Glenn
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
3.85/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Revisiting after untold years, caving to peer pressure at the bar as everyone and their mother is getting it with great enthusiasm, though I opted against the cinnamon-sugared rim.
Appearance is beautifully clear dark amber to red with a short and light but persistently level and beveled tan head.
Immediately, I get spiced apple cider. Cinnamon sticks and light ginger accompany a toasted malt background, perhaps like cinnamon grahams.
Damn near crisp, it's hard to fault, being so drinkable for the style.
Dec 18, 2025Appearance is beautifully clear dark amber to red with a short and light but persistently level and beveled tan head.
Immediately, I get spiced apple cider. Cinnamon sticks and light ginger accompany a toasted malt background, perhaps like cinnamon grahams.
Damn near crisp, it's hard to fault, being so drinkable for the style.
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can
pours a clear amber color with ruby highlights, with thick layer of cream colored head. good head retention. aroma of mulling spices and a touch of honey. similar taste, the spices aren't overly aggressive, and their is some sweetness. smells boozier than it is. medium bodied, lower carbonation, sticky mouthfeel.
Dec 13, 2025pours a clear amber color with ruby highlights, with thick layer of cream colored head. good head retention. aroma of mulling spices and a touch of honey. similar taste, the spices aren't overly aggressive, and their is some sweetness. smells boozier than it is. medium bodied, lower carbonation, sticky mouthfeel.
Rated by xnotx from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ginger/cinnamon combo tastes like blue moon Belgian white, toned down. Somewhat like anise.
Nov 16, 2025
Reviewed by based_guy from Antarctica
3.36/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.36/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Well this beer is slightly more pleasant than not. It's nothing special and overall not very dynamic. It doesn't really have a rich robust Christmas flavor like you would ideally want in this type of beer. It's really not bad and I wouldn't say you should avoid it by any means. If you order it with dinner you will be disappointed. But if it's your 2nd or 3rd beer in a sesh you will be satisfied.
Dec 20, 2024
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
4.17/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nearly clear amber color and sports a dense, compact tan head that forms a nice cap on the beer and provides ringlets of lacing. Beautiful beer.
The cinnamon and ginger are the most prominent aromas after you pour the beer, which isn’t surprising given the characteristics of those ingredients in general in a beer. There’s also a nice caramel aroma and a bit of honey.
What is surprising is how balanced the taste is, especially as the beer warms, with the cinnamon and ginger still prominent, but beautifully balanced by the caramel and honey flavors. Delicious stuff, IMHO.
The mouthfeel is medium and crisp. A very drinkable winter warmer, I’m glad I picked up a 6er and have more of this to enjoy.
Dec 16, 2024The cinnamon and ginger are the most prominent aromas after you pour the beer, which isn’t surprising given the characteristics of those ingredients in general in a beer. There’s also a nice caramel aroma and a bit of honey.
What is surprising is how balanced the taste is, especially as the beer warms, with the cinnamon and ginger still prominent, but beautifully balanced by the caramel and honey flavors. Delicious stuff, IMHO.
The mouthfeel is medium and crisp. A very drinkable winter warmer, I’m glad I picked up a 6er and have more of this to enjoy.
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
At Jungle Jim's bar
Dec 02, 2023
Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania
3.53/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From a 12oz can dated 10/4/22 into a pint glass.
Pours a fairly translucent reddish copper color with about one finger of white head. Decent retention and great lacing.
Smells of cinnamon, bread, nutmeg and other baking spices.
Taste follows. Pretty heavy on the cinnamon. Light spicy bitterness.
Medium-bodied, wet mouthfeel. Cinnamon aftertaste.
Cinnamon bomb but not terrible.
Jan 21, 2023Pours a fairly translucent reddish copper color with about one finger of white head. Decent retention and great lacing.
Smells of cinnamon, bread, nutmeg and other baking spices.
Taste follows. Pretty heavy on the cinnamon. Light spicy bitterness.
Medium-bodied, wet mouthfeel. Cinnamon aftertaste.
Cinnamon bomb but not terrible.
Reviewed by Radome from Florida
3.21/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.21/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Poured from a 12 oz can from the brewery store.
L - Dark copper ale is crisply clear. Off-white head poured moderate in size and fluffy, but faded quickly.
S - There is no mistaking that this is a holiday ale. The nose is all about spices: cinnamon, ginger, maybe clove? Hops and malt can't rise above the spice level to get themselves noticed. I feel the spices are too assertive, but I suppose that's personal taste.
T - Here too, the spices wash out everything else. To me, they give a sharp, medicinal impression that makes it hard to determine what spices may be in there, and they dominate throughout the palate and aftertaste. Cinnamon and ginger for sure, but maybe some others as well.
F - Thin body with strong, spritzy carbonation. Low hops bitterness, but spices seem to lend some astringency that gives a similar impression. Alcohol is well hidden for the ABV.
O - This beer is well made with some positive characteristics, but i find it just too heavy-handed with the spices.
Jan 03, 2023L - Dark copper ale is crisply clear. Off-white head poured moderate in size and fluffy, but faded quickly.
S - There is no mistaking that this is a holiday ale. The nose is all about spices: cinnamon, ginger, maybe clove? Hops and malt can't rise above the spice level to get themselves noticed. I feel the spices are too assertive, but I suppose that's personal taste.
T - Here too, the spices wash out everything else. To me, they give a sharp, medicinal impression that makes it hard to determine what spices may be in there, and they dominate throughout the palate and aftertaste. Cinnamon and ginger for sure, but maybe some others as well.
F - Thin body with strong, spritzy carbonation. Low hops bitterness, but spices seem to lend some astringency that gives a similar impression. Alcohol is well hidden for the ABV.
O - This beer is well made with some positive characteristics, but i find it just too heavy-handed with the spices.
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