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Christmas Ale | Breckenridge Brewery
Brewed by:
Breckenridge Brewery
Colorado, United States
breckbrew.com
Style: Winter Warmer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.10%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and strength. Here it is. At over 7% alcohol, with a sturdy texture and rich flavors of caramel and chocolate, our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 1,149 | Reviews: 436
3.59/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.37/5 rDev +24.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Happy hour special in Clinton, Iowa meant bottles of this were only two bucks apiece.
Frankly, that was a fantastic deal.
The pour is full bodied, dark brown with a good head for its relatively elevated ABV. The aroma is older school, which is to say it's balanced and you can actually discern some malt and yeast nodes. The hops are tangy, the malt is bready with mild spiciness. The flavor is the same: excellently balanced, malty and spicy with a kiss of the hops to balance things out.
Going back to slightly older beers can be a fantastic respite from the Juicy Fruit Extremeness that's infested most of the rest of the American beer scene. Breckenridge's Christmas Ale is not just a fantastic value, it's a fantastic beer.
733 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Happy hour special in Clinton, Iowa meant bottles of this were only two bucks apiece.
Frankly, that was a fantastic deal.
The pour is full bodied, dark brown with a good head for its relatively elevated ABV. The aroma is older school, which is to say it's balanced and you can actually discern some malt and yeast nodes. The hops are tangy, the malt is bready with mild spiciness. The flavor is the same: excellently balanced, malty and spicy with a kiss of the hops to balance things out.
Going back to slightly older beers can be a fantastic respite from the Juicy Fruit Extremeness that's infested most of the rest of the American beer scene. Breckenridge's Christmas Ale is not just a fantastic value, it's a fantastic beer.
733 characters
3.77/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle poured into a Mountain Rambler Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours deep copper brown with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Toasty bready malt, a little spice, caramel and dark sugar sweetness, a touch of pine, and some dark fruit.
T: Toasty bready malt, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, vanilla, resinous pine, a touch of spice, and some dark fruit, cherry and fig. Slightly reminiscent of Cherry Dr. Pepper.
M: A bit on the fuller side of medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: A bit on the sweet side, but not bad on a cold night.
587 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle poured into a Mountain Rambler Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours deep copper brown with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.
S: Toasty bready malt, a little spice, caramel and dark sugar sweetness, a touch of pine, and some dark fruit.
T: Toasty bready malt, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, vanilla, resinous pine, a touch of spice, and some dark fruit, cherry and fig. Slightly reminiscent of Cherry Dr. Pepper.
M: A bit on the fuller side of medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: A bit on the sweet side, but not bad on a cold night.
587 characters
3.81/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Some chocolate malts upfront with some Christmas fruit cake notes on the backend, not bad at all. The 7% abv is well hidden. Cheers! B
134 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Some chocolate malts upfront with some Christmas fruit cake notes on the backend, not bad at all. The 7% abv is well hidden. Cheers! B
134 characters
4.38/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this on draft. Way better than I expected.
46 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this on draft. Way better than I expected.
46 characters
4.03/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Surprised by this warmer from Breckenridge - I loved it...
From the unique coloration of the beer to the spicy smell of cinnamon, this was one (slightly) sweet surprise. Normally I'm not much into this style, but this one from BB was special from the get go. I even found the mouthfeel creamy and the overall taste and experience to be a representative of the style that is probably my most favorite. Great job, Breckenridge.
429 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Surprised by this warmer from Breckenridge - I loved it...
From the unique coloration of the beer to the spicy smell of cinnamon, this was one (slightly) sweet surprise. Normally I'm not much into this style, but this one from BB was special from the get go. I even found the mouthfeel creamy and the overall taste and experience to be a representative of the style that is probably my most favorite. Great job, Breckenridge.
429 characters
3.64/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.94/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Breck beer for holidays
23 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Breck beer for holidays
23 characters
3.31/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.7/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
LOOK: Clear copper color. Decent head - recedes quickly.
SMELL: Nice hoppy/malty aroma - some dark fruit - some funk
TASTE: Get some malt and quite a bit of tart fruit and funk. Not much flavor otherwise - decent
FEEL: Decent medium body - not as effervescent as I had hoped
OVERALL: Not what I expected. I expect Christmas Ales to be a bit more malty - and spicy. Not hot spicy - but nutmeg/cinnamon/clove/ginger, etc. I bought as a single but would not buy a 6 pack.
481 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
LOOK: Clear copper color. Decent head - recedes quickly.
SMELL: Nice hoppy/malty aroma - some dark fruit - some funk
TASTE: Get some malt and quite a bit of tart fruit and funk. Not much flavor otherwise - decent
FEEL: Decent medium body - not as effervescent as I had hoped
OVERALL: Not what I expected. I expect Christmas Ales to be a bit more malty - and spicy. Not hot spicy - but nutmeg/cinnamon/clove/ginger, etc. I bought as a single but would not buy a 6 pack.
481 characters
3.81/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Amber color that is lighter than most winter beers. Little to no smell but a great taste. Coats the mouth fully and finshes smooth. I could drink way too many of these before I felt it. Very easy to drink.
207 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Amber color that is lighter than most winter beers. Little to no smell but a great taste. Coats the mouth fully and finshes smooth. I could drink way too many of these before I felt it. Very easy to drink.
207 characters
3.68/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.2/5 rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Nice dark brown color
Smell: Very aromatic, hints of pine, cinnamon and nutmeg
Taste: Nice and smooth. Crisp and somewhat sweet
Feel: Love that the spices don’t overpower each other
Overall: Very drinkable for a Holiday Ale
233 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Nice dark brown color
Smell: Very aromatic, hints of pine, cinnamon and nutmeg
Taste: Nice and smooth. Crisp and somewhat sweet
Feel: Love that the spices don’t overpower each other
Overall: Very drinkable for a Holiday Ale
233 characters
3.84/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Looks nice but I prefer warners to look darker. This is a dark brownish /copper color. Spices come through in the nose: nutmeg in an orange, cinnamon. Some nice toasty notes and a little hint of pine. I am not on board with the reviews stating the beer doesn't have an interesting smell.
Anticipation built by the aroma leads to a let down on the taste, but it is still good and drinkable. A little flat up front but a nice fresh cleanness comes through. Ends with subtle bitterness, like a burned biscuit. Im warming up to it as I drink.
Mouthfeel is good--not too heavy to keep it from being highly drinkable, and I was gonna say sessionable until I just now looked at the abv. Wouldn't have guessed 7.1!
Solid beer, great choice for a variety pack of winter seasonals
773 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Looks nice but I prefer warners to look darker. This is a dark brownish /copper color. Spices come through in the nose: nutmeg in an orange, cinnamon. Some nice toasty notes and a little hint of pine. I am not on board with the reviews stating the beer doesn't have an interesting smell.
Anticipation built by the aroma leads to a let down on the taste, but it is still good and drinkable. A little flat up front but a nice fresh cleanness comes through. Ends with subtle bitterness, like a burned biscuit. Im warming up to it as I drink.
Mouthfeel is good--not too heavy to keep it from being highly drinkable, and I was gonna say sessionable until I just now looked at the abv. Wouldn't have guessed 7.1!
Solid beer, great choice for a variety pack of winter seasonals
773 characters
4.03/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One of the better winter seasonals that I have tried. Drinkability comparable to their porters. Overall great winter warmer.
124 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One of the better winter seasonals that I have tried. Drinkability comparable to their porters. Overall great winter warmer.
124 characters
Christmas Ale from Breckenridge Brewery
Beer rating:
3.52 out of
5 with
1,149 ratings
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