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.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 04-28-2002
Ratings: 1,081 | Reviews: 418
Reviews by Bierwolf:
More User Reviews:
3.75/5 rDev +7.1%
Has a kind of wintery feeling to it, good for those family gatherings you really hate. But - it isn't so high in alcohol that you'll be stumbling around, tripping over a string of christmas lights, embarrassing your wife and validating the dislike the inlaws have always had for you. Plus the label is nice and festive! It's a must-have for late november and all of december.
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Has a kind of wintery feeling to it, good for those family gatherings you really hate. But - it isn't so high in alcohol that you'll be stumbling around, tripping over a string of christmas lights, embarrassing your wife and validating the dislike the inlaws have always had for you. Plus the label is nice and festive! It's a must-have for late november and all of december.
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3.68/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a clear rich tawny color with a half finger creamy off white head atop,nice broken lace left behind as it settles slowly.Dark fruit leafy somewhat spicy hops in the nose,a little cakiness in the background as well.Decent flavors but they lack depth,a decent leafy hoppiness goes pretty well with mild caramel and dark fruit sweetness,drying in the finish.The problem is the flavors all end abruptly,it's close to being really damn good,it's still a pretty decent winter warmer as is.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a clear rich tawny color with a half finger creamy off white head atop,nice broken lace left behind as it settles slowly.Dark fruit leafy somewhat spicy hops in the nose,a little cakiness in the background as well.Decent flavors but they lack depth,a decent leafy hoppiness goes pretty well with mild caramel and dark fruit sweetness,drying in the finish.The problem is the flavors all end abruptly,it's close to being really damn good,it's still a pretty decent winter warmer as is.
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3.69/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance – This is a kind of cruddy-looking, dull dark brown in color with a surprisingly white head that came up nicely.
Smell – The roasted malts are sharp here at the nose and a bit burnt. There’s a nice sweet balance as well that is a little like raw sugar. I do get a bitter hop aroma as well so overall this one is well-balanced.
Taste – I got some spice at the taste that I missed at the smell. The roasty malts step back from the nose and the sugar is more cola-flavored than anything else. I like the idea of a hop balance in this style but here it only served to dilute the malt base which was overmatched in the first place.
Mouthfeel – This is medium-bodied with very light carbonation in keeping with the style.
Drinkability – I enjoyed this more than it sounds. I was expecting something a bit more substantial and this turned out to be a session beer which OK isn’t all that bad.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance – This is a kind of cruddy-looking, dull dark brown in color with a surprisingly white head that came up nicely.
Smell – The roasted malts are sharp here at the nose and a bit burnt. There’s a nice sweet balance as well that is a little like raw sugar. I do get a bitter hop aroma as well so overall this one is well-balanced.
Taste – I got some spice at the taste that I missed at the smell. The roasty malts step back from the nose and the sugar is more cola-flavored than anything else. I like the idea of a hop balance in this style but here it only served to dilute the malt base which was overmatched in the first place.
Mouthfeel – This is medium-bodied with very light carbonation in keeping with the style.
Drinkability – I enjoyed this more than it sounds. I was expecting something a bit more substantial and this turned out to be a session beer which OK isn’t all that bad.
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3.44/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.68/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #47 (Dec 2010):
A more modest carbonation yields a small head here; the lacing does a good beery job of sticking though. Cookie dough, burnt sugar, plum pudding and toasted bread show not only its strength but the thickness of malt from the aroma. Creamy full body. Full malt jacket here--this beer is not kidding around. Brown bread, brown sugar, toasted marshmallows and a toasted husk flavor abound. Warmth kicks in mid-pint and stays mellow. Hops are certainly big enough to at least stand up to the sizable maltiness. The bitterness does not try to crush the malt, but rather tames it. Sweet, roasty and slightly hoppy finish.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #47 (Dec 2010):
A more modest carbonation yields a small head here; the lacing does a good beery job of sticking though. Cookie dough, burnt sugar, plum pudding and toasted bread show not only its strength but the thickness of malt from the aroma. Creamy full body. Full malt jacket here--this beer is not kidding around. Brown bread, brown sugar, toasted marshmallows and a toasted husk flavor abound. Warmth kicks in mid-pint and stays mellow. Hops are certainly big enough to at least stand up to the sizable maltiness. The bitterness does not try to crush the malt, but rather tames it. Sweet, roasty and slightly hoppy finish.
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4/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
No spice. No bitterness. Just malty goodness that gets better as it warms.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
No spice. No bitterness. Just malty goodness that gets better as it warms.
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3.26/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The Christmas Ale poured reddish-brown with very little head. The head quickly disappeared for the most part leaving little traces. The beer had a slight malty, caramel like aroma with hints of alcohol, pretty subtle overall. It tasted a little spicy with a big hoppy finish. It was pretty full-bodied with a slight metallic feel. Overall, not as impressive as I was expecting. I normally like a spicier Christmas Ale.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The Christmas Ale poured reddish-brown with very little head. The head quickly disappeared for the most part leaving little traces. The beer had a slight malty, caramel like aroma with hints of alcohol, pretty subtle overall. It tasted a little spicy with a big hoppy finish. It was pretty full-bodied with a slight metallic feel. Overall, not as impressive as I was expecting. I normally like a spicier Christmas Ale.
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3.78/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz bottle, no date. Pours hazy amber with a large sized off-white head; some lacing. Smells of piney hops, ginger, clove, and caramel; medium intensity. The taste follows exactly with some mild dryness; below average intensity. Average carbonation and below average body. Overall, it's a solid Winter Warmer, but could use bolder flavors and more malt.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz bottle, no date. Pours hazy amber with a large sized off-white head; some lacing. Smells of piney hops, ginger, clove, and caramel; medium intensity. The taste follows exactly with some mild dryness; below average intensity. Average carbonation and below average body. Overall, it's a solid Winter Warmer, but could use bolder flavors and more malt.
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2.56/5 rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
too much hop biterness. Did not seem to be as spicy as other christmas ales. first sip seems harsh and makes you aprehensive about the next sip. not enough malt coming through to efficiently mask the high hop bitterness and higher alcohol.
Gets better as you get closer to the end of the 6pack though...as expected :)
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
too much hop biterness. Did not seem to be as spicy as other christmas ales. first sip seems harsh and makes you aprehensive about the next sip. not enough malt coming through to efficiently mask the high hop bitterness and higher alcohol.
Gets better as you get closer to the end of the 6pack though...as expected :)
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3.58/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.25/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.87/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Received a bottle of the 2015 version as a gift. Nice dark brown color with a small thick head. Not a huge aroma or taste, but pleasant and appropriate for the style. The malty richness is followed by a subtle pine finish perfect for the season. Not much fruit or spice, just a nice rich maltiness with hints of flavors. Certainly one of the better winter beers, just not exceptional.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Received a bottle of the 2015 version as a gift. Nice dark brown color with a small thick head. Not a huge aroma or taste, but pleasant and appropriate for the style. The malty richness is followed by a subtle pine finish perfect for the season. Not much fruit or spice, just a nice rich maltiness with hints of flavors. Certainly one of the better winter beers, just not exceptional.
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Christmas Ale from Breckenridge Brewery
3.5
out of 5
based on 1,081 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: Pours dark with one finger of light tan foam, not cloudy but not clear. A little carbonation.
Smell: Sweet, apple, floral, malt.
Taste: Light fruity taste with a little bit of malt in the background. Very little hop bitterness.
Mouth Feel: Smooth and medium bodied. Easy to drink.
Over All: An easy drinking beer but I was a bit disappointed as it was not what I expected for a winter warmer. The beer just did not give me a satisfying finish for the style. Not a bad beer but not what I expected.
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