Holiday Spruce
Craftsman Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

Out of the tap at The Playground in Downtown Santa Ana, CA.

Spruce like Howard Hughes trying to land a wood plane the size of a football field... It's ok, just ok. Malty, "Winter Ale" flavors and such...

Ok, I think I'm done.

I love you.

 

A: Pours a hazy chestnut color with a thin tan head.

S: Hige Christmas tree aroma with a big smack of ripe dark fruit. Tons and tons of spruce.

T: Similar to the smell, there's a ton of spruce in this. Big, minty, sappy spruce. Some hints of dark fruit and a big bready malt finish. I feel like a woodpecker but I kind o like this.

 

On tap at the ColLAboration beer fest at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy tan head that settles to a small cap. Foamy rings of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and herbal aromas. Taste is of malt and herbal flavors. There is a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with a flat and somewhat thick mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer that is really nothing special.

On-tap at Bruery Provisions

The beer is amber in color with a finger of khaki head. Butter and butterscotch dominate the nose, and not pleasantly. There is a little bit of spice and some herbal notes in there. Maybe nutmeg. The flavor is, somehow, better than the aroma. A bit of sweet fruit to go along with the spice and herb notes. There is still some butter, but nowhere near as awful as the nose. Medium body and low carbonation.

Hazy dark amber in the pint glass. Spicy note greets the tongue along with a very mellow maltiness. Fairly sharp followed by a perky hoppiness. Smells and tastes like juniper to me, but OK I see that it's spruce. Medium body. A little bit of bubble gum, a touch of woodiness, and orange marmalade. Fairly sweet, but has a distinct bitter aftertaste. Thank goodness, no detectable cloves or cinnamon. A little black pepper.

Quite a pleasant and drinkable winter ale. A nice hoppy touch, not too sweet or too spicy. A good mouthful with food. On tap for lunch at Local Habit in San Diego.

12/12/2013 update: Had this on tap at Pizza Port OB. What a great roasted malt and caramel flavor and that distinctive bitter, aromatic evergreen taste. I liked the aromas better this time. Another Craftsman brew worth trying and way better than the run of the mill over-spiced holiday ales.

The color resembled a blood orange, maybe slightly redder. There was little to no head and lacing.

S - dried fruit, slightly bready and biscuit like. No hop aroma, smelt really sweet

T - Wow, this beer is sweet. Taste like cranberry juice with a slight bready finish, not enjoyable at all.

M - Very thick that coats your mouth, the carbonation is light and does not help in lifting the beer off your palate

O - this beer is a fail for me. I could not finish my 4oz pour, I offered it to my sister-in-law, she also took a sip and passed on the rest.

 

 

On tap at Haven Gastropub in Orange.

Pours a light, brown, soapy head atop a body slightly purple in color. Thick legs sliding down the side as I tilt.

Aromas of pine(!), dark malts, and mildly of spices. I feel as if I'm inhaling a freshly-cut Christmas tree with gingerbread men lined up and down.

Flavors primarily of spices (cinnamon, peppermint) and spruce, with some roasty/carob notes near the finish. Highly flavorful and quite smooth considering the ABVs.

Mouthfeel is halfway between light and medium-bodied; fairly effervescent.

Overall, an excellent Winter Warmer that yields an excellent balance of flavors resulting in a highly drinkable status. Ties with Telegraph's Winter Warmer as one my favorites.

On-tap at Blue Palms Brewhouse in Hollywood. ABV listed as 7.2%. Served in a generic wide-mouth tulip.

Slightly hazy red-pink body with flame/mahogany highlights. Thin head which recedes to a persistent ivory collar.

Grapes, pomelo, and clean malt aromatics. Faint evergreen and thyme as well. Well-hopped.

Seville orange, pine and citrus-laden hops, and mild ginger on the palate. Very pleasant amber notes along with hints of figs and clove in the finish. Lacks a little depth though.

Medium-light body with almost spritzy carbonation.

A bit thin, and maybe a touch under-spiced for a Winter seasonal, but this still reminds me a little of the Winter version of Yulesmith in some ways which is a good thing.

On cask at O'Brien's.

Pours a dark amber color with clarity. Nice white head becomes a lasting film. Nice aroma of roasted malts, caramel, and some spices. Taste is similar: somewhat sweet with caramel, but with a bit of hops to balance it out. Spices are well-balanced, so as to not be overwhelming. Smooth and medium-bodied. Very drinkable. I'm not usually a fan of winter warmers, but this was quite good: the sweetness and spices were mild, and it finished crisp too.

Had this on cask at O'Brien's this evening, a nice Winter offering. Pumped into the pint glass a very bright amber-gold with accent on the amber. A fine 1/4" white head that settles to a surface film. The smell starts off with caramel type malt, then whacks the nostrils with a super sappy spruce aire. Almost has a cedar closet scent to it...fresh spruce tips. Pungent.

The taste is quite different than the smell...lot's of citrus, healthy malt dose and a very mild spruce finish. The malt holds it's own, but is seriously infused with hoppy citrus throughout. Lot's of grapefruit, tangelo and even some lemon too it. Very crisp with a lighter medium body and no taste or feel of alcohol. The carbonation is good and lends a bit of spike to the tongue. Not as supple as I was expecting on cask. Overall very drinkable and enjoyable...cheers!

12/10/08- Had on tap at Stone Bistro Gardens.

Presentation- Via the tap into a 12oz tulip style glass.

Appearance- Deeper amber colored pour. About a 1/2 inch head and minor watery lace left behind.

Smell- Some minor spices noted. A touch of spruce, but not as much as expected. Malt is roasted caramel in the nose.

Taste- Tastes a bit odd. Cardboard noticed a bit. Spruce is very much contained and really laid back. Would have liked a bit more spices. Caramel malt comes though well though.

Mouthfeel- Rather smooth and crisp with a medium to slightly less carbonation level. Minor aftertaste.

Drinkability- Have had many better winter warmers. Working for Tips blows this spruce beer away in the water.

Reviewed from my notes from my LA trip. Pours a hazy toasted copper with a decent off-white head; nothin special as it was served out of a frozen glass, booo! The smell was sweet, nice winter warmer aromas; nutmeg being the spice that stood out. The taste was of caramel malt, brown sugar, nutmeg, and toffee. A very nice winter warmer. The feel is light and fizzy, finishes on the spicy sweet side but the sweetness/spiciness is in check. A very nice winter warmer, good spice profile. Just wish it wasn't served in a frozen glass.