Festive Ale
SweetWater Brewing Company

Festive AleFestive Ale
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From:
SweetWater Brewing Company
 
Georgia, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #50
ABV:
8.1%
Score:
86
Ranked #19,181
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 12.3%
Reviews:
318
Ratings:
847
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 26, 2023
Added:
Nov 14, 2002
Wants:
  36
Gots:
  185
A strong ale brewed with generous amounts of rich malt, coupled with a taint of cinnamon and mace
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dpodratsky3:
Photo of dpodratsky3
Reviewed by dpodratsky3 from Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Pours deep, deep brown, nearly but not quite black except where some light comes through on the bottom, has a large tan head that slowly settles, very sticky looking

S: Some roasted malts make up the base, a melange of spice aroma over the top but not super powerful or anything, definitely dark fruits present, fig stands out to me

T: Gradually building roasted malt with a definite sweetness also, almost like dark chocolate, doesn't have that super dark roasted/burnt character though, hops start to show up at the end too but only in bitterness not much taste wise, kind of weird short taste length though, the taste just kind of stops at one point, but it leaves a pleasant warmness

M: Light carbonation brings the body to just over medium, but nothing really heavy, very similar to the "average" winter warmer feel

D: Good for the style of a dark, semi-strong winter beer, but more of a slow drinker

Notes: Appearance and smell are the strong suits with this one. The taste is good, but the thing that stuck out to me the most was how the flavor seemed to fade rather quickly. I would hope that the flavors themselves would be the most endearing quality. A nice solid winter beer, but nothing extraordinary.
Nov 24, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can, dated best by 10/24/24

pours a very dark brown, cream colored head that eventually fades. aroma of cola, black cherry, a little mulling spice. similar taste, on the sweeter side. medium bodied.
Dec 26, 2023
Photo of Cm55
Reviewed by Cm55

3.69/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Can
L-very dark with a 1F tan head that fades moderately
S-rich, malty with some hints of leather
T-the beer itself features a minimally spiced malt forward ale with hints of vanilla. Not much yeast influence. But something goes off the rails in the aftertaste with a strange,dominating medicinal finish
F-heavy bodied, notable degree of carbonation for the style
O-a solid beer that, for me, is hampered by its aftertaste
Dec 10, 2023
Photo of Death_Adder
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina

5/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours a heart of darkness black, chocolate smell on the nose, tastes like a thick chocolate coffee with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg. It's a great beer, but even just a 6 pack would be too rich tasting for me, pick up a single or two.

Style: Winter Warmer | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 8.1% | Rating: 5
Dec 09, 2023
Photo of gonesail
Reviewed by gonesail from Florida

4.3/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
awesome cool weather beer .. comparable to samuel smith winter warmer but a bit smoother. lots of malt in this one. the alcohol will sneak up on you. just enough hops and spice for me. a nice dark color. i enjoyed it very much while watching a football game.
Jan 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by Wrigfen from South Carolina

Apr 16, 2022
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a sixer, based on a friend’s recommendation, from Greens Discount Beverages in Greenville SC on 12-29-21 for $11.32. Enjoy by 10-25-22; consumed the first two bottles 1-9-22.

Beer poured brown with a nice off white head with the original pour.

Nose is malty and cinnamon forward.

Taste is a mildly roasted malt base in which cinnamon and allspice are infused nicely. Finishes balanced.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall a nice seasonal beer that was fun to try!
Jan 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2021
Photo of ArchimedesSox
Reviewed by ArchimedesSox from Georgia

3.56/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Really dark, almost opaque, thick khaki colored head
S: Brown sugar, molasses, spices
T: Sweet, baking spice flavor, molasses. Coffee flavored aftertaste
M: Medium
O: A really tasty holiday beer. I would buy it again during the cooler months.
Dec 26, 2021
Photo of jeffdr123
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida

4.09/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Sweetwater brewery in Atlanta. Pours a dark Coca Cola brown. The spices aren't too dominant. Raisins and light flavors. Doesn't taste boozy, so it can sneak up on you. Very smooth.
Sep 24, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chipwells from Georgia

Feb 02, 2021
Photo of Nass
Rated by Nass from Florida

3.87/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The pour is dark brown. The taste is roasted malt, cinnamon, nutmeg, char, & molasses. Cheers! B
Jan 07, 2021
Photo of RedbirdRona
Reviewed by RedbirdRona from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes like caramel, roasted nuts, and cinnamon. Dangerously smooth for 8.1% abv. Look is black similar to a Guinness. This is one of my favorite styles to explore. Overall this is a solid brew but their are better examples of this style. I plan to enjoy this again come winter 2020.
Mar 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.22 by MeganandDana from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by JayKay412 from Pennsylvania

Jan 11, 2020
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 fl oz pull-tab CAN from a variety box:

Currently ranked #36 in the Winter Warmer category.

"Ale brewed with spices." "unique seasonal blend brewed exclusively for the holidays." Best before: 03/11/20. 8.1% ABV per my can. From their website: "has a sleighload of Centennial and Golding hops and is capped with a dose of cinnamon and nutmeg." (Some online sources claim mace - not nutmeg per se - was utilized).

27 IBUs.

Malt Bill: 2-Row, Munich, 40L, 70/80, Carapils, Chocolate, Black.

Hops: Centennial, US & UK Golding

Dry Hop: N/A

Served cold into a nonic pint glass.

I get some cassia and faint herb (I guess mace...it doesn't remind me of nutmeg) atop a bready malt base with some herbal leaning English hops. Hints of bread crust, licorice/anise fennel family herbs, and toast. Caramel and toffee weave their way in and out.

It's certainly on the sweeter side, downplaying its hops, but aside from finishing a bit too sweet I think it's fairly well balanced. Malty to style. The Jagermeister-redolent herb profile isn't unpleasant, but I don't pick up on any true cinnamon or evocative nutmeg...it's less distinct and tends more towards licorice to my palate.

I can't say it's up there with the best winter warmers I've had, but it's nice to see an American brewery trying their hand at the style - I'd love to see more on the market. I wouldn't buy this in sixers every year or anything, but I'm glad I got to try it once despite ample room for improvement.

High C (3.00) / AVERAGE
Jan 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by jkermitj from Mississippi

Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.48 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Dec 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by cdub70085 from Connecticut

Dec 17, 2019
Festive Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 847 ratings