Christmas Ale 2007
Abita Brewing Co.

Christmas Ale 2007Christmas Ale 2007
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From:
Abita Brewing Co.
 
Louisiana, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
77
Avg:
3.29 | pDev: 15.81%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
48
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 27, 2014
Added:
Oct 31, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by msubulldog25:
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Tried this seasonal during a visit to the small deli inside Habanos in Slidell, La. A 12 oz. bottle poured to a funny little handled mason jar (oddly enough, one touting Bermuda's own 'Dark & Stormy', which ranks among my favorite non-beer drinks...). It was chilled, as seems customary most everywhere in the South.

A: Chestnut brown with a notable ruddiness. Complexion is nearly clear; few rising bubbles. Capped with a rich 1+ finger of tan/light yellow froth, good retention and blotchy sticking lace.

S: Modest dark malt in the nose, a faint chocolate and caramel. Soft, wheaty grain and just enough earthy bittering hops. Hints of sugary molasses and a trace of holiday spice.

T: Has a raw flavor of dark (almost burnt tasting) grain with a drying grassy/medicinal hop bittering. Some nut toastiness and a little cereal grain creep in. Starts bitter and malts never quite redeem it.

M: Carbonation in the mouth is low, but body seems about 'medium' initially. Once the shock of bittering wears off, the mouthfeel is revealed to be thinner/slicker and hardly sticks around in the finish. Winds up being pretty mellow, hence forgettable.

D: Wasn't sure about the style they were aiming for; at first I was judging this as a winter warmer (would have scored worse were that the case). As such, it's a fairly blasé example of a likable style known for bold hop flavor, balanced with malt and easy drinkability. Not a failure for me, but the balance seems off and it's really not all that tasty. I wouldn't turn one away, nor would I seek it out; I suppose that's the epitome of an 'average' score...
Jan 16, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by spycow from Illinois

Nov 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Robyn from South Carolina

Jul 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by noperative from Louisiana

Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by dgherm from Pennsylvania

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 22, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by stereosforgeeks from Virginia

Dec 17, 2012
Photo of Vengeance526
Reviewed by Vengeance526 from Louisiana

2.6/5  rDev -21%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Wow, found the notes on this one from 1/18/2008.

Pours a slightly hazy copperish brown color with a very light tan head that shrinks to a small ring and leaves small amounts of lacing.

Lots of piney hops in the aroma. Very earthy.

Taste is again very earthy with a semi strong bitterness imparted by the hops. Beyond this, there's really not much to describe. Doesn't seem to be very balanced.

Mostly medium bodied with medium carbonation. Whenever I drank one, I never felt compelled to have another. It was somewhat of a struggle to finish the sixer. I kept thinking I'd grow more accustomed to the taste but I never did. A friend asked to try a bottle and was equally unimpressed so I'm guessing its not just me. This isn't the worst I've ever had, but I am kinda glad I won't be seeing it around again.
Feb 23, 2009
Photo of bmwats
Reviewed by bmwats from Louisiana

3.3/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a pint.

A: Medium brown pour. Medium light carbonation pours into a 1 finger white bubbly head. Settles quickly into a patchy layer of carbonation on surface. Spotty lacing recedes into the body.

S: Malt, hops, and a hint of spice. . . nutmeg, maybe.

T: Fairly hoppy. Malt, and a hint of spice.

M: Hops first then the spice makes a flyby, but a hoppy finish which lingers for the aftertaste.

D: Pretty decent drinkability. Nice flavor, and mild alcohol taste.

Nice flavor, okay atmosphere, non-offensive feel. Overall, worth at least trying.
Dec 25, 2008
Photo of NJpadreFan
Reviewed by NJpadreFan from New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Abita- Christmas Ale

A- Nice golden acorn brown with a thick foamy head.
S- Sweet caramel malt with a touch of butter and sweet pine hops.
T- Sweet earthy pine hops blended evenly with a slick caramel malt.
M- Again sweet and buttery with a nice green hop presence.

Overall- Very nice, easy to drink! I was expecting a spicy winter warmer. Tasty and sessionable.
Nov 06, 2008
Photo of treyrab
Reviewed by treyrab from California

3.31/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass

A: Clear copper/yellow with with 2 finger white head that reduces to a disk. Good amount of carbonation in this one as well.

S: Hmm very macro smelling to my surprise. Tons of cereal grains with a nice hop scent as well.

T: The taste has a very funk taste to is surprisingly. The taste is plain malt, but has a decent hop finish, hallertau perhaps.

M,D: The mouthfeel is pretty decent due to the high carbonation.

Overall, this is a little too macro-ish for me, but I'll try next year's.
Aug 19, 2008
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.8/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
It may be a winter seasonal but it was quite god in August.

A - It poured out a cloudy, dark amber color with hints of brown. It had a small, foamy, tan head that left small traces of lace.

S - It smelled of grasses and earth tones. Also, a sweet malty nose.

T - It tasted of biscuity sweet malt. There were hints of caramel, toffee and nuts.

M - It was soft and smooth. A light to medium bodied beer.

D - This was surprisingly good, especially considering its age.
Aug 13, 2008
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

3.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Slightly hazy medium amber in color, with a modest white head, which soon collapses to scattered islands of foam, and thin, patchy lacing on the glass walls.

Aroma: Fairly prominent pine tar hops vie with sweet caramel, bitter cocoa, and earth.

Taste: Opens with rather sharp pine tar hops, followed by dark fruits and bitter apple peel, finishes with a bit of earthiness and sharp, lingering herbal and pine tar hops.

Mouth feel: A bit thin and watery, with slightly zesty carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: While certainly not bad, it is not as balanced and flavorful as previous years were. More maltiness would be quite welcome.

Presentation: Packaged in a short brown glass bottle with a twist-off crown, serverd in a standard pint tap glass.
Jun 24, 2008
Photo of Proteus93
Reviewed by Proteus93 from Virginia

3.37/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A: A slightly hazy dark reddish-amber... short, white, and creamy head has decent retention, and leaves a sheet behind.

S: Warm, toasted malts, some caramel notes, and just the slightest bit buttery.

T/M/D: Malts come across as a little delayed with not much on the tip of the tongue. A touch of hoppiness, but not enough to really make for a bittering finish. A little on the light and uneventful side, but a tolerable beer. Easy enough to drink... not exactly 'big and festive' as one might think, and there's no spicing or anything in particular that would hint as to why this is a "Christmas Ale," but it's not like that is a style of beer, so it doesn't really have any expectations to live up to and I can't take away from it for that. Better offerings out there, but I probably wouldn't turn it down if offered... maybe.
Jun 08, 2008
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.63/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Picked this up at Goebbel's in Wichita

Pours caramel with 2+ fingers sand colored head. Above average lacing & head retention

S: Cakey & some caramel

T: Bready, some fruittyness (plums, figs & raisins), dryness & herbal hops up front. Dryness & some caramel, plus a touch of metallic hops as this warms. Finishes with leafy hops nice toffee, brown sugar & slight fruittyness

MF: Medium bodied, with low carbonation, skews malty for the style

Drink alright, looks like a little freshness wouldn't have hurt, but one of the better beers I've had from Abita
May 28, 2008
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I'm drinking this a little late for the season (May, 2008), but the beer was stored in a refrigerator.

Nice pour with a moderate head that leaves spotty lace on the glass. The color is brownish copper and quite clear.

The aroma is attractive with a good initial malt nose that quickly goes over to a fresh floral hop smell.

More dark malts in the flavor than I expected--a little bit of chocolate. I don't detect any problems with the age of the brew. The swallow brings out some wonderful hop bitterness that is very complimentary (read: not too heavy) to the malt base. Good body and carbonation.

I am surprised by the ratings of some of my fellow BA'ers. I think this is an excellent Pale Ale. I would say that it doesn't fit my expectations of the traditional winter offerings, but I find this to be a very good beer.
May 03, 2008
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A reddish tinge and a bit of initial head. Above average carbonation. Initially yeast and then malt, nutmeg spice and a tad toast in background. Medium mouthfeel,with cloves and a freezing of the mouth in the finish, also a bit of water. Drinkable though marginally unsatisfying.
Apr 14, 2008
Photo of Pencible
Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia

2.39/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
This poured a clear maroon with no head. It immediately smelled pretty bad, like a wet dog, followed by scents of malt and maybe chlorine. It tasted somewhat better, like bland hops mixed with bland malts. It was watery with no carbonation and had a sour aftertaste. Overall this was a clean but unimpressive drink with nothing Christmas (or otherwise enjoyable) about it.
Mar 27, 2008
Photo of JDV
Reviewed by JDV from Texas

3.32/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a transluscent maroonish copper color with an offwhite, lasting foamy head. Smell is spiced and hopped, and perhaps a bit toasty or nutty. Not a bad aroma, actually. Taste is a bit mild, but balanced between toasty bittersweet malt, hops and perhaps a spiced or nutty flavor, but maybe I'm projecting that. I definitely prefer this to their standard year round beers that I've tried. Pretty decent, very drinkable and far better than the percentage indicates I thought.
Mar 24, 2008
Photo of argock
Reviewed by argock from Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a clear pint glass. No freshness date.

A: Ruby-brown hue with thick, foamy off-white 1-2 finger head and lots of lacing after a moderate pour.

S: Faint caramel malts and spicy, earthy hops.

T: Tangy but weak flavor that has a lot of graininess to it that was a turn-off. Earthy hops flavor almost saves it, but the malts are not sweet or strong enough to give it balance.

M: Very thin and overly carbonated to the point that it feels like a macrobrew. Nice spicy aftertastem is a plus though.

D: An average beer that is an okay amber, but one that will appeal to those who like a lighter bodied, spicy hops flavored ale.
Mar 21, 2008
Christmas Ale 2007 from Abita Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 48 ratings