Christmas Ale
Abita Brewing Co.
- From:
- Abita Brewing Co.
- Louisiana, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #382 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 76
Ranked #38,450 - Avg:
- 3.3 | pDev: 17.27%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 367
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 16, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 26, 2001
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 119
SCORE
76
Okay
76
Okay
Our Christmas Ale is a brown ale that is brewed with ten types of malted barley and fermented with American Ale yeast. It is brewed with pale malt as well as a combination of caramel, Munich, chocolate, and roasted malts. It is hopped and dry hopped with Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, and Amarillo and has a nice piney and citrus hop flavor and aroma. The result is a flavorful brown ale that is sweet and malty with a pleasant hop aroma.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.79/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a wide mouth, grip shaped goblet: color gold to copper, head is off white to very light tan with fine bubbles, head presents one finger thick but dissipates quickly to thin solid top and little spotty lacing.
Smell is lightly sweet, touch of caramel, touch of honey, maybe a hint of toffee, light citric hop character.
Taste is similar with sweet forward flavor with notes of caramel, honey, touch of toffee, citric and light earthy hop notes.
Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness with lingering bitter character on the tongue.
Overall a lighter brown ale in terms of malt but it has a little depth of flavor with a slight hoppy kick.
Jan 16, 2026Smell is lightly sweet, touch of caramel, touch of honey, maybe a hint of toffee, light citric hop character.
Taste is similar with sweet forward flavor with notes of caramel, honey, touch of toffee, citric and light earthy hop notes.
Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness with lingering bitter character on the tongue.
Overall a lighter brown ale in terms of malt but it has a little depth of flavor with a slight hoppy kick.
Reviewed by jadpsu from Georgia
3.91/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On the Eve of Christmas Eve;
LOOK: Poured amber red in color with an off white to cream colored loose head that settles quickly, while side lace remains plentiful
AROMA: Hops are sweet with some brown sugar, nut spice and a hint of molasses.
TASTE: Bread malts, toast sweet hops, not bitter or tart.
A little thin on the tongue with a drying finish.
Dec 23, 2025LOOK: Poured amber red in color with an off white to cream colored loose head that settles quickly, while side lace remains plentiful
AROMA: Hops are sweet with some brown sugar, nut spice and a hint of molasses.
TASTE: Bread malts, toast sweet hops, not bitter or tart.
A little thin on the tongue with a drying finish.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.35/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.35/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
RB transfer
Aug 22, 2025
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.63/5 rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
3.63/5 rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
I has been a while since I've had an Abita; like I've only had two Abita in my pre-BA chapter (now 9 years) of my Craft Beer Career (now quite long, given my age of 71.) Having neglected Abita's craftsmanship, I've not given Abita its due in a micro-review. So I went on its website and was thoroughly impressed to the point that I've felt somewhat guilty to have neglected this jewel in the South.
Abita is a pioneer. Not only is it a highlight of Louisiana culture/cuisine (of which there are many), but Abita's persistence since 1988 has made it a leader in the basic Good Guy acts that make crafting such a joy for me to observe. Abita does green brewing well. They also brew recipes for special moments to help their community (like the frequency of hurricanes) and help lots in other ways that they can. For all this leadership in the Good Guy category, I give Abita substantial Overall Hugs.
That said, I wish I picked another beer. I thought I put a Christmas Ale in my pick-six at Binny's and instead open up a hoppy brown ale. Abita's Christmas Ale 2024 Looks only slightly above average with not enough foam activity on an OK brunette bod. Smells have some interest, but I'm not sure any holiday spices can stand out from a nose full of hops. Really the same is true of the malt's Taste; there is subtly in the malt bill, but it is hard to discern with all the hops coating my palate. Despite the overpowering hops, this is medium-mouthed and soft (it must be the Abita Springs water.)
Glad I drank this and glad I finally got to know Abita. Happy Holidays !
Dec 23, 2024Abita is a pioneer. Not only is it a highlight of Louisiana culture/cuisine (of which there are many), but Abita's persistence since 1988 has made it a leader in the basic Good Guy acts that make crafting such a joy for me to observe. Abita does green brewing well. They also brew recipes for special moments to help their community (like the frequency of hurricanes) and help lots in other ways that they can. For all this leadership in the Good Guy category, I give Abita substantial Overall Hugs.
That said, I wish I picked another beer. I thought I put a Christmas Ale in my pick-six at Binny's and instead open up a hoppy brown ale. Abita's Christmas Ale 2024 Looks only slightly above average with not enough foam activity on an OK brunette bod. Smells have some interest, but I'm not sure any holiday spices can stand out from a nose full of hops. Really the same is true of the malt's Taste; there is subtly in the malt bill, but it is hard to discern with all the hops coating my palate. Despite the overpowering hops, this is medium-mouthed and soft (it must be the Abita Springs water.)
Glad I drank this and glad I finally got to know Abita. Happy Holidays !
Reviewed by dcat151 from Georgia
3.53/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pour is light brown with a decent amount of head that dissipates slowly. Aroma is somewhat hoppy with yeast and bread. Taste is malty with some late hops bitterness. Mouthfeel is lighter and somewhat crisp. Overall a decent, but not great brew.
Jan 10, 2024
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.31/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.31/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle poured into a snulip.
Medium brown and clear going into the glass, yielding a 1.5” tan head. Foam has good retention and leaves lace. Piney hop aroma comes first with some orange peel and some nutty aroma as it warms. Tasting hoppy and assertively bitter with very little nutty malt character. Piney and floral hop flavor with hints of orange peel. Semi-dry and sharp overall. Light-medium body, the fairly crisp feel is somewhat chalky. Rather piney and bitter, think Brown IPA. OK.
Jan 01, 2024Medium brown and clear going into the glass, yielding a 1.5” tan head. Foam has good retention and leaves lace. Piney hop aroma comes first with some orange peel and some nutty aroma as it warms. Tasting hoppy and assertively bitter with very little nutty malt character. Piney and floral hop flavor with hints of orange peel. Semi-dry and sharp overall. Light-medium body, the fairly crisp feel is somewhat chalky. Rather piney and bitter, think Brown IPA. OK.
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