Holiday Ale
Two Roads Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Farmhouse Ale - Bière de Garde
Ranked #121 - ABV:
- 7.3%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #36,119 - Avg:
- 3.73 | pDev: 10.19%
- Reviews:
- 54
- Ratings:
- From:
- Two Roads Brewing Company
- Connecticut, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 3
- Gots
- 49
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Notes:
Two Roads Holiday Ale is inspired by the little known Biere de Noel style, on subset of Biere de Garde, both of which originated on small farmhouse breweries in the north of France. Biere de Noel, which translates as “Christmas Beer”, tends to exhibit a more malty profile than a typical Biere de Garde.
In its native France this special type of ale is brewed by just a handful of small breweries and is only available for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
In its native France this special type of ale is brewed by just a handful of small breweries and is only available for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
Reviews: 54
| Ratings: 224
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Reviews by thebeers:
thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.04/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ruby-tinted amber with a finger-and-a-half of off-white head. Sweet malt and some musty yeast in the aroma. Similar tasting -- lightly-toasted caramel and faint cherry cordial malts with a slight alcohol burn, mild hop spiciness and fairly dry aftertaste. Medium bodied with a certain light prickliness and light creaminess to the mouthfeel. Enjoyable.
Nov 21, 2016
4.04/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ruby-tinted amber with a finger-and-a-half of off-white head. Sweet malt and some musty yeast in the aroma. Similar tasting -- lightly-toasted caramel and faint cherry cordial malts with a slight alcohol burn, mild hop spiciness and fairly dry aftertaste. Medium bodied with a certain light prickliness and light creaminess to the mouthfeel. Enjoyable.
Nov 21, 2016
More User Reviews:
NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
3.89/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Two Roads Brewing Company "Holiday Ale"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "PKG 23OCT17 07:12"
$2.99 @ Roger Wilco, Pennsauken, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: It pours a slightly hazy brown body with ruby-orange highlights beneath a finger thick head of frothy off-white. The aroma is lightly toasty and a little fruity. I'm not finding any spicing, which is good, at least concerning "holiday" spicing. The flavor reaffirms the toastiness that the nose suggests, and the light fruitiness as well, and lo and behold, there IS some spiciness, but it's apparently from Belgian yeast rather than anything added to the kettle. It's nice, giving just a little extra character. Back to the malt, it's sweetish but not sweet, and I'm finding a hint of chocolate and nuttiness to it as well as its initial toastiness. The fruitiness reminds me of plums and apples - perfect for the holiday season! It's medium bodied and gently crisp-then-smooth across the palate. Finally, a median bitterness balances it and it finishes fairly short and dry with just a little bit of everything lingering shortly. Overall it's a great beer. It's not as special as I'd have thought it would be being labeled as a "Holiday Ale" but I'd still welcome it. It's kind of like the Belgian equivalent of an English "winter warmer". Very nicely balanced and rounded. Well worth trying.
Dec 15, 2017
3.89/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Two Roads Brewing Company "Holiday Ale"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "PKG 23OCT17 07:12"
$2.99 @ Roger Wilco, Pennsauken, NJ
Notes via stream of consciousness: It pours a slightly hazy brown body with ruby-orange highlights beneath a finger thick head of frothy off-white. The aroma is lightly toasty and a little fruity. I'm not finding any spicing, which is good, at least concerning "holiday" spicing. The flavor reaffirms the toastiness that the nose suggests, and the light fruitiness as well, and lo and behold, there IS some spiciness, but it's apparently from Belgian yeast rather than anything added to the kettle. It's nice, giving just a little extra character. Back to the malt, it's sweetish but not sweet, and I'm finding a hint of chocolate and nuttiness to it as well as its initial toastiness. The fruitiness reminds me of plums and apples - perfect for the holiday season! It's medium bodied and gently crisp-then-smooth across the palate. Finally, a median bitterness balances it and it finishes fairly short and dry with just a little bit of everything lingering shortly. Overall it's a great beer. It's not as special as I'd have thought it would be being labeled as a "Holiday Ale" but I'd still welcome it. It's kind of like the Belgian equivalent of an English "winter warmer". Very nicely balanced and rounded. Well worth trying.
Dec 15, 2017
jlindros from Massachusetts
3.27/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
well, the Holidays are technically over, and vacation is winding down, so time to crack this one.
Pours a smaller fizzy bubbly 1/2 finger head that fades at fair pace, very little, if any, lacing, with clear cranberry almost maroon color.
Nose brings sweet candy out front, with holiday spices in the background, caramel and a little syrupy sweetness, lots of caramel, toffee, and other sweeteners, mixed with nutmeg cinnamon allspice like spices in the background, a toasted nut perhaps pecan like, an almost bock like biscuity candy toffee aroma as well.
Taste starts sweet and a bit syrupy again, more candy, caramel all over, a sweet sugary fruit syrupy like apple and corn syrup extract thing, with a little booze note and faint phenols. Back to that bock like biscuity toffee candy flavor, but not wheat. Faint spices, holiday spices again but can't label them as they are quite distant, but there is a little candied fruit like a fruitcake. The booze really warms on the back end, which feels like a 9+% beer not 7%, as it somewhat dries on the finish, with light spice notes, plenty more caramel toffee and syrupy flavors lingering too.
Mouth is med to heavier bod, a bit syrupy sweet, decent carb, too much hot booze though.
Overall meh, probably my least fav beer from them yet. Nothing really fun about this beer, too sweet syrupy with way too much booze and the spices are OK but not great for what it is. There are so many better places this beer could have gone.
Jan 04, 2015
3.27/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
well, the Holidays are technically over, and vacation is winding down, so time to crack this one.
Pours a smaller fizzy bubbly 1/2 finger head that fades at fair pace, very little, if any, lacing, with clear cranberry almost maroon color.
Nose brings sweet candy out front, with holiday spices in the background, caramel and a little syrupy sweetness, lots of caramel, toffee, and other sweeteners, mixed with nutmeg cinnamon allspice like spices in the background, a toasted nut perhaps pecan like, an almost bock like biscuity candy toffee aroma as well.
Taste starts sweet and a bit syrupy again, more candy, caramel all over, a sweet sugary fruit syrupy like apple and corn syrup extract thing, with a little booze note and faint phenols. Back to that bock like biscuity toffee candy flavor, but not wheat. Faint spices, holiday spices again but can't label them as they are quite distant, but there is a little candied fruit like a fruitcake. The booze really warms on the back end, which feels like a 9+% beer not 7%, as it somewhat dries on the finish, with light spice notes, plenty more caramel toffee and syrupy flavors lingering too.
Mouth is med to heavier bod, a bit syrupy sweet, decent carb, too much hot booze though.
Overall meh, probably my least fav beer from them yet. Nothing really fun about this beer, too sweet syrupy with way too much booze and the spices are OK but not great for what it is. There are so many better places this beer could have gone.
Jan 04, 2015
toast9 from New Jersey
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 12, 2018
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 12, 2018
diamondlie from Connecticut
3.04/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Feb 06, 2015
3.04/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Feb 06, 2015
dtm426 from Michigan
3.38/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 23, 2014
3.38/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 23, 2014
johnwetterstrand from New Jersey
4.25/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dec 25, 2015
4.25/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dec 25, 2015
dd43 from Connecticut
3.7/5 rDev -0.8%
On tap at Local Kitchen and Wine Bar in Norwalk CT, 25-Nov 14. Poured into a tulip, thanks bartender!
Reddish amber in color, haze free, a finger of head that receded quite quickly and left little in the way of lacing as I drank.
Mouthfeel is more crisp than the carbonation level would lead you to believe. Somewhat watery for a Belgian de garde but I didn't find it off putting.
Aroma is definitely that of a spiced Belgian, the typical yeasty bready quality is there. Great cinnamon and clove quality on the palate. Finishes dry with little malt cling.
One of the better brews from Two Roads that I've tried. This is worth picking up from your local package store in the large format to share with a friend.
Nov 25, 2014
3.7/5 rDev -0.8%
On tap at Local Kitchen and Wine Bar in Norwalk CT, 25-Nov 14. Poured into a tulip, thanks bartender!
Reddish amber in color, haze free, a finger of head that receded quite quickly and left little in the way of lacing as I drank.
Mouthfeel is more crisp than the carbonation level would lead you to believe. Somewhat watery for a Belgian de garde but I didn't find it off putting.
Aroma is definitely that of a spiced Belgian, the typical yeasty bready quality is there. Great cinnamon and clove quality on the palate. Finishes dry with little malt cling.
One of the better brews from Two Roads that I've tried. This is worth picking up from your local package store in the large format to share with a friend.
Nov 25, 2014
HorseheadsHophead from New York
3.78/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear dark amber in color with a bubbly carb and creamy off white head.
Smells like caramel, toffee, hay, clove.
Tastes like caramel and toast, with a finish of hay and clove. Very simplistic, but quite tasty.
Medium mouthfeel, well carbonated.
Jan 21, 2019
3.78/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear dark amber in color with a bubbly carb and creamy off white head.
Smells like caramel, toffee, hay, clove.
Tastes like caramel and toast, with a finish of hay and clove. Very simplistic, but quite tasty.
Medium mouthfeel, well carbonated.
Jan 21, 2019
Houlio_99 from Connecticut
3.97/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dec 11, 2020
3.97/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dec 11, 2020
BPMeyer27 from Ohio
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 25, 2015
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 25, 2015
B-J-B from Massachusetts
4/5 rDev +7.2%
This was a very enjoyable brew. I appreciated the subtleties of yeast aromas and different malts with the slight spice from the continental hops. Not a "hit-you-in-the-face" brew, but a delightful one nonetheless.
Nov 28, 2014
4/5 rDev +7.2%
This was a very enjoyable brew. I appreciated the subtleties of yeast aromas and different malts with the slight spice from the continental hops. Not a "hit-you-in-the-face" brew, but a delightful one nonetheless.
Nov 28, 2014
tregan_20 from Connecticut
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Apr 27, 2016
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Apr 27, 2016
BidYouABrew from Connecticut
3.46/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 12, 2019
3.46/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 12, 2019
bmeehan from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Two Roads's Holiday Ale is a very typical winter style ale: deep, rich color coupled with a strong-but-not-too-strong taste and an aroma more on the fruit side. Good stuff.
Dec 15, 2014
4/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Two Roads's Holiday Ale is a very typical winter style ale: deep, rich color coupled with a strong-but-not-too-strong taste and an aroma more on the fruit side. Good stuff.
Dec 15, 2014
Drewtechie24 from Rhode Island
4.73/5 rDev +26.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Yummy Holiday Brew.
Dec 19, 2015
4.73/5 rDev +26.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Yummy Holiday Brew.
Dec 19, 2015
PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania
3.5/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Dec 21, 2017
3.5/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Dec 21, 2017
Uconnelmo from Connecticut
3.61/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Dec 12, 2016
3.61/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Dec 12, 2016
Spaceman_Jer from Colorado
3.81/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dec 04, 2017
3.81/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dec 04, 2017
Beersilio from Massachusetts
3.43/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Feb 22, 2015
3.43/5 rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Feb 22, 2015
Holiday Ale from Two Roads Brewing Company
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
224 ratings
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