-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Christmas Ale
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
- From:
- Saint Arnold Brewing Company
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Old Ale
Ranked #46 - ABV:
- 7.7%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #22,926 - Avg:
- 3.71 | pDev: 12.94%
- Reviews:
- 241
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 10, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 12, 2001
- Wants:
- 27
- Gots:
- 155
A rich, copper colored, hearty ale perfect for the holiday season with a malty sweetness and spicy hop character. The generous use of five different malts is responsible for the full flavor and high alcohol level of this beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Pesci:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by UncleReemus78 from Texas
3.51/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This beer is just okay. The best quality it has is the buzz it packs. It taste like a pale ale with citra hops to cover up the alcohol content but I'd rather drink a St. bernardus Apt. 12 for Christmas and to be honest I probably won't ever buy this particular beer again. I would choose a Miller Highlife or a Pabst Blue Ribbon if they were the only other choices. But to end this on a good note, it's better than Natural Light, Budweiser, Coors, and most commercial beers.
Dec 28, 2023Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana
3.69/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - The beer was rusty brown in color with a inch of white head.
Smell - The nose was herbal, perhaps minty.
Taste - At the front, the profile was malty with hints of dark fruits. There was an odd herbal presence that was somewhat minty. It was a bit like licking a minty postage stamp.
Mouthfeel - With low carbonation, the body was appropriate.
Overall - I am not a huge fan.
Dec 23, 2023Smell - The nose was herbal, perhaps minty.
Taste - At the front, the profile was malty with hints of dark fruits. There was an odd herbal presence that was somewhat minty. It was a bit like licking a minty postage stamp.
Mouthfeel - With low carbonation, the body was appropriate.
Overall - I am not a huge fan.
Rated by 60sFolks from Texas
3.89/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I love Christmas always. This is a good one. Just a little bit too much fizziness.
Dec 16, 2022Reviewed by Torchiest from Texas
3.57/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.57/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured with a weak, thin, and fizzy head that didn't last long. Mid-amber in color, fairly translucent.
Smells pretty sweet and malty, a bit of dark fruit with some spicy notes, perhaps cinnamon and cardamon.
Very sweet tasting upfront, without much bitterness except in the finish. Some spiciness, but not overwhelming. Bitterness starts to assert itself after a few more drinks. Seems like it could pass for a session ale if it weren't such high ABV.
Light-bodied and not heavily carbonated, which means they must have pretty good attenuation during fermentation.
Pretty easy to drink. Not mind-blowing, but relatively quaffable. Quite inoffensive overall. I'll giving it a boost just based on that.
I've been drinking this beer on and off for a couple decades now. It's not the best Christmas ale I've ever had, but it's decent enough to come back to at least once per year.
Nov 18, 2022Smells pretty sweet and malty, a bit of dark fruit with some spicy notes, perhaps cinnamon and cardamon.
Very sweet tasting upfront, without much bitterness except in the finish. Some spiciness, but not overwhelming. Bitterness starts to assert itself after a few more drinks. Seems like it could pass for a session ale if it weren't such high ABV.
Light-bodied and not heavily carbonated, which means they must have pretty good attenuation during fermentation.
Pretty easy to drink. Not mind-blowing, but relatively quaffable. Quite inoffensive overall. I'll giving it a boost just based on that.
I've been drinking this beer on and off for a couple decades now. It's not the best Christmas ale I've ever had, but it's decent enough to come back to at least once per year.
Reviewed by CodyBasden from Texas
3.24/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.24/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L: dark copper look small fizzy head no lacing or retention cap disappeared quite quick very little carbonation river but nice dark copper look almost like a bock
S: not a strong scent but a little scent of malt and tiny hint of sweetness like chocolate or caramel
T: very stout with a medium bitterness, very malty and bready that lingers with a malty after taste
F: light to medium body with medium carbonation leaves the mouth dry and sticky
O: its a good darker ale with a heavier bitterness and kick but the lingering taste and stickiness makes it a good sipping beer than a wanting beer
Dec 06, 2020S: not a strong scent but a little scent of malt and tiny hint of sweetness like chocolate or caramel
T: very stout with a medium bitterness, very malty and bready that lingers with a malty after taste
F: light to medium body with medium carbonation leaves the mouth dry and sticky
O: its a good darker ale with a heavier bitterness and kick but the lingering taste and stickiness makes it a good sipping beer than a wanting beer
Rated by MichaelSneed from Texas
4.44/5 rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Maybe my favorite Christmas beer. Warm, cozy, slightly sweet, dark and just a tad boozy. Great to have a cold day.
Sep 10, 2020Reviewed by Hooded from Texas
3.59/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Notes from 3/27/2020.
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Rastal nucleated Teku glass.
The body is copper with a light brown cap. 3.00
The aroma is medium-low in strength and of cherries and a variety of fruit. 4.00
The taste is medium-high in strength and of cherries, fruit, hints of chocolate, and a little alcohol followed by a light bitter finish. 3.5
The feel is a little above medium in thickness, somewhat creamy, and has a low level of astringency. 3.5
Overall, it's pretty good. I would like it more if the flavor was a little more complex. 3.5
Mar 29, 2020Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Rastal nucleated Teku glass.
The body is copper with a light brown cap. 3.00
The aroma is medium-low in strength and of cherries and a variety of fruit. 4.00
The taste is medium-high in strength and of cherries, fruit, hints of chocolate, and a little alcohol followed by a light bitter finish. 3.5
The feel is a little above medium in thickness, somewhat creamy, and has a low level of astringency. 3.5
Overall, it's pretty good. I would like it more if the flavor was a little more complex. 3.5
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas
3.92/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a can produced 11/18/19. Copper color with a finger of light brown head. Smells of caramel malt and raisins. Light body. Caramel malt and raisin flavors with some sticky piney hops. Nice all around, a good example of a less-common style.
Jan 20, 2020
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!