Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout | Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Brewed by:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Massachusetts, United States | website
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Tilley4 on 10-20-2012
Reviews: 264 | Ratings: 1,305
4.16/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sam Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. Nothing wrong with lots of head after a hard day at work. Strong gingerbread nose and taste, slightly bitter, pretty drinkable, the 9% ABV doesn't come through at all. If you like gingerbread and stouts, you'll like this. Lots of beers say they have a certain taste but you can't pick it out - so it's more a hint than taste. Not this! The best Sam Adams I've had, though haven't had Utopias yet. Too bad they don't sell these in 12oz four or six packs.
Edit: Holy crap, does this one sneak up on you, stealth 9% ABV goes down too well....
★ 581 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sam Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. Nothing wrong with lots of head after a hard day at work. Strong gingerbread nose and taste, slightly bitter, pretty drinkable, the 9% ABV doesn't come through at all. If you like gingerbread and stouts, you'll like this. Lots of beers say they have a certain taste but you can't pick it out - so it's more a hint than taste. Not this! The best Sam Adams I've had, though haven't had Utopias yet. Too bad they don't sell these in 12oz four or six packs.
Edit: Holy crap, does this one sneak up on you, stealth 9% ABV goes down too well....
★ 581 characters
3.29/5 rDev -13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
L - Dark brown with a tank head and nice lacing
A - Molasses, and lots of it, with a hint of gingerbread and some booze.
T - Follows the nose, but the ginger flavor comes through a little more.
F - Medium body with a very sweet finish.
Overall - too sweet for me and the molasses smell and taste were a bit too much.
*Wife enjoyed more than me.
★ 348 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
L - Dark brown with a tank head and nice lacing
A - Molasses, and lots of it, with a hint of gingerbread and some booze.
T - Follows the nose, but the ginger flavor comes through a little more.
F - Medium body with a very sweet finish.
Overall - too sweet for me and the molasses smell and taste were a bit too much.
*Wife enjoyed more than me.
★ 348 characters
3.9/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle, it pours a very dark brown/black with a vibrant tan head, dissipating to a ring around the glass. Gingerbread in the nose. The same for the mouth. Feels ok.
★ 176 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle, it pours a very dark brown/black with a vibrant tan head, dissipating to a ring around the glass. Gingerbread in the nose. The same for the mouth. Feels ok.
★ 176 characters
3.94/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
APPEARANCE: Black. Even with a flashlight held up to it, just a trace of ruby around the edges. Slow, small bubbles rising. 2 fingers+ Tan creamy head that lingers and settles down to a nice layer on top. Very nice lacing down the glass for a 9% beer.
AROMA: Do get a good dose of gingerbread. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a kind of strange cola smell. Molasses as well.
TASTE: Basically, everything I mentioned in the aroma, and lots of it. Slight bit of alcohol, too.
FEEL: Medium full body. A little oily/slick, slightly drying on finish, medium carbonation/just enough.
OVERALL: If you want a nice holiday spiced stout you should consider this one. It's not exactly like eating a gingerbread cookie, but all the flavors are there.
★ 727 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
APPEARANCE: Black. Even with a flashlight held up to it, just a trace of ruby around the edges. Slow, small bubbles rising. 2 fingers+ Tan creamy head that lingers and settles down to a nice layer on top. Very nice lacing down the glass for a 9% beer.
AROMA: Do get a good dose of gingerbread. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a kind of strange cola smell. Molasses as well.
TASTE: Basically, everything I mentioned in the aroma, and lots of it. Slight bit of alcohol, too.
FEEL: Medium full body. A little oily/slick, slightly drying on finish, medium carbonation/just enough.
OVERALL: If you want a nice holiday spiced stout you should consider this one. It's not exactly like eating a gingerbread cookie, but all the flavors are there.
★ 727 characters
4.06/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Couldn't pass this up on sale for $3.5 per bomber.
Look is very dark, almost black and oily. Big lively head settle to a single finger, then finally settle to a thin layer with fairly dense ring. Good lacing... excellent looking.
Smell is all spice. Nutmeg and cloves dominate the nose.
Taste follows the nose, lots of spices and it would definitely go well with some holiday cookies, snow and a fire... unfortunately its already February and 80 degrees in Texas. No bother, I can imagine.
Feel is rather thin for the amount of flavor packed in, I would prefer it to have some more body.
Overall, this is a very interesting brew. It reminds me a bit of Stone Xocoveza without the peppers.
★ 693 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Couldn't pass this up on sale for $3.5 per bomber.
Look is very dark, almost black and oily. Big lively head settle to a single finger, then finally settle to a thin layer with fairly dense ring. Good lacing... excellent looking.
Smell is all spice. Nutmeg and cloves dominate the nose.
Taste follows the nose, lots of spices and it would definitely go well with some holiday cookies, snow and a fire... unfortunately its already February and 80 degrees in Texas. No bother, I can imagine.
Feel is rather thin for the amount of flavor packed in, I would prefer it to have some more body.
Overall, this is a very interesting brew. It reminds me a bit of Stone Xocoveza without the peppers.
★ 693 characters
3.57/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark black with a one finger dark tan head, with good retention and lacing. I could smell the ginger immediately as soon as I poured the beer from the glass. There is also cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and dark roasted malt.
Taste just like it smells. The spices are stronger than I would like, and I wish there would have been some chocolate.
Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. there is a strong ginger aftertaste. I'm glad I had a chance to try this, but don't know if I would pick it up again. The spices seem to overpower the rest of the beer.
★ 556 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark black with a one finger dark tan head, with good retention and lacing. I could smell the ginger immediately as soon as I poured the beer from the glass. There is also cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and dark roasted malt.
Taste just like it smells. The spices are stronger than I would like, and I wish there would have been some chocolate.
Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. there is a strong ginger aftertaste. I'm glad I had a chance to try this, but don't know if I would pick it up again. The spices seem to overpower the rest of the beer.
★ 556 characters
3.85/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle of Samuel Adams Merry Maker stout served in a Belgian snifter.
Pours dark brown, opaque in the glass with ruby edges. OK head and lacing.
Aroma: appealing mix of gingerbread and dark roasted grains with a good bit of alcohol.
Flavor: largely follows the aroma, but less boozy and more ginger.
O: improves with warming.
★ 338 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle of Samuel Adams Merry Maker stout served in a Belgian snifter.
Pours dark brown, opaque in the glass with ruby edges. OK head and lacing.
Aroma: appealing mix of gingerbread and dark roasted grains with a good bit of alcohol.
Flavor: largely follows the aroma, but less boozy and more ginger.
O: improves with warming.
★ 338 characters
4.31/5 rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22 ounce bottle poured into wine glass
No bottled by or best buy
Appearance: Black very dark brown head some lacing
Smell: toasted grains, scent of gingerbread and pumpkin spice
Taste: very good, sour aftertaste
Mouth feel: Creamy a little bit fizzy
Overall: very good beer, very fragrant beer
January 24, 2016
★ 311 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22 ounce bottle poured into wine glass
No bottled by or best buy
Appearance: Black very dark brown head some lacing
Smell: toasted grains, scent of gingerbread and pumpkin spice
Taste: very good, sour aftertaste
Mouth feel: Creamy a little bit fizzy
Overall: very good beer, very fragrant beer
January 24, 2016
★ 311 characters
3.69/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Very drinkable for a 9% stout, I'd have guessed it was more in the neighborhood of 6 or 7%. The lactose seems to really smooth it out, but the flavor isn't as big as you'd expect. As it warms a hint of alcohol edge comes out, but the big flavors are molasses, clove, and fresh ginger. Roasted grain plays a secondary role. Interesting beer to try, but I wouldn't get another.
★ 375 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Very drinkable for a 9% stout, I'd have guessed it was more in the neighborhood of 6 or 7%. The lactose seems to really smooth it out, but the flavor isn't as big as you'd expect. As it warms a hint of alcohol edge comes out, but the big flavors are molasses, clove, and fresh ginger. Roasted grain plays a secondary role. Interesting beer to try, but I wouldn't get another.
★ 375 characters
4/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage. 22oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours a very dark brown, looks black, with a nice dark khaki head that leaves great retention and solid lacing. The aromas are very sweet and dominated by ginger. It does literally smell like a gingerbread cookie. Cinnamon is there. Some chocolate and cocoa malts are in the mix, but the ginger dominates. The flavors are very nice. More ginger along with cinnamon and nutmeg. Possibly some clove in the mix. I'm picking up some coffee. Very roasty. More cocoa along with some hints of vanilla. It's on the sweeter side, but it's absolutely not cloying. Everything is balanced. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is very nice. It's full-bodied, but not like a milkshake. It's creamy with moderate carbonation. Very smooth.
This is a very nice offering by Sam Adams. It's perfect for the holiday season and during the cold weather. Enjoyable stuff. Well done.
★ 905 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage. 22oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours a very dark brown, looks black, with a nice dark khaki head that leaves great retention and solid lacing. The aromas are very sweet and dominated by ginger. It does literally smell like a gingerbread cookie. Cinnamon is there. Some chocolate and cocoa malts are in the mix, but the ginger dominates. The flavors are very nice. More ginger along with cinnamon and nutmeg. Possibly some clove in the mix. I'm picking up some coffee. Very roasty. More cocoa along with some hints of vanilla. It's on the sweeter side, but it's absolutely not cloying. Everything is balanced. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is very nice. It's full-bodied, but not like a milkshake. It's creamy with moderate carbonation. Very smooth.
This is a very nice offering by Sam Adams. It's perfect for the holiday season and during the cold weather. Enjoyable stuff. Well done.
★ 905 characters
4.46/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Wow. Too smooth to be 9%. I'm honestly impressed with the gingerbread flavor; I didn't think it would taste good, but it has such a high quality taste and very balanced in this stout. I'm not sure if I've ever had a 9% beer go down so smooth, so I'm giving this a high rating.
★ 279 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Wow. Too smooth to be 9%. I'm honestly impressed with the gingerbread flavor; I didn't think it would taste good, but it has such a high quality taste and very balanced in this stout. I'm not sure if I've ever had a 9% beer go down so smooth, so I'm giving this a high rating.
★ 279 characters
3.96/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Samuel Adams - Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. 9% ABV. 22oz bomber split between two snifter.
Look: Body is dark brown into black, with a fair finger head of ginger colored foam.
Smell: Strong tones of ginger, nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and other baking spices. Some faint vanilla and dark roasty malts underneath.
Feel: Medium bodied, with a surprising amount of carbonation.
Taste: Big presence of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other baking spices up front, with vanilla, some pumpkin spices, nuts, and roasted malts showing up midway through. Has a small trace of alcohol taste hidden near the end.
Overall: I have been on the lookout for this, and finally acquired it. Gingerbread has always been one of my favorite flavors, so I was eager to try this. Has all the spices and flavors expected, and blends them together nicely. Although good, I was expecting it to have a little more sweet gingerbread flavor, and a little less carbonation, since it is a Milk Stout after all. Enjoying this with my brother on Christmas night was a great end to the day.
★ 1,064 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Samuel Adams - Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. 9% ABV. 22oz bomber split between two snifter.
Look: Body is dark brown into black, with a fair finger head of ginger colored foam.
Smell: Strong tones of ginger, nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and other baking spices. Some faint vanilla and dark roasty malts underneath.
Feel: Medium bodied, with a surprising amount of carbonation.
Taste: Big presence of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other baking spices up front, with vanilla, some pumpkin spices, nuts, and roasted malts showing up midway through. Has a small trace of alcohol taste hidden near the end.
Overall: I have been on the lookout for this, and finally acquired it. Gingerbread has always been one of my favorite flavors, so I was eager to try this. Has all the spices and flavors expected, and blends them together nicely. Although good, I was expecting it to have a little more sweet gingerbread flavor, and a little less carbonation, since it is a Milk Stout after all. Enjoying this with my brother on Christmas night was a great end to the day.
★ 1,064 characters
4.1/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle into a New Belgium snifter. Dark brown pour and black in the glass. About 2 fingers of dark tan foam on top, very rich and dense in appearance. On the nose, strong baking spices (ginger, nutmeg, cardamom) along with notes of vanilla, walnuts, brown sugar, and pepper. There's a dark fruit factor in there that lets you know this is a stout. The taste follows suit, only intensified. Strong baking spices (ginger!, along with pumpkin and nutmeg) up front with notes of roasted nuts, caramel, vanilla, and sweet baker's chocolate trailing beneath. Nice feel - smooth enough, albeit a bit watery for my liking. The alcohol is hidden very well, which is always a plus.
Overall, pretty darn good. This beer is as well-balanced as you could ask for without losing the sharpness of each ingredient. I drank this with my brother on Christmas after dinner, and it was a perfect night cap.
★ 887 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle into a New Belgium snifter. Dark brown pour and black in the glass. About 2 fingers of dark tan foam on top, very rich and dense in appearance. On the nose, strong baking spices (ginger, nutmeg, cardamom) along with notes of vanilla, walnuts, brown sugar, and pepper. There's a dark fruit factor in there that lets you know this is a stout. The taste follows suit, only intensified. Strong baking spices (ginger!, along with pumpkin and nutmeg) up front with notes of roasted nuts, caramel, vanilla, and sweet baker's chocolate trailing beneath. Nice feel - smooth enough, albeit a bit watery for my liking. The alcohol is hidden very well, which is always a plus.
Overall, pretty darn good. This beer is as well-balanced as you could ask for without losing the sharpness of each ingredient. I drank this with my brother on Christmas after dinner, and it was a perfect night cap.
★ 887 characters
3.99/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I am very pleasantly surprised. I picked this up because it looked like it was worth a shot at the low price point. I had expectations of an overly-spiced stout, but I was wrong. Very well-balanced. Glad I gave this try. I will definitely pick up more next Christmas.
★ 267 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I am very pleasantly surprised. I picked this up because it looked like it was worth a shot at the low price point. I had expectations of an overly-spiced stout, but I was wrong. Very well-balanced. Glad I gave this try. I will definitely pick up more next Christmas.
★ 267 characters
3.78/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark n pretty, full head with a little tint to it. Smells and tastes like Christmas spices and oaty. Full heavy stout mouth feel. Good for a holiday desert. Worth the try.
★ 172 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark n pretty, full head with a little tint to it. Smells and tastes like Christmas spices and oaty. Full heavy stout mouth feel. Good for a holiday desert. Worth the try.
★ 172 characters
4.25/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours dark with a thick, tall, dark tan head. Great looking pour. Head dissipates fairly quickly leaving decent lacing. There's a strange metallic smell I'm picking up. Not sure why that is. First taste is strong nutmeg and cloves with that strange metallic taste underneath. The 9% ABV is hidden pretty well. As advertised, it tastes a lot like a Gingerbread cookie. A little thin, but despite the metallic thing (which faded as it warmed), I really enjoyed it.
★ 478 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours dark with a thick, tall, dark tan head. Great looking pour. Head dissipates fairly quickly leaving decent lacing. There's a strange metallic smell I'm picking up. Not sure why that is. First taste is strong nutmeg and cloves with that strange metallic taste underneath. The 9% ABV is hidden pretty well. As advertised, it tastes a lot like a Gingerbread cookie. A little thin, but despite the metallic thing (which faded as it warmed), I really enjoyed it.
★ 478 characters
3.98/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22oz bottle, no date. Pours nearly black with a large sized brown head. Smells of ginger, nutmeg, and clove; moderate intensity. The taste follows closely but is much weaker; roasted malt with some cinnamon in the aftertaste. No noticeable lactose. Somewhat boozy because of the weak flavor. Medium body and higher carbonation. The smell and flavor reminds me of Dark Horse 4 Elf. Overall, the spices are very well done, but the flavor is too subdued. It also needs lactose and much less carbonation to fit the style better.
★ 533 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
22oz bottle, no date. Pours nearly black with a large sized brown head. Smells of ginger, nutmeg, and clove; moderate intensity. The taste follows closely but is much weaker; roasted malt with some cinnamon in the aftertaste. No noticeable lactose. Somewhat boozy because of the weak flavor. Medium body and higher carbonation. The smell and flavor reminds me of Dark Horse 4 Elf. Overall, the spices are very well done, but the flavor is too subdued. It also needs lactose and much less carbonation to fit the style better.
★ 533 characters
4.5/5 rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22 ounce bottle, 1/2 of which served in a pint glass.
Pours a thick, black color with tan head.
Smells of dark roasted malts and holiday spices.
Taste better than expected. Much the same how it smells... quite nice.
Paid around $6 for the 22 ounce, which is cheaper than most 22 ounce bottle sizes, so quite worth it.
★ 321 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22 ounce bottle, 1/2 of which served in a pint glass.
Pours a thick, black color with tan head.
Smells of dark roasted malts and holiday spices.
Taste better than expected. Much the same how it smells... quite nice.
Paid around $6 for the 22 ounce, which is cheaper than most 22 ounce bottle sizes, so quite worth it.
★ 321 characters
3.98/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into a 16 oz snifter bottled fall of 2015. Pours a slick black with a sticky 2 and a half inch head that leaves beautiful lace.
Smell is ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, dark chocolate, vanilla, and molasses.
Taste is exactly what you would expect, holiday cheer in a beer. Really flavorful ginger and nutmeg are dominant, but vanilla and dark chocolate lend a warm hand.
Mouthfeel close to large, plenty of carbonation, a little dry, and drinks rather easy.
Overall a very sweet and cloying imperial stout, that drinks easier than you would expect. Nice holiday stout.
★ 577 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into a 16 oz snifter bottled fall of 2015. Pours a slick black with a sticky 2 and a half inch head that leaves beautiful lace.
Smell is ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, dark chocolate, vanilla, and molasses.
Taste is exactly what you would expect, holiday cheer in a beer. Really flavorful ginger and nutmeg are dominant, but vanilla and dark chocolate lend a warm hand.
Mouthfeel close to large, plenty of carbonation, a little dry, and drinks rather easy.
Overall a very sweet and cloying imperial stout, that drinks easier than you would expect. Nice holiday stout.
★ 577 characters
3.67/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
P: Brown with a huge thick tan head. Nice lacing.
A: Ginger, coffee, allspice, vanilla
T: Ginger coffee, allspice, bitter chocolate, peppery, cloves, what else!
M: Thick in a good way, pretty good balance, a bit of sweetness,
O: For Boston Brewery, this is not bad. A bit much ginger, buy good. A great Christmas drink.
★ 320 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
P: Brown with a huge thick tan head. Nice lacing.
A: Ginger, coffee, allspice, vanilla
T: Ginger coffee, allspice, bitter chocolate, peppery, cloves, what else!
M: Thick in a good way, pretty good balance, a bit of sweetness,
O: For Boston Brewery, this is not bad. A bit much ginger, buy good. A great Christmas drink.
★ 320 characters
2.9/5 rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
A: watery molasses, used motor oil. Nice and thick chocolate milk frothy head.
S: strong smell of gingerbread and other seasonal spices and alcohol
T: Intense, bold robust flavor followed by gingerbread and chocolately malt alcohol. Goes down slightly warm. Once it warmed tasted like soy sauce mixed with worchiester suace.
M: Full bodied, creamy, warm, heavy. Almost chewy
O: Pretty tolerable in the begging. The more it warmed the more unpreffered flavors presented themselves.
★ 491 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
A: watery molasses, used motor oil. Nice and thick chocolate milk frothy head.
S: strong smell of gingerbread and other seasonal spices and alcohol
T: Intense, bold robust flavor followed by gingerbread and chocolately malt alcohol. Goes down slightly warm. Once it warmed tasted like soy sauce mixed with worchiester suace.
M: Full bodied, creamy, warm, heavy. Almost chewy
O: Pretty tolerable in the begging. The more it warmed the more unpreffered flavors presented themselves.
★ 491 characters
3.83/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dark chestnut brown color that appears pitch black and opaque in the glass with a one finger mocha head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Sporadic spotty lacing left behind. Looks really nice.
Zesty wintry spice aroma with peppery notes countered by silky chocolate malt and subtle roast. Prominent earthy spices with hints of ginger, allspice, clove, cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Spices are countered by chocolate malt sweetness along with toffee, burnt toast and robust coffee bean. Spice character is a little stronger than I prefer but it's nicely balanced by the complex malt bill.
Full body with a stronger malt presnce the the nose suggests, balancing out the prominent peppery spice notes. Not as many spices as in the aroma but still dry and earthy with seasonal flavor. Ginger really stands out along with some clove, cinnamon and allspice followed by sweet dessert-like chocolate malt flavor and subtle roast. Bakers chocolate, flourless chocolate cake and toffee along with roasted espresso bean, burnt toast, oatmeal and bittersweet dark chocolate. Subtle alcohol heat in the finish but overall the high ABV is very well masked. Although its heavily spiced, this beer is well balanced and easy to drink. Not overwhelmingly earthy nor is to too acrid or bitter tasting. Nice amount of sweetness and light toasted malts complimenting the ginger and other wintry/seasonal spices.
★ 1,429 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dark chestnut brown color that appears pitch black and opaque in the glass with a one finger mocha head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Sporadic spotty lacing left behind. Looks really nice.
Zesty wintry spice aroma with peppery notes countered by silky chocolate malt and subtle roast. Prominent earthy spices with hints of ginger, allspice, clove, cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Spices are countered by chocolate malt sweetness along with toffee, burnt toast and robust coffee bean. Spice character is a little stronger than I prefer but it's nicely balanced by the complex malt bill.
Full body with a stronger malt presnce the the nose suggests, balancing out the prominent peppery spice notes. Not as many spices as in the aroma but still dry and earthy with seasonal flavor. Ginger really stands out along with some clove, cinnamon and allspice followed by sweet dessert-like chocolate malt flavor and subtle roast. Bakers chocolate, flourless chocolate cake and toffee along with roasted espresso bean, burnt toast, oatmeal and bittersweet dark chocolate. Subtle alcohol heat in the finish but overall the high ABV is very well masked. Although its heavily spiced, this beer is well balanced and easy to drink. Not overwhelmingly earthy nor is to too acrid or bitter tasting. Nice amount of sweetness and light toasted malts complimenting the ginger and other wintry/seasonal spices.
★ 1,429 characters
3.69/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The appearance had a dark black colored body yielding a beautiful two finger dark tan head that lasts for at least a good two minutes. As the head starts to dissipate, some nice spider web lacing appears around the sides of the pint glass. Some rings eventually appear. The body is too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising. The smell had "Christmas" in all sorts of ways with ginger, pumpkin, nutmeg, cloves and allspice all up front giving a nice punch in the nose. Some nice roasted coffee and chocolate come out more so as the beer warms a bit. The smell takes all of those previously mentioned flavorings and combines very nicely for a bitter/sweet/dry taste that meets a robust sort of taste that meets a bit above the standard for the season. The palate was a bit heavy, a nice small sipper that will make me satisfied for the rest of the day. It has a fairly smooth dry finish. Though a fairly high ABV, still the alcohol is slightly undetectable. Overall, this turned out better than I thought it would be, perhaps I was thinking this was going to be a malt bomb, but it still had some nice bitter/dry aspects a good "stout" should have. I would say this was good for the style and for me.
★ 1,203 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The appearance had a dark black colored body yielding a beautiful two finger dark tan head that lasts for at least a good two minutes. As the head starts to dissipate, some nice spider web lacing appears around the sides of the pint glass. Some rings eventually appear. The body is too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising. The smell had "Christmas" in all sorts of ways with ginger, pumpkin, nutmeg, cloves and allspice all up front giving a nice punch in the nose. Some nice roasted coffee and chocolate come out more so as the beer warms a bit. The smell takes all of those previously mentioned flavorings and combines very nicely for a bitter/sweet/dry taste that meets a robust sort of taste that meets a bit above the standard for the season. The palate was a bit heavy, a nice small sipper that will make me satisfied for the rest of the day. It has a fairly smooth dry finish. Though a fairly high ABV, still the alcohol is slightly undetectable. Overall, this turned out better than I thought it would be, perhaps I was thinking this was going to be a malt bomb, but it still had some nice bitter/dry aspects a good "stout" should have. I would say this was good for the style and for me.
★ 1,203 characters
3.85/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a deep mahogany color with a tight, mocha head that leaves chunks of lacing.
Smells of deep roasted notes coupled with ginger and other spices.
Tastes of the spiced ginger notes layered over a solid malt base. Spice notes lead off with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This gives way to the roasted malts with notes of coffee, chocolate, and molasses. A bit of toffee comes through as well. Finishes with a fairly sweet brown sugar and caramel note.
Mouthfeel is full with a smooth amount of carbonation.
Overall, this is tasty, but is a bit too sweet for me.
★ 569 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a deep mahogany color with a tight, mocha head that leaves chunks of lacing.
Smells of deep roasted notes coupled with ginger and other spices.
Tastes of the spiced ginger notes layered over a solid malt base. Spice notes lead off with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This gives way to the roasted malts with notes of coffee, chocolate, and molasses. A bit of toffee comes through as well. Finishes with a fairly sweet brown sugar and caramel note.
Mouthfeel is full with a smooth amount of carbonation.
Overall, this is tasty, but is a bit too sweet for me.
★ 569 characters
Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
3.78
out of 5
based on 1,305 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I got this one for $3 at the Wine and spirits. Soo not much to lose!!!!
It very dark with a big tanned head. It smells like Wine Mulling Spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, coffee and chocolate. The taste is pretty much the same as the smell. Very light and sweet mouth feel. Can't really taste the 9% abc. This would have been even better on a Winter evening. Plus the price I paid makes this beer taste much better!!!!
★ 419 characters