Christmas Cookie Ale
Sycamore Brewing

Cream Ale????? Hardly. This is an Amber Ale, decked out for the Holidays. Prett good one too!!! Poured from a 16 oz. can into a pint glass, this beer is a good example of an Amber/Red Ale. It featured a light tan frothy head on top of a clear amber body. Head retention is better than average with only a bit of filmy lacing on the glass. Taste was malty with bready nd caramel malt. Not much of the cookie/pastry aspect here but there is a fair amount of holiday spicing including cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. I usually complain that holiday spicing in overdone, but, in this case, the beer could have used a bit more. Understated is much better than potpourri in a beer. Mouthfeel was medium bodied and smooth. The caramel malt and touch of crispness were well done. Overall, a nice, understated holiday beer.

 

December 2024.Athens. At first thought a little heavy on cinnamon. But drank very easily and gave me Christmas cheer while working on standing rib roast. Enjoyable experience—give it a try again. Sometimes it is not just about the beer—this one gad some Christmas magic

 

 

From the bottom of the can: "Canned 11/23/21 793 12:42:51 Every Snowflake Is Unique (Just Look)"

Appearance: The beer is a dark bronze color with an opalescence giving it a slight appearance of haze. It has a medium-sized head with a foamy texture that is a tobacco stained yellow-white color.

Aroma: There is a light herbal note to the beer and a slight bay leaf scent. It smells like a pretty standard Amber Ale.

Taste: Up front there is an herbal flavor with notes of bay leaf and black tea. The flavor is consistent across the middle of the palate and in the finish, but there is a light nutty character that comes through in the middle.

Mouthfeel: It is nice and smooth with good carbonation levels. Bitterness is very mild and takes the form of black tea. It has a medium body that lends itself well to the beer as a whole. It is very enjoyable to drink.

Overall: The beer is nice and smooth with good flavors and aromas. The can states that it is "7.5% ALC by VOL" and calls it a "WINTER ALE" which differs from the site slightly. The name is "CHRISTMAS COOKIE" on the can but aside from the light nutty character it doesn't taste much like a cookie. It is an enjoyable ale with a great texture which is nice but I wouldn't pick it up again if I were looking for a beer that tastes like a cookie, something more holiday themed, or even a Winter Warmer. As a whole I also don't recommend it because it's likely to disappoint or confuse somebody. I would still drink and enjoy it if somebody handed it to me or brought it to a gathering.