Cruxmas
Hutton & Smith Brewing Company

One of my favorites

Had Cruxmas poured from 12-oz. can, bottom stamped (apparently) canned on "11/12/24," into goblet.

Pours apparently almost black but deep amber-ruby with clarity when backlit, with 1/2-finger light-tan head, which quickly dissipates to a thin ring and partial film, and leaves only specks of lace. Aroma of roast malts off pour, then aromas of sweet and tart stone fruit and caramel malt, and as warms aromas of some dark fruit, a little cinnamon and sweet vanilla, before finishing herbals. On tasting, begins smooth, chocolate creamy and caramel malty, with an immediate hop bite, then cinnamon, with some dark and also sweet stone fruits, and a little more chocolate, before a crisply-hopped, bitter herbal, warming finish.

While there is plenty of body and flavor in this Winter Warmer, it is restrained rather than stickily oppressive as sometimes seems obligatory for this style, and drinks more like a classic, balanced Dubbel.

Look: Pours a tawny, reddish brown (in the right light its completely red) with a generous one and a half finger head of soapy beige foam. Laces the glass very well.

Aroma: Nutella. Toffee. Praline. With a touch of tart cranberry and apple strudel.

Taste: Malty and sweet with a complex sugar profile. Flavor starts off slightly dry with some savory notes of treacle, pie crust, graham cracker and caramel. Slowly it transitions through notes of dried red fruits like raisins, cranberries and prunes. Goes chocolaty and bittersweet on the finish with complex flavors of spices, mostly nutmeg and cinnamon.

Feel: Low carbonation, hearty mouthfeel that isn't overtly thick but full bodied enough so as not to be watery. Mid-light weight overall; low carb.

Overall: This is a fantastic winter warmer. Just the right amount of spice and malty goodness, with some complex flavors of bittersweet chocolate and red stone fruit,

Pours a fairly opaque reddish brown, with a little linen-colored foam. Smell is biscuity malt, with a strong impression of chocolate, lesser degree of cinnamon. Flavor is strongly malty, but not sweet. Aftertaste is fairly dry. Chocolate is also the strongest addition to the flavor, a (good) surprise for a winter warmer. It could however use more cinnamon and spice to exemplify the style. The feel is smooth from beginning to end, but body also seems low for the style. All in all, this is a very delicious beer, but a little light in body, maltiness and spice for the style.

12oz can. Poured out a slightly opaque, dark, dark brown color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left sudsy lace on the glass. It smelled of vanilla, spices, chocolate and biscuity malt. Sweet toffee, chocolate and caramel with subtle vanilla and spices.

 

 

 

 

So good. Cinnamon then vanilla nice. At original h&s brewery.