12.25
Dovetail Brewery
- From:
- Dovetail Brewery
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Lambic
- ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.97 | pDev: 1.26%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 27, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 19, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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12.25.XX is Dovetail's Christmas spon beer. Specific vintages are delineated by the year they were brewed in.
Vintages:
2019: 12.25.19 is a spontaneously fermented beer brewed with non-traditional, aromatic malts alongside pilsner malt and raw wheat. Brewed on Christmas day 12/25/19. Released in 2020.
2016: Twas the night before Christmas in 2016 and a very rare bit of warm weather sweet Chicago - warm enough to spontaneously ferment a beer out of season. With Belgian aromatic malts added to the normal recipe of raw wheat and pilsner malt, Dovetail let the microbes do their own elfin magic. After two years of fermenting 12.25.16 is a one of a kind brewer's blend of six chosen barrels and a special gift on Christmas Day 2018 - it has never been made before and can never be replicated. Deep and complex, with spicy tones and a curious tartness, it will dance in your mouth along with all the savory graves and rich dressings of a roasted Christmas feast and then warm your spirit too. Celebrate this moment with a taste of a beautiful Chicago holiday surprise. Released in 2018.
Vintages:
2019: 12.25.19 is a spontaneously fermented beer brewed with non-traditional, aromatic malts alongside pilsner malt and raw wheat. Brewed on Christmas day 12/25/19. Released in 2020.
2016: Twas the night before Christmas in 2016 and a very rare bit of warm weather sweet Chicago - warm enough to spontaneously ferment a beer out of season. With Belgian aromatic malts added to the normal recipe of raw wheat and pilsner malt, Dovetail let the microbes do their own elfin magic. After two years of fermenting 12.25.16 is a one of a kind brewer's blend of six chosen barrels and a special gift on Christmas Day 2018 - it has never been made before and can never be replicated. Deep and complex, with spicy tones and a curious tartness, it will dance in your mouth along with all the savory graves and rich dressings of a roasted Christmas feast and then warm your spirit too. Celebrate this moment with a taste of a beautiful Chicago holiday surprise. Released in 2018.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington
3.99/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2023-12-26
500ml bottle served in a pair of smallish snifters. 12.25.16 seems to be the date, prominently displayed as the name of the beer. Bought it at Dovetail earlier this year.
Pours a dark brown, maybe a thin coffee color, similarly translucent. Moderately large head for the style, settles into a fairly thick ring with some wispy islands. Smell is tart, musty oak, with a little bit of a cherry twist.
Taste is a little bit of raisin sweetness, a pretty strong tartness, a moderately strong oakiness. Almost a red grape juice flavor.
Mouthfeel is fairly light. Overall, it's quite good, but surprisingly dark in color for the style.
Dec 27, 2023500ml bottle served in a pair of smallish snifters. 12.25.16 seems to be the date, prominently displayed as the name of the beer. Bought it at Dovetail earlier this year.
Pours a dark brown, maybe a thin coffee color, similarly translucent. Moderately large head for the style, settles into a fairly thick ring with some wispy islands. Smell is tart, musty oak, with a little bit of a cherry twist.
Taste is a little bit of raisin sweetness, a pretty strong tartness, a moderately strong oakiness. Almost a red grape juice flavor.
Mouthfeel is fairly light. Overall, it's quite good, but surprisingly dark in color for the style.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.88/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Cellared bottles. Tasted 12.25.16 and 12.25.19 side by side. Since they are not considered separate beers I will parse out the review but the rating will reflect an average of both.
16: Slightly lighter brown body, same tan head but only one finger. Smoky earth, cranberry, subtle spices, rustic oak, red apple and barnyard funk with a hint of vinegar in the nose. Taste is not as complex, vinegar, earth and bright malts start before sour apple and dulled boozy berry elevate toward hay and light funk. Feel is light and sour with a hint of acidity, wood comes through about halfway through, carbonation is low.
19: Slightly dark brown body, same tan head but two fingers. This nose is very different: huge smoke, hay, big darker rustic oak, and funk lead with some brett hints on the finish, fruits are milder, big wheat and spices linger. Taste is overrun by brett, wheat, and smoky wood, sour notes are reserved for the finish with whimpering apple and vinegar. Feel is harsh with wood and sourness in that order, no depth but heavier bodied.
Clearly liked 12.25.16 much better. Can't believe age alone did this, as 16 was artful and complex, where 19 is plodding and needs refinement with the barrel and wheat balance. Would have 16 again, would not have 19 again
Feb 24, 202216: Slightly lighter brown body, same tan head but only one finger. Smoky earth, cranberry, subtle spices, rustic oak, red apple and barnyard funk with a hint of vinegar in the nose. Taste is not as complex, vinegar, earth and bright malts start before sour apple and dulled boozy berry elevate toward hay and light funk. Feel is light and sour with a hint of acidity, wood comes through about halfway through, carbonation is low.
19: Slightly dark brown body, same tan head but two fingers. This nose is very different: huge smoke, hay, big darker rustic oak, and funk lead with some brett hints on the finish, fruits are milder, big wheat and spices linger. Taste is overrun by brett, wheat, and smoky wood, sour notes are reserved for the finish with whimpering apple and vinegar. Feel is harsh with wood and sourness in that order, no depth but heavier bodied.
Clearly liked 12.25.16 much better. Can't believe age alone did this, as 16 was artful and complex, where 19 is plodding and needs refinement with the barrel and wheat balance. Would have 16 again, would not have 19 again
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois
4.02/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12.25.16 tasted side by side with 12.24.16 B&C blend. Thanks to Acme for the assist!
Dark copper tone, bright clarity, a thin layer of foam, minimal spotty lace.
Funky wild aroma, moderate acidity, slightly tea-like.
Taste is tart with more acidity than the 12.24.16 B&C blend, light cranberry or cherry skin, lemon tart, generally easy drinking. Light bodied with ample carbonation and a dry finish. Overall it’s fine, but not super unique compared to the rest of their spontaneous sour ales. Basically the same as 12.24.16 B&C blend, with a little more overt acidity and wild funk.
12.24.16 B&C blend:
Tasted side by side with 12.25.16. Thanks to Acme for the assist!
Dark copper tone, bright clarity, a thin layer of foam, minimal spotty lace.
Subdued aroma, soft acidity, a touch metallic, cranberry.
Taste is tart with a softer acidity than 12.25.16, some cranberry or cherry skin, generally mild and easy drinking. Light bodied with ample carbonation and a dry finish. Overall it’s fine, but not super unique compared to the rest of their spontaneous sour ales.
Dec 25, 2020Dark copper tone, bright clarity, a thin layer of foam, minimal spotty lace.
Funky wild aroma, moderate acidity, slightly tea-like.
Taste is tart with more acidity than the 12.24.16 B&C blend, light cranberry or cherry skin, lemon tart, generally easy drinking. Light bodied with ample carbonation and a dry finish. Overall it’s fine, but not super unique compared to the rest of their spontaneous sour ales. Basically the same as 12.24.16 B&C blend, with a little more overt acidity and wild funk.
12.24.16 B&C blend:
Tasted side by side with 12.25.16. Thanks to Acme for the assist!
Dark copper tone, bright clarity, a thin layer of foam, minimal spotty lace.
Subdued aroma, soft acidity, a touch metallic, cranberry.
Taste is tart with a softer acidity than 12.25.16, some cranberry or cherry skin, generally mild and easy drinking. Light bodied with ample carbonation and a dry finish. Overall it’s fine, but not super unique compared to the rest of their spontaneous sour ales.
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