Holiday Ale
West Side Brewing
- From:
- West Side Brewing
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
- ABV:
- 6.42%
- Score:
- +2 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.77 | pDev: 9.81%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 19, 2025
- Added:
- Jun 28, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
A deep amber ale thanks to the use of three crystal malts, a touch of fruitiness from Galaxy hops, and cheery holiday aroma thanks to cinnamon, ginger, and sweet orange peel.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio
3.31/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Jungle Jim’s Market Fairfield location, served in a 12-oz plastic cup. I was looking forward to enjoying it while selecting my annual pre-Christmas beer haul.
Look: Amber brown, with a 1/2” off-white head with decent retention, receding gradually to a foam cap.
Nose: Surprisingly, not a lot: a little sweet spice.
Attack:: Not much there, actually; a little dark malt.
Finish: Mild hop bitterness, followed by bitterness approaching astringency.
Mouthfeel: Fairly thin, adequate carbonation.
Overall: Because I’ve very much enjoyed other beers at West Side Brewery, I had high hopes for this one. It wasn’t unpleasant to drink except for the late part of the finish; it just wasn’t particularly flavorful. Sort of thirst-quenching, but not sure why I’d want to order it again. In fact, I actually didn’t finish this one. It is correctly style-classified — it doesn’t fit the bill for the flavorful Winter Warmer I was sort of hoping it would be, and doesn’t have enough appropriate flavor to be considered an Herb and Spice beer, which is how the Jungle Jim’s tap listing had it categorized.
Dec 19, 2025Look: Amber brown, with a 1/2” off-white head with decent retention, receding gradually to a foam cap.
Nose: Surprisingly, not a lot: a little sweet spice.
Attack:: Not much there, actually; a little dark malt.
Finish: Mild hop bitterness, followed by bitterness approaching astringency.
Mouthfeel: Fairly thin, adequate carbonation.
Overall: Because I’ve very much enjoyed other beers at West Side Brewery, I had high hopes for this one. It wasn’t unpleasant to drink except for the late part of the finish; it just wasn’t particularly flavorful. Sort of thirst-quenching, but not sure why I’d want to order it again. In fact, I actually didn’t finish this one. It is correctly style-classified — it doesn’t fit the bill for the flavorful Winter Warmer I was sort of hoping it would be, and doesn’t have enough appropriate flavor to be considered an Herb and Spice beer, which is how the Jungle Jim’s tap listing had it categorized.
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can, served in a Libby globe porter glass. Date stamp on bottom of can: 11/12/24 13:42:34
Appearance: Bright (clear) coppery-amber, with a very thin white head that died away to nothing.
Smell: Mostly orange peel, and a hint of the Galaxy hops.
Taste: Everything is jumbled together, but I can pick out the orange peel, galaxy hops, and some spices. I can't say I pick out the ginger and cinnamon though. Nice lightly toasted malt for balance.
Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, good thickness, a little bit of a dry finish.
Overall / Drinkability: I'd say this is more like a hopped winter warmer than an American amber, but it's still tasty. Despite the spices being muddled, this is still an enjoyable seasonal beer and I wouldn't mind having another one. Might pair well with cookies....
Dec 22, 2024Appearance: Bright (clear) coppery-amber, with a very thin white head that died away to nothing.
Smell: Mostly orange peel, and a hint of the Galaxy hops.
Taste: Everything is jumbled together, but I can pick out the orange peel, galaxy hops, and some spices. I can't say I pick out the ginger and cinnamon though. Nice lightly toasted malt for balance.
Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, good thickness, a little bit of a dry finish.
Overall / Drinkability: I'd say this is more like a hopped winter warmer than an American amber, but it's still tasty. Despite the spices being muddled, this is still an enjoyable seasonal beer and I wouldn't mind having another one. Might pair well with cookies....
Reviewed by mcm180 from Ohio
3.8/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Nice. West Side is 100% good beer.
Amber color. Khaki head.
Very well balanced flavor. Hoppy, but not bitter. Good spicing but not overpowering. Malt is in there, but not cloying or syrupy at all.
Might be the first holiday ale I genuinely enjoy.
Nov 28, 2023Amber color. Khaki head.
Very well balanced flavor. Hoppy, but not bitter. Good spicing but not overpowering. Malt is in there, but not cloying or syrupy at all.
Might be the first holiday ale I genuinely enjoy.
Reviewed by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.98/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Single can from Jungle Jim's.
Pours a deep amber color with a red hue. Nice thick khaki head with good retention.
Smell has notes of ginger and orange. Taste is just a bit too much on the ginger.
Light to medium body.
Overall a nice brew I enjoyed.
Dec 20, 2020Pours a deep amber color with a red hue. Nice thick khaki head with good retention.
Smell has notes of ginger and orange. Taste is just a bit too much on the ginger.
Light to medium body.
Overall a nice brew I enjoyed.
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