Christmas Ale
The Schlafly Tap Room

Christmas AleChristmas Ale
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From:
The Schlafly Tap Room
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
8%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 12.74%
Reviews:
194
Ratings:
565
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 21, 2020
Added:
Nov 02, 2006
Wants:
  28
Gots:
  89
Our Christmas Ale is a warming winter ale that blends the spices of the season with sweet caramel malt. Orange peel, juniper berries, ginger root, cardamom and cloves are added for spiciness. We use honey in the fermentation process, which raises the ABV without producing too much heat from the alcohol content.

Many breweries produce richer, higher alcohol beers for the winter holiday season, bolder than their year-round offerings. The inspiration for this beer came from spiced holiday beverages such as wassail and mulled wines. Around the holidays, the sweet and spicy aromas, not to mention the booze, in such libations tend to smooth the rougher edges of enjoying each other’s company and spreading goodwill.

30 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JordanHageman:
Photo of JordanHageman
Rated by JordanHageman from Missouri

3.96/5  rDev +7.3%

Jun 16, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.41/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours orange amber body with small white head with ok retention and lacing
S: nice, cinnamon and allspice notes; malt notes
T: nice, spicy notes; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice; subtle biscuit sweet malt
M: medium bodied and pretty smooth; solid overall
D: nice mouthfeel and taste combo; pretty solid drinking beer
Nov 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by tjg584 from Tennessee

May 29, 2019
 
Rated: 3.9 by jricharc from Virginia

Mar 22, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by JLaw55 from Missouri

Dec 02, 2018
 
Rated: 1 by Chilmer from Iowa

May 26, 2018
Photo of Idrink
Rated by Idrink from New York

3.54/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
good but not great.
Mar 21, 2018
Photo of Snowcrash000
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany

3.67/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a reddish mahogany coloration with a medium, fizzy head. Smells of caramel malts, with a faint hint of ginger and clove. Taste is quite malt-forward, with caramel and bready malts taking center stage. Quite a bit of spice coming through as well, with nutmeg, cardamon, ginger and clove being most noticeable. Perhaps a hint of cinnamon in there as well. Finishes with a medium, spicy bitterness. This reminded me a lot of a Pumpking Ale, which shouldn't be too surprising, I guess. Nice enough, with a decent malt bill and nice spicyness and bitterness. Nothing too outstanding, but well-balanced.
Feb 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.8 by probert from New York

Jan 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.97 by LinksusMaximus from New York

Jan 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.58 by rfgetz from New Jersey

Jan 01, 2018
Photo of q33jeff
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
**
12/30/17

Bottle to snifter.

LOOK: red, brown, lasting medium head.
AROMA: allspice, cinnamon, fruitcake, baking soda
TASTE: bread, spice, cranberry, orange

An above average Christmas beer.

**
Dec 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by jagada from Pennsylvania

Dec 30, 2017
Photo of KLHBB
Reviewed by KLHBB from Arkansas

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fuzzy mahogany, smells of caramel and nutty malt. Taste of spice, gingerbread, not too sweet. Medium mouthfeel, quite excellent, Schlafly is always good.
Dec 26, 2017
Photo of krh
Rated by krh from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Struck me as a flatter Oktoberfest beer with a little spice added. Expected more from Schlafly based on previous tastings.
Dec 24, 2017
Photo of Qbdoo
Reviewed by Qbdoo from Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I do not generally like Christmas Ales but this is the best I've had. A dark nut brown color. Aroma is a caramel and just a hint of nutmeg. Taste similar. The spices are subdued, which for me is the key to a good winter warmer. There's also a slight sweet syrupy quality. Very nice.
Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by LarrysDeerGut from Illinois

Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.01 by Lucular from Maryland

Dec 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.65 by dudd from New York

Dec 06, 2017
Christmas Ale from The Schlafly Tap Room
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 565 ratings