Christmas Ale
Schlafly Beer - The Tap Room

A- A deep amber red, semi transparent pour. A decent off white head that leaves a slight ring.

S - Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves/all spice, ginger. A slight sourness.

T - Initially, I get that sourness. Definitely has some citrus. I assume from the orange peel listed in description. All of the spices seem to mix together. Pretty noticeable alcohol for 8%. No real single one stands out until the aftertaste, where I notice more cinnamon and cloves. Also some sweetness in the form of honey. A lot of thick malt. Reminds me quite a bit of the malt base in their pumpkin.

M - Still a medium body for as heavy of a malt base as it has. Average carbonation. A considerably dry, and slightly spicy finish.

O - I had high hopes for this based on the Pumkin Ale being one of the best out there, and for the most part, it didn't disappoint. Looks like I am going to have a +rdev on this one based on the other scores. I think it could do without the orange/citrus aspect, and it does seem slightly boozy for what it is. However, it is an excellent winter warmer that I would likely enjoy again… if I wasn't surrounded by Great Lakes and Thirsty Dog :)

L = Reddish brown, coppery body, Solid two finger head in a pint glass. Head recedes, but leaves attractive lacing.
S = A bit mild, pleasant, malt, bread, ginger, nutmeg,mint, woodsy notes. Familial foundation with Schlafly Pumpkin Ale.
T = Minty take on fall and winter spices, malt, ginger,apple, nutmeg, pine, earthy tones. A bit soft, would like a deeper taste profile.
F = Good balance, not watery, not sticky. Pretty much where a robust ABV beer should be.
O = A decent, drinkable Christmas brew. Nothing amazingly noteworthy, but no downsides either. Solid.

Christmas Ale pours a clean, dark brown, with a small, long-lasting head. The aroma is light, with hints of sweet spice. The flavor is pleasant, with ginger, sweet spice, orange, and coriander. Good feel. Overall, a sweeter winter warmer, lots of nice flavors.

 

Here we have a nice winter warmer that blends all of its flavors very well. Nothing overpowers or overwhelms the other. A vigorous pour gives way to a pleasant head that recedes leaving plenty of lacing. Taking a whiff provides lots of plum, fig, caramel, and brown sugar. Drinking follows right along with extra notes of orange and faint ginger. Sweetness is prevalent but stays out of cloying territory. There is a nice period in the finish that is just plum juice. Spices could be more in the forefront, but as is I'm ok with things. This beer has nice drinkability and feels lighter than it's 8% ABV. Overall there isn't much to dislike about this beer, I feel it is well constructed and brewed.

a: dark murky ruby red, purple, and brown color. pours a 1/2 finger tan head that fades quick

s: rich malts, caramel, leather, cardamom, vanilla. slightly nutty aroma, faint chocolate, big fig and dark fruit note

t: upfront is plums, raisins, caramel, and brown sugar. leather, sweet grains, dark caramel, molasses

m: medium mouthfeel with moderate carbonation

o: good not great. big sweet flavors with a little bit of depth, but it could use a touch more out of the malts

(2025 version, review from November) Nice but lighter winter warmer with understated spices & a subdued caramely malty heft on the tastebuds. Smooth fooler of an 8%er.

 

Pours a basic brown color with copper edges and two fingers of head. The nose has notes of both oranges and nutmeg. Nutmeg and ginger are the prominent seasonal spices in the flavor profile. There is also a decent, if not overwhelming, malt presence that presents as a modest molasses flavor.

 

On tap at Caston & Main Brew Yard into pint glass. Pours clear dark ruby red/brown color with a 2 finger dense arocky light khaki head. Great head retention and dense lacing on the glass. Aromas of orange peel, nutmeg, ginger, clove, cardamom, peppercorn, juniper berry, caramel, brown sugar/bread, herbal, grass, yeast earth. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, orange peel, nutmeg, ginger, clove, cardamom, peppercorn, juniper berry, raisin, dark fruit, wood, herbal, floral, grass, yeast earthiness. Lt med pine herbal bitter and spicy yeast finish. Med carb and medium plus body. Balanced creamy bready malts and sticky hop/spice mouthfeel. Lingering sticky spice drying. No cloying/astringent flavors. Mild increasing warmth of 8%. A cross between a Belgian and traditional winter ale. Very big fan.

December 2024. Des Plaines. OK, nothing too special. Nice label on the bottle.

Pours a dark chestnut brown with some reddish hue; good light brown head, clumpy and creamy looking froth persists; give it a good swirl and you get some decent lacing.

Nose is just a nice pleasant mix of winter spices and some sweetness; brown sugar like; it’s hard to pin down specific spices in this one so I’m just gonna go with baked dark colored holiday treats with some underlying red fruit notes.

Taste is definitely malt forward; again I get brown sugar and then a smorgasbord of spice; light astringent spice quality on the finish, which I’m guessing may be the juniper berry which I believe is in here; overall it carries a little bit of a rum like and botanicals vibe.

Body is quite hefty in the malt department; lightly warming with some nasal ABV hints; still goes down easy for its heft, really smooth and creamy carbonation with nice light bitterness on the finish.

 

 

 

 

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