Mikulás Holiday Ale
Immigrant Son Brewery

Short pint poured into the closest glass to a goblet here. The pour is an amber brown, muddy-colored but rather transluscent. My sinuses are jacked up from yesterday, so smelling still a problem. Tastwise, this is a strong, spiced ale. The bitterness up front underlies the WW spices - ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg are all prevalent. The orange peel is an interesting addition - I feel like I can sense a bit of citrus juice in the background on top of the bitterness. The caramel malt backbone is a good balance to all of this. A little heavy on the ginger, perhaps. I would say there's a honeyed quality to it as well, lingering. In body, it's medium-light, but not in a bad way.

This is an enjoyable example of the style. Solid, dependable. There is a strong competition here between the numerous quality WWs (Great Lakes and Thirsty Dog's being the most high-profile)... would be better to be comparing these side-by-side.

 

 

 

Poured a deep, clear amber. Zero head. No lacing. Beautiful color, shame about the lack of head.

The aromas are nicely balanced. Cinnamon, orange peel, and ginger. Malts & caramel as well.

The flavor mostly follows the nose. Cinnamon, orange peel, and ginger. Malts & caramel as well. I pick up caramel on the back end, but it lingers in a nice way that helps balance a moderate bitterness. Nice balance of bitter and sweet. Doesn't taste like an 8.1%

Mouthfeel is medium. Decent carbonation. Refreshing.

This beer is sort of like a fully loaded Toyota Camry - it doesn't "wow" me, but it it's just a really solid performer. It isn't trying to be 12 dogs or GLCA, - far less sweet. Great flavors. I'd buy it again

12 ounce can, canned on 10/03/23, thanks again to Brutaltruth for this one! Served in a Teku, the beer pours a mostly clear reddish/amber color with about an inch off-white head that stuck around a while. There's also a good amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells like ginger, orange peel, nutmeg and some bready malt. I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some cinnamon and caramel flavors noticeable too. I think the ginger does stand out somewhat in comparison to the other flavors. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit coating with a good amount of carbonation. I thought this was a good overall Christmas/Holiday ale, worth picking up if you get the chance to try it!

 

From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This warmer pours a luminous amber
with a nice head of off white foam that settles to a thick ring, thin dusty layer,
and sports some nice light lacing. Nose of orange zest, nutmeg, ginger, and
caramel malts / brown sugar dashed with cinnamon. Flavors follow the nose
with orange zest, nutmeg, heavy ginger, cinnamon, dark breaded malts, and brown sugar.
Mouth feel is medium, medium light carbonation, and finishing with a strong
ginger note that is moderately sweet.

Overall, a decent brew from a new to me brewery, but is a touch overdone
on ginger making the herbal finish lacking some balance. Still well presented
for the style.

Cheers

 

 

Canned on 11-21-22. 12oz can poured into a tulip.

Pours amber with solid clarity and transparency; fluffy off-white head that fades leaving solid retention and lacing. Nice color.

The aromas are spice forward. Cinnamon and ginger come through. Some caramel. Malts are there.

The flavors follow the nose. The spices lead the way. More cinnamon and ginger along with some nutmeg. More caramel along with some cocoa. Orange peel and orange zest are there. Some raw honey in the mix. Decent bitterness. Lower sweetness. Malts do their thing. Alcohol is well hidden.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full-bodied with active carbonation. It's sharp, spritzy, and smooth.

This is a solid "spiced holiday ale". It has everything that you'd expect from the style, more or less. It has all of the usual suspects when it comes to holiday spices. Not bad at all.