XMAS In July
Church Brew Works

 

I know its the 2nd half of August but CBW had this on-tap for my birthday last week and I liked it well enough to bring home a growler that I popped open last night and poured into my mad elf chalice.

A- When poured a small fizzy tan head appeared then quickly vanished completely leaving no lacing..etc. Body is a dark murky translucent red/brown. When held up to the light the red can be seen more clearly. Fogginess is dense and uniform.

S-Nose is sweet and spicy. Ginger, clove, and cinnamon hit the nose first followed by a sweet caramel and toffee scent.

T- Ginger and clove upfront with a malt backbone consisting of mild chocolate, caramel, and toffee flavors. Spicy Belgian yeast can also be detected. The spices intensify and bitter orange peel and anise also come through for the finish. The spiciness of this brew lingers on and on.

M-Medium carbonation and medium weight body rich with a smooth yeatiness.

D- I was pretty excited they still had this and it was a nice birthday treat. This Belgian style Christmas ale is more of a spicy one (think Mad Elf and The Reverend) than a typical one (Corsendonk or Delerium Noel). This is a great specialty brew by CBW and shows that if you really want to see what this brewery can do you have to head to the brewpub.