Festivus Ale (2013)
Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant
- From:
- Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.44 | pDev: 15.41%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 26, 2015
- Added:
- Nov 22, 2013
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
Every year we brew a single batch of this holiday warmer using an original recipe thus making each year unique.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Wolberjs from California
4.06/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Festival for the rest of us
Dec 21, 2014
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona
3.54/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.54/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours somewhat murky brown with a lasting thin head that leaves ample lacing.
The smell is of plum and ginger.
The taste is of plum and ginger - sweet and spicy with spicing balancing sweetness in the finish.
h
It is creamy and smooth with a full-body, but not thick. Alcohol is very well-hidden.
A very drinkable, enjoyable winter brew. The smell is very mild, the taste is almost too sweet and spicy, but drinks very well.
Jan 04, 2014The smell is of plum and ginger.
The taste is of plum and ginger - sweet and spicy with spicing balancing sweetness in the finish.
h
It is creamy and smooth with a full-body, but not thick. Alcohol is very well-hidden.
A very drinkable, enjoyable winter brew. The smell is very mild, the taste is almost too sweet and spicy, but drinks very well.
Reviewed by FickleBeast from New Jersey
3.34/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.34/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz can poured into a snifter.
Pours a clear amber color with almost no head. Aroma is potent with ginger and spices, and a stale, nutty, malt flavor.
first sip is a strong ginger flavor. No hops detected, and the sweetness is overwhelmed by the ginger. I can see how some may enjoy this, but it does not suit my personal taste.
This is a little too "festive" for my tastes. I feel like they went waaay overboard on the ginger.
Dec 28, 2013Pours a clear amber color with almost no head. Aroma is potent with ginger and spices, and a stale, nutty, malt flavor.
first sip is a strong ginger flavor. No hops detected, and the sweetness is overwhelmed by the ginger. I can see how some may enjoy this, but it does not suit my personal taste.
This is a little too "festive" for my tastes. I feel like they went waaay overboard on the ginger.
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
3.71/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
At last, a holiday beer for the rest of us, especially those of us involved in a CANQuest (TM)! I have the aluminum pole up in Command Central here at Chez Woody, the Airing of Grievances was conducted at the local tavern last night until we were told, "Take it outside, boys! NOW!" which we did, at which point the Feats of Strength were CANducted. I am pretty sore today, but you should see the other guy ... No, really, he's quite handsome.
From the CAN: "Every year we brew a single batch of this holiday warmer using an original recipe thus making each year unique. The rich plum & raisin flavor in this batch is certainly a feat of strength while the complex spice profile shouldn't be included in anyone's airing of grievances."; "Brewed With Spices".
Okay, a Change Request will be forthcoming, but this review is for Festivus Ale (2013).
Forget sleigh bells and Jingle Bells and all that other melodic jazz, man. It's the Crack that is music to mine ears, dig, Daddy-O? The inverted Glug not only caused a pseudo-cascade, but the two fingers of dense, frothy, tawny head were like a gift left under the pole. Speaking of which, the new hot mama digs pole dancing for fitness' sake, so she is in there shimmying up a storm as I do my thing. Color was a deep-copper (SRM = > 22, < 27) with just the slightest hint of haze. I wonder if I could take copper-colored beer to Full Circle Recycling and get some cabbage for it. Nose was definitely spicy and so I called chickie baby to come in and sit on CANta's lap and tell him what she'd like for a present. Fortunately, I had just what she wanted! She agreed that it was very spicy, with cinnamon and nutmeg being prevalent. Mouthfeel was medium and the spices worked well with the dark fruit flavors to create a pleasantly festive melange. Dollface was wriggling around like a fish trying to escape the hook so I let her imbibe also. Her face lit up in a way that no string of lights could ever hope to match. Finish was dry, thanks to the spices, the yeast's action in creating the fruitiness and the ABV with a light heat. Whew! One of these at a time, but still, if they are changing the recipe every year, then it becomes a must, just like Anchor Christmas.
Dec 20, 2013From the CAN: "Every year we brew a single batch of this holiday warmer using an original recipe thus making each year unique. The rich plum & raisin flavor in this batch is certainly a feat of strength while the complex spice profile shouldn't be included in anyone's airing of grievances."; "Brewed With Spices".
Okay, a Change Request will be forthcoming, but this review is for Festivus Ale (2013).
Forget sleigh bells and Jingle Bells and all that other melodic jazz, man. It's the Crack that is music to mine ears, dig, Daddy-O? The inverted Glug not only caused a pseudo-cascade, but the two fingers of dense, frothy, tawny head were like a gift left under the pole. Speaking of which, the new hot mama digs pole dancing for fitness' sake, so she is in there shimmying up a storm as I do my thing. Color was a deep-copper (SRM = > 22, < 27) with just the slightest hint of haze. I wonder if I could take copper-colored beer to Full Circle Recycling and get some cabbage for it. Nose was definitely spicy and so I called chickie baby to come in and sit on CANta's lap and tell him what she'd like for a present. Fortunately, I had just what she wanted! She agreed that it was very spicy, with cinnamon and nutmeg being prevalent. Mouthfeel was medium and the spices worked well with the dark fruit flavors to create a pleasantly festive melange. Dollface was wriggling around like a fish trying to escape the hook so I let her imbibe also. Her face lit up in a way that no string of lights could ever hope to match. Finish was dry, thanks to the spices, the yeast's action in creating the fruitiness and the ABV with a light heat. Whew! One of these at a time, but still, if they are changing the recipe every year, then it becomes a must, just like Anchor Christmas.
Reviewed by justintcoons from Pennsylvania
3.49/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz can poured into a shaker pint.
Appearance
Reddish brown with 1 finger of off-white head that dissipates quickly. Good clarity and low carbonation.
Nose
Molasses, biscuit, brown sugar, plum, ginger and mint.
Taste
Molasses, biscuit, caramelized brown sugar and overripe plum. A little bit of a salted soft pretzel thing going on? Hints of ginger, nutmeg and spruce. Finishes with touches of piney hops.
Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, oily, smooth and semi-sticky.
Overall
Meh, it's another Winter Warmer... It does, however, hide the alcohol well.
Dec 05, 2013Appearance
Reddish brown with 1 finger of off-white head that dissipates quickly. Good clarity and low carbonation.
Nose
Molasses, biscuit, brown sugar, plum, ginger and mint.
Taste
Molasses, biscuit, caramelized brown sugar and overripe plum. A little bit of a salted soft pretzel thing going on? Hints of ginger, nutmeg and spruce. Finishes with touches of piney hops.
Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, oily, smooth and semi-sticky.
Overall
Meh, it's another Winter Warmer... It does, however, hide the alcohol well.
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