Best Of This Festivus
Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant

 

 

 

Thanks for this bottle JB. :>)
Nice bomber that I've been sitting on for a bit less than 1 year. My first spiced beer of the season.
Really attractive looking beer. Firm, dense head, yet with some pillowiness that settles rather slowly and leaves plenty of lacing for the eye. First pour shows a clear mahogany color. Second pour presents brown and cloudy. I'll go with the the former for my memory.
Deep malty aroma, at first, that is eventually overtaken with a stronger spice quality of pineness (but not like hops) and a spice I can't name (identify). Nice.
Flavor shows more spice with a pleasing tartness up front, but which remains present throughout. Nice extended bitterness as well. Spice is strong and stays prominent, but it does mask the nice malt qualities, which is too bad, as the roast and fruit are good too. No alcohol is taste, but is evident in time.
Smooth ale, yet not thick or heavy, but not light either. Carbonation offers a creaminess that adds to the feel. Nicely done.
This beer drinks well. Spice is a touch prominent, making it a little less likely to drink several, but that might be unfair to, cuz' as I finish the bomber, I could drink more. Anyway, this is nicely done and an enjoyable experience on a cold, windy, snowy winter night in Minnesota.

From a 22 oz bottle with a standard gold cap. Nice label. Great name! Pours a frothy tan cap atop a clear deep-chestnut/mahogany colored body with glowing ruby and orange highlights when held to the light. The head slowly drops to a solid, creamy lid, and it leaves arc-ing rings of whiteish lace with each sip. The nose is pretty complex, and it becomes fuller as it warms. It's malty with an edge of scorched caramel, spruce, and spice. Chris Fiery told me it's brewed with arborvitae, spruce tips, and juniper; as well as honey and vanilla. In the mouth it's medium-full bodied and lightly crisp on the tongue before warming a bit to become creamy-smooth. The flavors suggested by the nose follow through in the flavor, and it's malty but well-backed by a solid bitterness that leads it to a dry and piney finish. The spruce, juniper and vanilla are readily indentifiable once you know they're there. The 7.8% alcohol hardly shows, and it lingers in the mouth with a delicate spicy and piney note. An excellent holiday warmer!