Stone Hammer Moose Mug Eggnog Pale Stout
F&M Brewery

500 mL bottle from the brewery; no freshness info but I'd guess it's about 2-3 months old by now. From what I can discern, there is not actually any eggnog in this, which I am going to consider a plus. Served slightly chilled.

Pours a clear golden-amber hue, with about a centimetre of loose, soapy white foam on top that quickly fizzles off. A thin, bubbly collar is all that remains; no lacing whatsoever, and the surface is otherwise bare. I can accept the paleness because they warned me ahead of time, but visually it's still not particularly attractive. The nose is extremely subdued, and kind of bland - all I can really detect is some doughy, bready malts, and maybe a whiff of leafy hops and light, earthy spice. Opens up a little as it warms, but still not too impressive so far.

Tastes fairly good, reminiscent of a spiced strong ale. Clean-tasting malts comprise most of the profile; somewhat grainy, but also providing a bready, somewhat biscuity flavour that is accompanied by some mild demerara sugar sweetness. Suggestions of nutmeg and cassia on the back end, giving the finish a nice, earthy, spicy feel that dries the palate a bit. On the lighter side of medium-bodied, with light carbonation levels and a smooth, soft mouthfeel - the texture is where this beer most closely resembles a stout. Indeed, it quaffs like a dream and is inordinately easy to throw back, given its modest strength.

Final Grade: 3.42, a B-. I was a bit worried at first, but Moose Mug Eggnog Pale Stout came through in the end. While I still feel that the concept of a "pale stout" is, at best, unnecessary (and at worst, inherently dumb), this is a reasonably decent product that I have no huge problems with. The light spice accentuates the load-carrying malt bill very nicely. This is not an exciting or interesting beer that I would actively seek out, but it's worth a try while stock lasts.