Holiday Cheer
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery

Served at the General Lafayette prior to the Stone Soup gathering.

A: The ale is a thick, soupy beer. It appears to be loaded with sediment, goopy and gloppy with a murky brown color. A small ring of white foam blankets the top of the glass.

S: The nose is spicy, alternately sweet and tart. The cranberry is evident, strong and upfront.

T: The cranberry grabs you, manufacturing a tartness that doesn't come from some critters. Spices abound, with cinnamon and nutmeg leading the way. Despite the spices, the cranberry seems to dictate the ale, setting the tone and never letting go. A winter warmer of a beer.

M: I'm no fan of cranberry but this one works nicely. The tartness approximates a funky ale, which is a nice twist for the beer.

D: A decent ale that has a spice profile to please any Christmas ale fan. The tartness is also a pleasant surprise.

A- pours a really nice dark brown with a very small head
S-Cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg...very fragrent
T- really refreshing, the crannberry's come through, then the cinnamon and other spice... it finishes like a lambic, boardering on a flanders red.... really wonderful, not overly sweet, tart
M- really smooth, this one was cold and it worked,good carbonation
D- I dont care what the abv is on this beer, I would drink it all night long... the sleeper of the last few weeks for me

What a surprise this winter brew is.
Tons and tons of mulling spice hits the nose when you first pour it.
Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, brown sugar and (dare I say it?) mincemeat. This is like smelling a fresh baked mincemeat pie.
Flavor is just another expression of the aromas. Finish in the mouth is cinnamon and cloves and an awful lot like mincemeat pie.
Wonderful treat.
Thanks zrrbrrt (Josh).

This years batch was brewed w/ the second runnings of a 275th anniversary brew that will be released in 2007. The abv is bumped up from the posted amount(now 8 %)...man that anniversary brew must be potent as heck. I can't wait!
Appears a murky, reddish brown, with a 2 finger, tan head that slowly fades out. Lots of lacing is scattered around the pint glass.
Smell is of the anticipated cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, highligted by cranberries. I was also getting a whiff of juniper berries in there but all those mulling spices may just be playing tricks on my mind before the holidays arrive.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas in a slightly fruity, malty, brown sugar infused flavor that seems to be what they were shooting for.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, spicy, smooth, with decent CO2 levels that lead to a semi-dry finish of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Hazy amber/red with some floaties as well! Aromas are all fruits and spices, with a prominate cranberry aroma and some cinnamon, allspice, and clove-like notes. The taste is quite sweet and fruity up front, with some lovely spice notes in the middle, and a subtle, slightly dry finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and oh-so-creamy-smooth. Drinkability is nice as well. A great multi-grain strong ale from an awesome little brewpub.

It's pretty amazing that this tiny brewpub keeps turning out such great beers! This mildly spiced seasonal beer changes slightly each year based on what spices are on hand, but the most important ingredient - the cranberries - are never skimped on. It's a really impressive blend of gently sweet maltiness and a mild, soft, subtle spiciness with a light but clear fruitiness that's ever so slightly tart from the cranberries. The cask version is also primed with cranberry juice. It's a hazy reddish in color with a thin and creamy white head that soon drops to a flat surface. There's a touch of sweet fruitiness in the nose that's quite pleasing. The medium/light body and gentle natural carbonation combine to give it an ultra smooth creaminess in the mouth. It finishes with a dry note from both an underlying bitterness and the spice that lingers at the back of the mouth and throat. Exceptionally drinkable. So much so, that I think I'll head over there today to try the standard draught version!