Brewer's Art St. Festivus Holiday Ale | The Brewer's Art
Brewed by:
The Brewer's Art
Maryland, United States
thebrewersart.com
Style: Winter Warmer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by GeoffFromSJ on 12-27-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 70 | Reviews: 17
4.42/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer pours a clody amber with a brownish head. It had long-lasting, but light lacing. The aroma is an almost overwhelming spiciness that consists of ginger, clove, and nutmeg. The taste though is almost all malt, a blend of malts at that. There is also that hint of ginger that keeps the spiciness going. It is lighter in the mouth than I expected but it was a beer that cried for more than one. A very good effort for the boys in Baltimore.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This beer pours a clody amber with a brownish head. It had long-lasting, but light lacing. The aroma is an almost overwhelming spiciness that consists of ginger, clove, and nutmeg. The taste though is almost all malt, a blend of malts at that. There is also that hint of ginger that keeps the spiciness going. It is lighter in the mouth than I expected but it was a beer that cried for more than one. A very good effort for the boys in Baltimore.
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4.37/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Just got back from a meeting in Baltimore and as always, traffic seems to push me to Charles Street.
This tasty poured a nice deep amber color, cloudy with a nice quarter inch off white head. Nice carbonation.
The nose had a nice mix of warm spices and rich malts. I get a hint of cherry as well as alspice on the backnose.
The taste is warm and welcoming. The malts are well in balance on the tongue. There are hints of clove, alspice, fruit and chocolate.
With the malt combination in this brew, one would expect it to heavy on the mouth. The malts really work together and don't make the beer a viscous cloying monster. Instead the beer was slightly lighter in body than I expected, which in my view made this a tasty for in front of the fireplace.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Just got back from a meeting in Baltimore and as always, traffic seems to push me to Charles Street.
This tasty poured a nice deep amber color, cloudy with a nice quarter inch off white head. Nice carbonation.
The nose had a nice mix of warm spices and rich malts. I get a hint of cherry as well as alspice on the backnose.
The taste is warm and welcoming. The malts are well in balance on the tongue. There are hints of clove, alspice, fruit and chocolate.
With the malt combination in this brew, one would expect it to heavy on the mouth. The malts really work together and don't make the beer a viscous cloying monster. Instead the beer was slightly lighter in body than I expected, which in my view made this a tasty for in front of the fireplace.
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4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
This one poured out a murky burgundy-amber color and was topped off with a creamy thin head that left a delicate lacing on the glass. Interesting aroma with apricots, oranges and licorice. Theres a strong fruity tang in the taste with black currants, fruits and licorice showing through. Alcohol is slightly detectable. This is a very flavorful and tasty brew. Light fruit-malt body makes this one enjoyable and easy to drink, and isnt heavy at all.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
This one poured out a murky burgundy-amber color and was topped off with a creamy thin head that left a delicate lacing on the glass. Interesting aroma with apricots, oranges and licorice. Theres a strong fruity tang in the taste with black currants, fruits and licorice showing through. Alcohol is slightly detectable. This is a very flavorful and tasty brew. Light fruit-malt body makes this one enjoyable and easy to drink, and isnt heavy at all.
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4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours coffee brown with a nice bubble show that delivers an inch of foam that fades all too quickly though it still leaves a few strands of lace
Smell: Ginger snap, date and fig, with sugar cookie tones, as well
Taste: Christmas cookie flavors, up front, with the spicy phenols of ginger snap and sugar cookies blending with dark fruit flavors; perhaps a bit of malted milk ball in the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation; creamy, too
Overall: Tastes a bit more Belgian than the typical Winter Warmer but whatever this is, this is darn good, even in the summer - best by 10/11/14 on the label and the removal of the term Holiday Ale makes me wonder whether the brewery thinks so as well
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours coffee brown with a nice bubble show that delivers an inch of foam that fades all too quickly though it still leaves a few strands of lace
Smell: Ginger snap, date and fig, with sugar cookie tones, as well
Taste: Christmas cookie flavors, up front, with the spicy phenols of ginger snap and sugar cookies blending with dark fruit flavors; perhaps a bit of malted milk ball in the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation; creamy, too
Overall: Tastes a bit more Belgian than the typical Winter Warmer but whatever this is, this is darn good, even in the summer - best by 10/11/14 on the label and the removal of the term Holiday Ale makes me wonder whether the brewery thinks so as well
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4.23/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 750 mL corked & caged bottle into a Brewer's Art goblet and a Duvel tulip. Moderately gentle hand. 2012 vintage - cellared since last year.
A: Very dark ruby-tinted brown with 1 finger of tan head. Good retention. Light lacing.
S: Sweet dark malts, raisin, cherry. Lighter spice notes. Chocolate is present. Nice.
T: Great dark, roasted malt flavor up front with dried fruit sweetness, although not nearly as saccharine as the nose suggests. Caramel and toffee. Dark chocolate on the semi-dry finish. Mild hop bitterness develops for balance. Light alcohol, fairly low for 8% ABV.
M: Moderate carbonation, a bit high for the flavor profile, with a nice full-ish body. Light creaminess. Did smooth out as it warmed in the glass.
O: Very nice brew. Full flavored and drinkable. The term "Winter warmer" doesn't mean much to me, but I'd say this drinks much like a doppelbock with a little dubbel and Scotch ale mixed in. I believe this aged quite well since last year - seems like more complexity and depth this time around. BA continues to do a bang up job.
Prost!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 750 mL corked & caged bottle into a Brewer's Art goblet and a Duvel tulip. Moderately gentle hand. 2012 vintage - cellared since last year.
A: Very dark ruby-tinted brown with 1 finger of tan head. Good retention. Light lacing.
S: Sweet dark malts, raisin, cherry. Lighter spice notes. Chocolate is present. Nice.
T: Great dark, roasted malt flavor up front with dried fruit sweetness, although not nearly as saccharine as the nose suggests. Caramel and toffee. Dark chocolate on the semi-dry finish. Mild hop bitterness develops for balance. Light alcohol, fairly low for 8% ABV.
M: Moderate carbonation, a bit high for the flavor profile, with a nice full-ish body. Light creaminess. Did smooth out as it warmed in the glass.
O: Very nice brew. Full flavored and drinkable. The term "Winter warmer" doesn't mean much to me, but I'd say this drinks much like a doppelbock with a little dubbel and Scotch ale mixed in. I believe this aged quite well since last year - seems like more complexity and depth this time around. BA continues to do a bang up job.
Prost!
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4.23/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed the brew named after the patron saint of Ravens post-season on Friday night at the Brewers Art. (Might as well celebrate separately, there will be no Ravens Festivus parties this year )
Pushed my way past the vodka and tonic Mt. Vernoners to call out my order to the excellent basement bartenders. They served it in a tulip glass, charging me an amazing $3.50. The chalkboard claimed an 8% ABV.
Didnt get much of a head with the pour, but there was a sticky ring of lacing that stayed throughout.
Nose was very faint, but there was some light malt. (Not sure if this was the non-headed pour, smoky surroundings, or my earlier Indian meal )
Ooh yeah! Mr. Festivus is a very tasty and drinkable beer. I had several that night. No real hops to speak of, but it does have a dry finish. A very well done malt backbone (caramel and biscuits) has a fruity and spiciness with it. Just like a lightly citrus tinged gingerbread cookie. Mmm, I should have stopped by earlier in the season.
8% didnt warm the mouth, but did warm the head and left the face and cheeks glowing. Had just the right amount of carbonation for the medium bodied brew. Yet again, another incredible beer from Brewers Art.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed the brew named after the patron saint of Ravens post-season on Friday night at the Brewers Art. (Might as well celebrate separately, there will be no Ravens Festivus parties this year )
Pushed my way past the vodka and tonic Mt. Vernoners to call out my order to the excellent basement bartenders. They served it in a tulip glass, charging me an amazing $3.50. The chalkboard claimed an 8% ABV.
Didnt get much of a head with the pour, but there was a sticky ring of lacing that stayed throughout.
Nose was very faint, but there was some light malt. (Not sure if this was the non-headed pour, smoky surroundings, or my earlier Indian meal )
Ooh yeah! Mr. Festivus is a very tasty and drinkable beer. I had several that night. No real hops to speak of, but it does have a dry finish. A very well done malt backbone (caramel and biscuits) has a fruity and spiciness with it. Just like a lightly citrus tinged gingerbread cookie. Mmm, I should have stopped by earlier in the season.
8% didnt warm the mouth, but did warm the head and left the face and cheeks glowing. Had just the right amount of carbonation for the medium bodied brew. Yet again, another incredible beer from Brewers Art.
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4.17/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served chilled from a tap, this poured a cloudy chestnut brown color w/ a slight surface layer of head and nice edge lacing on the glass that did dissipate rather quickly. Smell was harder to distinguish, but i got tones of ginger and nutmeg w/ brown roasted malts and a little almond nuttiness. Sweet ginger and nutmeg were apparent on the first sip along with some sugary caramel malts on the finish. Sharp carbonation across my palete w/ a nice little alcohol burn and a spicy (ginger) aftertaste. Overall, a nicely crafted beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served chilled from a tap, this poured a cloudy chestnut brown color w/ a slight surface layer of head and nice edge lacing on the glass that did dissipate rather quickly. Smell was harder to distinguish, but i got tones of ginger and nutmeg w/ brown roasted malts and a little almond nuttiness. Sweet ginger and nutmeg were apparent on the first sip along with some sugary caramel malts on the finish. Sharp carbonation across my palete w/ a nice little alcohol burn and a spicy (ginger) aftertaste. Overall, a nicely crafted beer.
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4.14/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A clear, deep chestnut brown body is capped by a short head of creamy tan foam that holds well and leaves some very nice lacing about the glass. The nose is limited but offers a combination of delicate yeasty fruitiness, an almost burnt-sugar caramelization to its malt, and some noticeable but not discernable spice. The body is medium-full and a bit dextrinous with a very fine carbonation that lends a gentle zest to the tongue before it warms to become smoother. Gingerbread spice and light citrus (orange) hit the tongue up-front, backed by a deeply caramelized maltiness that seems to have a roasted edge to it and some mild dark fruit. It's bitterness is solid despite its spice, and it's far more dry than sugary. Spice lingers in the aftertaste along with a touch of biscuity, subtly roasty malt (like a cookie lightly charred around the edges). Its alcohol never really comes out in the flavor or the aroma, but after a pint you'll feel that there's something there. Quite nice! A welcome treat on a blustery day!
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A clear, deep chestnut brown body is capped by a short head of creamy tan foam that holds well and leaves some very nice lacing about the glass. The nose is limited but offers a combination of delicate yeasty fruitiness, an almost burnt-sugar caramelization to its malt, and some noticeable but not discernable spice. The body is medium-full and a bit dextrinous with a very fine carbonation that lends a gentle zest to the tongue before it warms to become smoother. Gingerbread spice and light citrus (orange) hit the tongue up-front, backed by a deeply caramelized maltiness that seems to have a roasted edge to it and some mild dark fruit. It's bitterness is solid despite its spice, and it's far more dry than sugary. Spice lingers in the aftertaste along with a touch of biscuity, subtly roasty malt (like a cookie lightly charred around the edges). Its alcohol never really comes out in the flavor or the aroma, but after a pint you'll feel that there's something there. Quite nice! A welcome treat on a blustery day!
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4.09/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I had the great pleasure of having this on-tap at the Grey Lodge in NE Philly. Since this beer does not lend itself to be categorized, I called the brewer. This beer consists of 5 different malts and contains ginger. There were 5 batches and each contained a different amount of ginger. The brewer told me I had the best batch. Good for me.
Let's start with the only bad point. It didn't have much of a smell. Since my sense of smell is not accute, I had my wife confirm this. Not much going on.
This has a very nice color and was poured with a nice frothy head. It has a very smooth taste, even though its alcohol content is on the high side (I think).
The taste was very good. It had a complexity that you don't find in many holiday beer. It reminded me very much of a Belgian brew.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I had the great pleasure of having this on-tap at the Grey Lodge in NE Philly. Since this beer does not lend itself to be categorized, I called the brewer. This beer consists of 5 different malts and contains ginger. There were 5 batches and each contained a different amount of ginger. The brewer told me I had the best batch. Good for me.
Let's start with the only bad point. It didn't have much of a smell. Since my sense of smell is not accute, I had my wife confirm this. Not much going on.
This has a very nice color and was poured with a nice frothy head. It has a very smooth taste, even though its alcohol content is on the high side (I think).
The taste was very good. It had a complexity that you don't find in many holiday beer. It reminded me very much of a Belgian brew.
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Brewer's Art St. Festivus Holiday Ale from The Brewer's Art
4.03
out of 5
based on 70 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Greetings:
Santa clause just punched your in the face and you're totally cool with it.
So little karma so much beer,
SLK
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