Holiday Beers (2025)

Christmas Break from El Segundo Brewing

Quite aromatic with an assortment of spices, like ginger (but maybe that's the nutmeg) and cloves. Quite sweet as well. This was originally entered as a Baltic Porter, but others have called it a Strong Belgian. Overall this reminds me of the Anchor Christmas Ales, but this is more robust and stronger, not to mention the amped-up spices. OK, it's an Imperial Christmas ale and quite a decent sipper for a winter evening.

 

One more holiday beer for Sully. This is Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh, PA and their Nut Roll Ale. A brown ale with nut rolls and spices added, its a 5% abv brew.

onto my review:

I am sampling a cellar temp 12 oz can poured into a snifter. received in Christmas exchange from my brother. No date stamp on the label or can.
the beer pours a clear chestnut color with some ruby highlights when I hold the glass to a light source. A frothy 2 cm head foams up and fades pretty quickly to almost nothing.
Aroma on this beer is malty , with caramel and brown bread mixing with some light spices (cinnamon mostly) and a little nutmeg too. No hop character and not boozy either.
First sip reveals a medium to lighter body with smooth texture and fine tingly carbonation. the beer drinks pretty easy on the physical traits.
Flavor is more of what the nose advertises up front. I get a little caramel and some cinnamon and nutmeg again. I also get some mild brown sugar sweetness and slight buttery toffee. No hops here either and the low ABV never punches through.
Pretty easy to drink and decent winter warmer -esque beer. I do feel like it tastes like a nut roll, so it kind is what it says it is.
3.99 in the BA DB

 

A fitting beer to end the holiday season, I'm sure-- Santa Was A Werewolf! IPA from Paperback Brewing in Glendale.

Aroma is really bold, with orange, mango, and apricot nectar. Tastes hot and dark. Moderately sweet but on the acidic side. Endless big flavors of fruit with orange peel, papaya, and lemon-lime candy. Overall this would be drinkable except for the relentless bitterness. Dated 11/18/25.