Tiny eggshell head, white peach waft, and nutmeg spicing dissipate prematurely, but dour medium-bodied seasonal boasts lively floral-doused citric hop sharpness plus soured crabapple, orange rind, and juniper berry prop. Fine as herbal red ale alternative.
Tag Archives: winter ale
SLY FOX CHRISTMAS 2005 ALE
WILD GOOSE WINTER ALE
ANCHOR SPECIAL WINTER ALE
CAMERON’S CHRISTMAS ALE
(DE ZENNE) X-MAS ZINNEBIR
(HUYGHE) DELIRIUM NOCTURNUM ALE
Funky yeast souring envelops overripe raisin-fig conflux embodying tingly carbonated elegance of unassuming mahogany-tinted winter warmer. Moderate silken creaminess complements fleeting brown sugar-spiced finish, but indefinite peppery hop bitterness, acrid cork-y grape dryness, scattered cherry tartness and metallic tinniness neutralize overall effect of strong 8.5% alcohol pungency.
NEW BELGIUM 2 BELOW ALE
(RIDGEWAY) VERY BAD ELF SPECIAL RESERVE ALE
SLY FOX CHRISTMAS 2007 ALE
Uncertain herbal-toned winter warmer boasts undeniable ginger frontage sweetened by sticky black licorice tongue, peppermint candied coolness, and teasing eucalyptus minting. After few swallows, sassafras-root beer component builds, but ruinous salty seaweed astringency outpaces advertised nutmeg-clove spicing.