Frosted Frog Christmas Ale - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

kencarman

Tennessee

4.74/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This was described to me as the bourbon barrel forward, oak barrel aged, version of their brown ale: the spiced Christmas Ale at the brewery where I stop every year. That's exactly what it is. Incredible oak nose but as it warmed the bourbon dominated, oak second, brown malt third and spices in the end, but not far off enough to make them insignificant.

This year there were three versions. Regular, oak aged forward, then oak aged bourbon forward. This was the bourbon version, but the magic here is everything else comes through the bourbon sweetness.

Not heavy bodied, but true brown ale medium on the lighter side.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:34:52 | More by kencarman

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Picked this up for 6 bucks at Giant Eagle on RT 8.

A - Nice to see this winter seasonal has held up well mild carbonation bubbles with a 1/4 inch of mocha head with decent lace. Color is a respectable deep amber brown.
S - Surprise! It's full of ginger and nutmeg... eh I expected so much but I am intrigued! I also get some molasses (like a gingerbread cookie) and some roast. No hops to speak of.
T - Chewy is my first thought then the malt kicks in with the hops and molasses to taste. Ginger really makes this very drinkable (as all ginger beers do) with a bit of caramel soaked bunt cake in the finish.
M - Serving this kind of warm I am surprised the ABV hasn't shown me much alcohol in the taste. Drinks with a medium body and slightly slick.
Overall I feel this beer is great even two months old! Quite a great winter warmer indeed even more so at 6 bucks a bomber!

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 04:52:13 | More by DrDemento456

beergoot

Colorado

3.91/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Arrived with an amber body and a very thin head which quickly disappeared. Taste and aroma highlighted holiday spices (cinnamon stood out to me); hints of peppermint. The body was medium with a smooth, even bitterness throughout.

I have to thank my friend Rick for buying this beer for me in a bar near Akron, Ohio, especially since we didn't know it was $15.00 for a tap beer (the few Hoppin' Frog bombers I find in Colorado also cost around this price-point!). Anyway, it was a fine tasting Xmas ale although there are others out there that I find more evenly balanced (i.e., Great Lakes "Winter Ale" and Anchor Steam "Christmas Ale") and way less expensive. Bottom-line: it's a fine tasting beer but not necessarily worth the money.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2013 15:17:11 | More by beergoot

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hmmm...what to say about this beer??? It was my third 22oz of the night and also least potent in ABV. Hazy memory on this review. Very Christmas-y in theme and taste. Love the bottle so I drank it straight from there. It's got that nutmeg, allspice, pear cidery vibe. Slightly sweet. No hoppy element, registering 12 on the IBU scale. Poured a little sample out to check the dark brown color, normal amount of head. Wasn't too enthused overall with the taste. Def not a session beer! Couldn't drink more than one!

I must say the frog on the front is the best part of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 00:22:03 | More by Ryanm1

NuclearSoAndSo

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a beer mug.

Appearance- Pours a deep murky amber with a one finger khaki head.

Smell- Smells distinctly of gingerbread with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and maybe some pumpkin toward the end.

Taste- Tastes like it smells. A lot of gingerbread and some molasses notes; sweet in a very good way.

Mouthfeel- Medium sort of body; refreshing and satisfying. Smooth with light to medium carbonation.

Overall- A really nice beer. Definitely glad I bought this one; very flavorful and a great Christmas sipper. I plan on getting this one next Winter. This is one of, if not my favorite, beer quite frankly. And I especially enjoyed cracking this one (and many others) open with my friend on Christmas night. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 15:07:27 | More by NuclearSoAndSo

buschbeer

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle
Served in a tumbler

A - It is a dirty red color. I got an inch of tan head that didn't stick around long.

S - It smells like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. For those of you that are unfamiliar, it smells like cinnamon sugar. I want a candle that smells like this!

T - I taste a lot of cinnamon. The other Christmas flavors are there, too, clove, etc.

M - Moderate

O - The aroma and flavor of this beer are huge. I loved the smell, but the cinnamon flavor was almost overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 17:48:56 | More by buschbeer

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.63/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a balloon glass.

The beer is a deep ruby mahogany color with a fast fading cream head. Little or no lacing sticks to the glass.

The beer smells deliciously of tangy spices, like cinnamon and lime. Faint mellow malts and maybe some cedar.

The taste is very spicy up front. Lots of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg come out. Almost like a pumpkin ale, but there's just something more like Christmas in this. Some nice lime and cherry notes mixed in the finish. Really flavorful.

Mouthfeel is creamy, smooth, and perfectly crisp for easy drinking.

Overall, I haven't had anything less than exceptional from Hoppin' Frog, and their Christmas Ale is no exception. Truly delicious.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 15:10:19 | More by JuicesFlowing

ONUMello

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Average brown with a thin head (even with an aggressive pour) that quickly settles
S: Very inviting, full of ginger, nutmeg, caramel and malt
T: Pleasant though not overly complex. Mainly baking spices with a bit of malt/caramel sweetness
M: Medium-bodied, smooth, spicy
O: Let this one warm up a bit as it does improve as the temperature rises. Overall, though it reminds me a bit of a pumpkin beer w/o the pumpkin, it's a pleasant beer that reminds me of all of the spiced candles we've been burning.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 02:42:48 | More by ONUMello

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass. 2011 batch

A- pours a dark, yet clear, shade of amber with a one finger offwhite head that fades quickly. Despite a complete lack of head retention, the beer itself is gorgeous.

S- the aromas aren't very overpowering, which is a good thing when it comes to winter warmers. The cinnamon is the dominant scent, but the nutmeg falls second in line. The ginger is very well-hidden, but you can get a slight hint of it in there

T- tastes like a Christmas cookie. Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate, but don't absolutely destroy your taste buds. Really good with a year on it, helps keep everything in perspective

M- medium bodied, on the fuller side....there's almost an oily texture to it. Odd

O- as a general rule, I hate winter warmers, but this pretty solid. Definitely worth a try, as are most of Hoppin Frog's beers

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 23:19:33 | More by bigfnjoe

sommersb

Tennessee

3.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 12-20-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Snifter
Purchased: Single from Greenwood Spirits, Bowling Green KY

A: Clear and dark burgundy color. The thin tan head fades quickly and almost no lace is seen on the glass.

S: Rich and sweet malt aromas combine with dark fruits like dates, cherries and figs, followed by a hefty dose of spice notes such as cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Very complex but doesn't seem muddled. Almost smells like a sweet specialty soda.

T: The taste matches much as noted in the aromas, with a big spice presence of nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon, along with some orange zest. The malty sweetness has a syrup quality to it with no hop bitterness there to counter. Not really hot, but there is a note of alcohol warmth.

M: Moderately carbonated and medium bodied. The finish is sweet and spicy showing more flavors of cinnamon, clove and caramel malts. Reminds me of a spiced cider or mulled wine.

O: A very rich sipping beer for Christmas; I think they've captured the holiday spirit well in this potent seasonal brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 06:15:53 | More by sommersb

McNealc31

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Nearly no head on this. Pours on the brown side of amber. Warm pumpkin pie spices in the aroma. Tastes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and orange peel. Enough malt that the spices don't get too wild. Body might be a little light. As it warms, the cinnamon become the most prevalent spice, but there are enough of the others to balance. Hefty booze at 8.6% ABV

Another amazing Winter Warmer from Ohio here. Wonderful!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 02:15:16 | More by McNealc31

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A healthy pour released just under a finger of head. Body is a ruby-copper color. Head dissipates quickly, and no lacing is noticed.

Cinnamon just about smacks you in the nose from this baby. Ginger, malt and brown sugar flesh out the full nose.

This is what drunken ginger bread men must taste like. Ginger bread and cinnamon start off the show. Malt, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar all make appearances.

Mouthfeel is heavy-medium bodied. Carbonation is laid back. Doesn't coat the mouth, slightly dry on the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 02:21:26 | More by CFHMagnet

GallowsThief

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Out of a bottle into my tulip.

A – Pours out a deep ruby brown with just a half finger of off white head that quickly receded.

S – Big hit of cinnamon and nutmeg, very spicy. Lightly sweet smell. Very nice.

T – Just like the smell you immediately get the cinnamon and nutmeg flavors. Very tasty and spicy brew. Has a very light gingerbread flavor with hints of vanilla and brown sugar. It tastes sweet initially but it quickly dissipates so it is not cloying.

M – Medium bodied with average carbonation. The spices hang around the palate for awhile.

O – I like this beer. I can see some not liking it as its spicy but the flavors are ones I totally dig. Found this years Christmas Eve beer. Enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 00:17:32 | More by GallowsThief

xabyss

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Chimay chalice.

A: Pours a semi-opaque dark brown without a lot of head. Scant bits of carbonation in the body.

S: Loads of spices. I can see why this is a somewhat divisive beer. To me, it smells phenomenal: heavy cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, and a hint of Christmas tree pine. Hands down the spiciest beer aroma-wise I've encountered. As a previous reviewer said, I'm sure many people will think a beer shouldn't smell like this. Decidedly un-beerlike, methinks.

T: Eh, not so much. Way too sweet for me, and I like sweet beer. Dominant cinnamon and ginger up front, leading into some sweet malts and dark fruits and ending with more cinnamon. Certainly not a watery beer. Lots of flavor here, but the spices are a bit overwhelming for me.

M: Smooth and on the lighter end of medium-bodied with very little carbonation.

O: I probably won't buy it again, especially considering the price, but I'm glad I tried it. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 03:55:48 | More by xabyss

Bills453

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into my Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance - amber color with an off white head.

Smell - WOW! This is the sweetest, spicy beer I have ever smelled. Smells good, but not sure a beer should smell like this.

Taste - spices, spices, spices. You can really taste the overwhelming cinnamon. This is a little too sweet for me.

Mouthfeel - nice.

Overall - honestly this beer is just a little too spiced for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 13:29:29 | More by Bills453

mountdew1

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a nice dark amber with a thin dirty white head. Head disappeared quickly, but left a small ring that clung nicely. Aroma was exactly as described. Cinammon with some ginger smell, slightly on the sweet side. Very much a winter smell. Flavor was spicy, but yet still pleasant. A bit of sweetness, and the aforementioned spices were nicely balanced. The cinnamon was up front, with a bit of ginger to finish the sip. Coated nicely in the mouth, went down as it should. Overall an outstanding beer. A little tweak in the flavor would help, but minor issues.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 00:29:59 | More by mountdew1

RickS95

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown pour into a snifter. No head, no matter how I poured it. Looks good and spicy, but the lack of a head just kills beer for me.

Traditional holiday spices--cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger--just like the bottle says. Malty backbone, no hint of hops.

The taste follows the lead of the smell. Almost hard to tell it's a beer it's so full of those spices. Heavy cinnamon and nutmeg. Again, no hint of hops.

It's sweet and very spicy. Full-bodied. Ever so creamy before the spice takes over.

A good idea that went overboard on the spices.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:51:15 | More by RickS95

Durge

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A Coca Cola colored brew with a decent light tan colored head and decent lacing. The aroma is clearly a Christmas scent with gingerbread peppermint and evergreen malt. Real likeable. The flavor delivers more of the same with lots of medicinal malt like Moxie with more evergreen and cinnamon spice holiday festivity going on. This is medium-plus bodied with very full but tiny carbonation to provide a stout but luscious feel. Not something I would generally drink in mass quantities but a great holiday brew to really deliver the Christmas spirit. Very nice!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 03:33:36 | More by Durge

ncketchum

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber served in a Duvel tulip

A - pours a nice clear brown, light brown head which dissipates completely, minimal carbonation

S - aroma is strong cinnamon, apple cider, and ginger. Knowing that this is a spicy winter warmer, this is a welcome blast to the senses

T - big time cinnamon, a bit of sweetness, dark fruits, and then malt in the end.

M - smooth, a bit of alcohol in the end, not much carbonation

O - for a winter warmer, this is a very good beer. In the right setting, I love this kind of beer. Definitely not an every day beer, but for a cold winter night, this is an excellent companion.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 04:45:07 | More by ncketchum

JCaweinstein

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 12/30/11

Light brown in color with a two finger off white head. The head is very dense and creamy. Good carbonation and slightly hazy. There is some nice lacing left down the glass.
Cinnamon and ginger spice are easily detectable. The cinnamon is the most dominating of the aroma profile.
On the taste the cinnamon and ginger are hitting pretty hard up front. The nutmeg leaves a presence on the top of the tongue toward the finish. The taste of the spices are followed by a sweetness that in other beers might be cloying but with the spices it's a nice fit.
Medium bodied, crispy with big spice flavor up front followed by a light nutmeg spice. Finishes with a big malty sweetness.
I don't think I've ever had a beer where the spices are so pronounced. I can very easily taste all three spices listed on the bottle which include cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and that hasn't happened before. For me the spices are enough so I don't need the extra malty sweetness, yet it is fitting being a holiday beer. I would by this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 04:47:48 | More by JCaweinstein

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a New Belgium snifter and served at cellar temperature. Beautiful dark reddish brown color. Clear, but with very little light getting through. Very low carbonation. Nice aroma of gingerbread, cinnamon, cookies, and a hint of raspberry.

Very sweet flavor with a tiny bit of tartness. This is definitely a spiced beer. There is a rich malty, bready background with holiday spices dancing all around. Lots of ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. There is just a touch of hops to keep things from getting cloying, but overall this beer is like having mulled wine and a big slice of pie. Very firm mouthfeel that complements the flavors nicely.

The sweetness of this beer might turn some people off. I definitely couldn't drink it all the time. This is a rare holiday indulgence that I will seek out again next year.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 22:14:16 | More by deadonhisfeet

CaptCleveland

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22oz bomber, 12 oz pour into pint glass.

Ruby-red, clear elixir, thin tan head, moderate lacing.

Heavy spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla.

A mess of the above spices with a thin malt presence--like drinking a glass of holiday potpourri.

First mediocre beer from HF. Had the BA version, which was well balanced, with the barrel-aging cutting down the spices. Can't recommend this version, though.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 02:13:35 | More by CaptCleveland

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

2.58/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Received in trade from phisigben, thanks for the opportunity!
Pours a crystal clear deep reddish brown color with a huge fluffy tan head that slowly recedes. Smells of cinnamon and nutmeg mostly. Quite heavy spicy aroma obliterates any beer smells from my perception. Taste has a bit of a caramel sweet malt flavor upfront before the gingerbread house flavor takes over and ruins this beer. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet spice laden mouthfeel. I won't mince words here, this beer is horrible. Its over spiced and I couldn't finish my glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 21:23:41 | More by johnnnniee

oberon

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an imperial pint glass a nice deep garnet color with well defined half finger off white head atop,good richness and definition to the color.Aromas of cinnamon and clove mainly,I could tell right away this was gonna be a more heavily spiced winter warmer.Heavy cinnamon,clove,and nutmeg on the palate,not crazy sweet just spiced to the hilt,some faint toastiness underneath the spice does come thru after awhile as well some alcohol sweetness.Much like their pumpkin ale the winter warmer is too spiced up,I do like this better than the pumpkin beer but it's still not great by any means.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 18:03:21 | More by oberon

rodney4130

Kentucky

2.05/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I can't imagine a worse winter warmer. Surely the worst that I've ever had. The cinnamon completely over powers the taste of every other ingredient. Ginger? Nutmeg? Where?

Pours pretty syrupy. Low carbonation, about a 1/4" head. Looks similar to a brown, maybe 2-3 shades darker that Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Upon smelling, all you get is cinnamon. You know those Brach's cinnamon disc candies? It tastes like that. I wanted to dump it, but for the price paid, I choked it down.

After having DORIS, which was one of my favorite beers ever, I was excited to try the rest of their line-up and selected this one. Simply awful.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 15:44:45 | More by rodney4130