Frosted Frog Christmas Ale - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

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

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +8.7%

05-07-2013 21:26:16 | More by dalepryor

Drew26

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

05-05-2013 02:48:45 | More by Drew26

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-11-2013 17:38:42 | More by DaPan

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

CBodamer

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%

04-06-2013 00:01:26 | More by CBodamer

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

04-01-2013 13:29:40 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Jamison85

Indiana

4/5  rDev +8.7%

03-27-2013 04:56:08 | More by Jamison85

spedprof

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +8.7%

03-25-2013 22:17:44 | More by spedprof

ChrisKuhns

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

03-25-2013 02:40:36 | More by ChrisKuhns

BGsWo22

New York

3/5  rDev -18.5%

03-23-2013 18:59:06 | More by BGsWo22

JVan

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.7%

03-11-2013 13:38:11 | More by JVan

2bet

Norway

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

03-09-2013 16:01:24 | More by 2bet

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

03-05-2013 00:50:42 | More by leprechaunandfatman

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

RayOhioFelton

Ohio

1/5  rDev -72.8%

02-24-2013 15:23:29 | More by RayOhioFelton

Kelp

New Hampshire

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%

02-22-2013 05:48:40 | More by Kelp

LJWalker

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

02-16-2013 00:26:11 | More by LJWalker

iKasey

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

01-28-2013 17:40:49 | More by iKasey

Mattias

Sweden

3/5  rDev -18.5%

01-25-2013 18:47:49 | More by Mattias

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

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

01-19-2013 17:29:30 | More by Whiskeydeez

BMMillsy

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

01-16-2013 20:21:57 | More by BMMillsy

tastymug

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

01-12-2013 13:35:29 | More by tastymug

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

01-11-2013 15:21:20 | More by RedneckBeerz