Barrel Aged Frosted Frog Christmas Ale - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 ounce bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a reddish/brown color with maybe a half inch light tan head that fizzled away quickly. There's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is very, very spicy. The brew smells like nutmeg, cinnamon, gingerbread, and some oak and vanilla. But the spices overpower the whiskey in the aroma. Taste is similar to how it the brew smells, but there's a better balance between the spice and whiskey flavors. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick with low/moderate carbonation. Overall I think the brew is still too spicy for me, it just gets worse and worse the closer I get to finishing the bottle. I don't think I cared for the regular version either, but I do like this version better as it doesn't seem as spicy in comparison as the barrel aging mellowed out the spices some. Worth a try if you've never had it before. $13.99 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 22:30:15 | More by bluejacket74

AdamP_Milwaukee

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

22OZ bottle I took out of my cellar today and poured into a clean tulip, though I have had this beer several times before.

A- Pours reddish brown, and is a very pretty beer in the glass. White head doesn't last long. Try to get a few sips in while it is there, for sure.

S- I think this is simply one of the best smelling beers there is. The smell may not translate directly to the taste, but the nose is perfect. Ginger, clove, nutmeg, spice, and booze. Wonderful. Smells like a hot toddy.

T-This one was a bit thicker than I remember it. A Xmas novelty that maybe wouldn't translate to a session beer, but a nice treat. Spicy, and boozy...it's Xmas in a bottle. Not bitter at all.

M-Like I said, I remember it being a little thinner and lighter, but this was more like Belgian strong with spices added. A bit thick, but still pleasant.

O-I Really like this beer as a treat. I bought like a half dozen bottles from my local store when they where there to add to the cellar. Every now and then I get a hankering for one, and I will be sad when they are gone. Maybe a little less than "world-class", but still a fantastic beer and a real fun one to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 05:11:13 | More by AdamP_Milwaukee

superspak

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, 2012 bottling. Pours fairly clear deep red amber color with a 1 finger foamy off white head with good retention, that reduces to ring of lace that lingers. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of caramel, raisin, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, bourbon, toast, light oak, and light herbal. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of malt, spices, and barrel notes. Taste of raisin, caramel, brown sugar, toast, cinnamon, bourbon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, light oak, and herbal. Lingering notes of dark fruit, caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, bourbon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance and complexity of malt/spice/barrel notes; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a slick and fairly creamy mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice Christmas ale. Great balance and complexity of malt and spice flavors with moderate barrel character; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 04:01:16 | More by superspak

Prost76

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.6%

01-05-2013 21:45:07 | More by Prost76

LeRose

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a reddish brown with a quick fizzy head that didn’t last. Aroma was Christmas cookie kitchen. Cinnamon, nutmeg, slightly fruity on the nose. Taste seems a bit out Of balance. Spice heavy and needs to be sweeter to balance. Clear cinnamon, nutmeg, hint of clove, gingerbread. Picking up some raisin or prune notes. Drying on the palate, not thick on the mouth feel. Some aftertaste that persists and gingerbread like, some molasses sweetness, flavor of dates, warmth, a. But of whiskey. Better as it warms. It was OK, not a fave

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 16:50:45 | More by LeRose

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a case of various Hoppin Frog brews with a hop of getting back into reviewing. This is a very appropriate Christmas brew for today.

A- Body is a medium reddish brown hue with ruby showing through. Uniform moderate cloudiness/translucency. Pours with a minimal creme brulee colored head that almost immediately fades to a thin collar. No lacing is left down the glass.

S- Nose is heavy on the nutmeg. Cinnamon is moderate. The whiskey barrel nose is there but it is overpowered by the christmas spices.

T- Whiskey and cinnamon blend pretty nicely upfront with a very mild malt and barrel backbone initially. These flavors fade slowly and a lot of nutmeg an oak barrel smoothness come through for the finish to blend nicely with the whiskey. Some nutmeg, oak, and a mild alcohol warmth are left to linger.

M- Very high fizzy carbonation with a medium weight body that is on the dry side due to the nutmeg but that still offers that oak smoothness.

O- Overall this is a very good Christmas Ale. Its obviously a seasonal novelty but you don't see a barrel aged Christmas Ale around too often so this is a nice touch. The whiskey barrel definately adds complexity and smoothness to the original version of this beer. Overall a job well done by Hoppin' Frog

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 02:33:09 | More by PittBeerGirl

schoolboy

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I first tasted this along with the regular Frosted Frog and some others at a tasting a little while back at Save On in Mentor. It impressed me and I bought a couple bottles for today.

It pours with little head or lacing. The color is a nice clear dark brown.

It smells like a Christmas desert. Lots of cinnamon and nutmeg. At the tasting I felt that the bourbon taste helped balance the sweet and spicy taste. Today that seems less so, but on that previous tasting I was comparing it with the non-barrel aged, which was very sweet and spicy.
I don't normally like barrel aged beers, but this one works.

The aftertaste is overbalanced with the sweetness, but that doesn't detract from the treat. Overall this is a wonderful xmas ale and a great holiday treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 19:24:21 | More by schoolboy

StevieDavie

Missouri

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-25-2012 00:51:59 | More by StevieDavie

JoeBloe

New York

2.85/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the bomber bottle into my 'Maudite' tulip/snifter - I picked this up on the way home from work , in the mood for a nice winter warmer in front of the fireplace - looks good on the pour with an clear amber/orange and a 1 1/2 finger tight head - smells like christmas with heavy gingerbread, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon - I think I would have been better off inhaling the aroma all night instead of trying to finish this bottle - if you like the heavily spiced type of winter warmer, this one's for you, but it's not for me - It's kind of like the christmas potpourri you might like you house to smell like, but I would not necessarily want to drink it - mouthfeel was sticky without being too heavy - I sipped the first half of this bomber, and chugged the rest, instead of drain pouring -
this was way too 'spiced' and flavored for me - cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 13:39:48 | More by JoeBloe

ScottStache

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +23.1%

12-16-2012 17:06:03 | More by ScottStache

csustar001

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +23.1%

12-14-2012 12:02:36 | More by csustar001

adamette

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Live review. Poured from the 1 pint, 6 oz. bomber bottle that I bought at Save-On Tobacco & Beverage a week or so ago into a clean, clear Voodoo Brewery pint glass. There is no remaining price tag and I do not recall the price. No observed "best by" date either.

A Dark copper/amber translucent body under a nice, 1.5 inch very light brown creamy head after a vigorous pour (a gentle pour was leaving no head initially). Good look. 4.0

S Sweet malt and "Christmas" spices under a Whiskey canopy. Very little hops detected here. Smells delicious. 4.0

T Big, sweet beer with all of the qualities detected in the smell. Big malt sweetness, "Christmas" spices under the influence of the whiskey. It is an interesting, very big beer. 4.5

M As mentioned, this is one big beer with big sweet malt which is syrup like in its size and scope. 4.0

D/O Drinkability is actually pretty good for such a big beer and elevated ABV (to 8.6% mind you). Overall this is a fine beer. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:57:39 | More by adamette

jdhasse

Illinois

3/5  rDev -22.3%

12-09-2012 03:29:07 | More by jdhasse

theleechster

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

11-26-2012 02:20:02 | More by theleechster

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass- pours a clear, dark mahogany color with a reddish tint. Pours with very little head (mocha colored while in existence), leaves no lacing and no retention.

Smell is very round, sweet and spicy. Smells like a gingerbread house with some booze and vanilla frosting. Ginger comes through more than the other spices.

Taste is interesting- almost doesn't taste like newer to me but the bourbon notes and slight booziness remind me that this is a malt beverage. Lots of bready malt, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, bourbon-esque booze notes. Finished sweet.

Mouthfeel is typical for the style. Medium fuller body, moderate carbonation, smooth feel. This is a nice one, better than the regular variety. However, too much spice for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 05:04:09 | More by Hopdaemon39

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-20-2012 18:58:44 | More by imperialking

bittermestupid

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark ruby brown with a nice 1/2" thick beige head. Smells of nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, oak and touch of raisin, it reminds me of french toast and a hint of booze. The flavors are nicely balanced and the barrel isn't over bearing. Cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, raisin, slight cherry note and some booze. Palate is medium and it finishes spicy but well rounded with a nice vanilla notes from the barrel aging.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 15:56:27 | More by bittermestupid

djre4orm

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

10-04-2012 16:08:21 | More by djre4orm

wagenvolks

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -15.8%

09-12-2012 15:51:29 | More by wagenvolks

ehammond1

California

3.05/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle (2011)

Thanks to the Pittsburgh gang for sending this to the Cali gang!

(Aged for 1 year)

Murky, cloudy brown with a small light brown head, leaving only small dots of stick down the glass.

The aroma is, without a doubt, the most appealing aspect of the beer. It's just a bit toned down compared to the base beer, which I think is a good thing since I remember not being a big fan of that one. Good amounts cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and fruit cake combine mightily. I don't get a lot of barrel character, but I think the time in the wood has toned down some of the sharper elements in the base beer.

The flavor though suffers similarly to my memories of the base beer: too much cinnamon and all spice, dominating most of everything else. I only get a mild wood character, but the numbing/powerful notes of cinnamon are prevalent.

Medium bodied with low carbonation.

Better than the base beer, but, that's not saying much.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 00:41:54 | More by ehammond1

FosterJM

California

3.45/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1462nd Review on BA
Bottle to Great Lakes Snifter
22oz

2011 Vintage

CA Gang Bang BIF

App- Just a flat old pond water looking color with maybe a whisp of head and 0 cling in the head. Not sure where color comes from but its a white/brown mix. Just off.

Smell- I wished it was Christmas in August. Such a holiday beer. Cinnamon, nutmeg, peppermint for days. Smelled like liquid potpourri to me. Best part of the beer.

Taste- Drops WAY off. Its just an off spiced malt bomb. Not sure why flavors dont integrate better but seems to all pull apart. Spice note is very prevalent making it hard drinker. Malts almost overpower.

Mouth- A thicker medium body with a low medium carbonation. Residual Christmas spice.

Drink- It's not the best beer, but because of the nose I rounded up vs. down. Probably wouldnt have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 21:24:17 | More by FosterJM

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours sort of a murky amber color with a small off-white head. Nose is quite fruity with lots of plums and raisins. It’s also very spicy. Great nutmeg, all spice, and cinnamon. Plenty of caramel, brown sugar, and some vanilla. The flavor is rich and sweet. Huge caramel and brown sugar flavors, tons of dark fruit notes, and a wonderful spice character. The cinnamon and all spice really come through nicely.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 16:12:04 | More by womencantsail

mater

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

04-25-2012 09:35:58 | More by mater

originsbrewery

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

03-27-2012 01:00:46 | More by originsbrewery

WeisGuy

New York

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

03-12-2012 16:40:47 | More by WeisGuy