Christmas Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Rich, hazy auburn color. There's a 1/2 finger of off-white head that has a short retention but leaves a fair amount of lacing.

S: Malty, sweet, with chocolate and toffee and a bit of orange peel. Not all that exciting, but pleasant.

T: Toasted grains, chocolate, toffee, some malt bitterness and a finish of woody hops. The alcohol is fairly well hidden.

M: Sticky, moderate body with a moderate amount of carbonation.

O: I feel very meh about this beer. It's decent, but there's nothing about it that really stands out, either in terms of flavor or aroma, and there's nothing about it that says "holiday" or "Christmas." It's just a decent brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 23:09:28 | More by DaveBlack

JasonTaverner

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-22-2013 22:10:02 | More by JasonTaverner

brewcifix

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-21-2013 21:57:35 | More by brewcifix

Rogorama

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

05-21-2013 13:56:22 | More by Rogorama

ackeeper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

05-21-2013 01:28:20 | More by ackeeper

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-20-2013 16:21:22 | More by InspectorBob

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5%

05-15-2013 13:08:38 | More by touchmeimsac

jkball01

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

05-13-2013 16:36:04 | More by jkball01

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5%

05-12-2013 16:43:44 | More by mikeburd1128

YoDude

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Goose Island Christmas Ale 2009, aged 3 years 7 months in my beer cellar, 5.7% ABV, and poured into a Goose Island MBA Tulip glass.

Appearance: Poured amber brown with a deep thick head and a lacing that refuses to recede from its initial pour line.

Smell: A nice Holiday scent of dried fruit and nutmeg that is not overpowering.

Taste: The buttered toast and caramel malts lead to a lingering cinnamon-like bitter finish. As the beer warms, the flavor of black licorice emerges.

Mouth feel: Medium body and good carbonation, with a balanced sweet and bitter finish.

Overall: This American-style Brown Christmas Ale has aged very well. If any one flavor was originally dominant, that is not longer true. The Holiday spices have married well with the caramelized malt to make it very easy to enjoy more than one glass full. This beer may very well have reached its peak age, but I will continue to test as I still have three bottles in my cellar.

Serving type: 22 oz. bottle

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 04:55:55 | More by YoDude

drlovemd87

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-10-2013 01:24:43 | More by drlovemd87

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-09-2013 00:50:03 | More by cadaugherty

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5%

05-06-2013 00:09:15 | More by mikeincharleston

dvmky

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

05-05-2013 17:34:18 | More by dvmky

lic217

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

04-30-2013 09:25:24 | More by lic217

VikeMan

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5%

04-27-2013 18:30:22 | More by VikeMan

bossmanbuzz

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-27-2013 02:20:01 | More by bossmanbuzz

erialbill

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

04-26-2013 15:42:55 | More by erialbill

Rappaman

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

04-25-2013 01:05:40 | More by Rappaman

Sparty55

Michigan

4/5  rDev +5%

04-23-2013 01:47:25 | More by Sparty55

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-22-2013 20:58:14 | More by Kelp

Kunstman

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-20-2013 16:55:43 | More by Kunstman

jreindl

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -21.3%

04-20-2013 04:39:04 | More by jreindl

msturek

Texas

5/5  rDev +31.2%

04-19-2013 01:33:07 | More by msturek

civicm87

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

04-16-2013 21:49:10 | More by civicm87