Christmas Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Spice beer without noticeable spice in taste. Malty including a degree of chocolate malt and chocolate syrup. Nice brown appearance with lace. good carbonation. Nothing too special and par for this brewery. Thanks Woolfs at Doug Shoemaker super tasting.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2004 02:11:11 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Christmas Ale is the color of strong raspberry iced tea (lightly hazy brownish ruby) and looks festive. The head is tan in hue, firmly creamy, falls a bit too quickly, and leaves a small amount of lace.

The nose is as expected for a holiday brew: plenty of sweetish malt and spices. There's a bit of hoppiness in there as well, although guesses aren't possible.

This is delicious beer. The flavor delivers a dark, roasted maltiness with some background chocolate notes. CA is almost porter-like in some respects. The spices aren't as prominent on the palate and there's isn't much hoppiness either. The mouthfeel is smooth, soft and enjoyable.

Christmas Ale is another solid offering from Goose Island, but I've had better wintertime brews. I'll have no trouble at all waiting until next holdiay season to drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2004 01:11:48 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received this one as an extra in a trade a while back, do not remember from whom unfortunately but it had been sitting in my fridge for a while and I grabbed it out last night for no apparent reason other then to try it.

Appearance - This one poured a very dark reddish tinted amber with a sparkling clarity to it. Lots of carbonation was visible rising up to the surface throughout the session. There was a good three inches of white pillow like foam on the top at first, but this more or less faded down to a thin crown that stayed on the top for the rest of the session. Some nice residual side glass lace apparent as well.

Smell - The aroma was rather nice, with your typical winter warmer like aroma. Lots of spices are evident on the first pass through and this is more or less to be expected. Nice notes of cinnamon, spiced apple and pear, and a touch of nutmeg. There was a good amount of sweetness mixed in with caramel and a roasted nice like smell coming off it as it warmed. Deep underling grain and malt base was apparent as well.

Taste - The flavor was a bit average for me. Nothing really coming across as being overly special or different compared to others I have had in the past and that's really a shame. Very sweet and entirely malt driven, this was not terrible, just underwhelming. Good bit of spice added in and a nice bitter hop driven finish.

Mouthfeel - Pretty spot on for the feel, with a light body that was more then adequately carbonated. Excellent smooth sensation going down and it never really felt like it was too thin or watery.

Drinkability - This one was pretty drinkable as I was easily able to throw it down and start glancing around the room for something else to drink. It was nice and sweet and nothing being too obnoxious or overly spicy.

Overall not bad at all. The winter warmer style in general can be hit or miss, and I would say that this one was more hit then miss for sure, but still it was ok. If you are a fan, this one will do good by you.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2008 10:17:09 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've heard good things about this beer, so I picked up a bomber today after school/work.

A: The beer pours a dark copper color with a very ample tan head.

S: An interesting combination of scents. A lot of spice such as all spice and cinnamon, along with some citrus (mostly orange), and a substantial caramel component.

T: The taste is similar to the nose. The citrus is quite dominant on the front end of the sip. The spices are a bit more muted, but the sweet caramel is the main flavor throughout the middle of the sip. There is a slight pine bitterness on the finish.

M: The body is medium and the carbonation is surprisingly moderate, considering the massive head.

D: The moderate alcohol and pleasant flavors make this beer quite drinkable. I'm not necessarily the biggest fan of Winter Warmers, but this one has a nice combination of flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2009 06:28:48 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at Binny's - South Loop. Bottled on October 30, 2009. Thanks to Amyliz4 for her insatiable need for Christmas beers.

Served in a tulip. Pours a moderately-dark brown, tending toward a dark caramel color. Single-finger white head to begin, quickly falling into a thin white collar and a few bubbles around the edges. The nose brings a bit of caramel sweetness and a mild dark-fruit presence. Somewhat dry and not too spicy; not sure if it ever was. The taste is nice and moderately-sweet with a pronounced caramel presence. No real spice, but there is a mild, understated hop character there. Medium body and a fairly-dry finish. Drinks pretty well overall; glad we got to try this now that I know it's not being bottled any longer.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 02:47:25 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

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

Thanks to Tieman for sharing this one at his tasting.

2009 vintage. Bottled 10/9/09.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, citrus zest, and a slightly funky aroma. Taste is much the same with a mild hop bitterness with each sip, but there is no funk that comes across in the flavor. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it seems to be show some age at this point.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 07:43:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a clear deep brown color ale with a big foamy head with some average retention and some small lacing notes. Aroma of spices with a big caramel malt profile. Taste is also dominated by a big caramel malt presence with some sweet notes and a strange mixture of spices. Body could have been fuller. Interesting but lacking something to be truly great.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2007 17:10:02 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.2/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Aroma: Intriguing, smells of sweet malt, roasted malt, cherry tartness and mild ethinol.
Appearance: nice dark ruby red with a brown hue. Nice 3/4" head that would linger if you drank from a cleaner glass than I am. Off white head with tight bubbles.
Taste: Sweet with mildly noticable hop flavor. Flavor quicky thins leaving a roasted and noticable grainy charactor. Flavors remain consistent through the finish.
Aftertaste: mildly bitter, sweet, hints of roast. Leaves the mouth thick and tacky.
Impression: I think the beer wants to be a porter when it grows up. But, still prefer it to most brown ales that I have tried. Not Goose Islands best.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2005 22:15:35 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy, deep mahogany body with a creamy light tan head that holds well and leaves some nice lace throughout the glass. The aroma is cocoa-ish and mildly fruity with a soft background spiciness (piney hops?). The body is medium and creamy in the mouth from a very fine and natural carbonation. The flavor takes an interesting turn with a sweet fruitiness and some citrusy and piney hops atop a lightly syrupy maltiness. A distinct caramel note is revealed as it warms in the mouth, and some chocolatey character remains but it also picks up a roasted edge that combines with a firm bitterness in a dry and lingering, mildly roasty finish. Very nicely done with a good amount of complexity. Interesting and enjoyable. Best enjoyed slightly warmed. Well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2003 19:45:06 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a shaker pint glass at Durty Nellie's.

Starting off my 12 Beers of Christmas with this one. It pours a clear russet-garnet-amber topped by a half-finger of dirty ecru foam. The nose comprises caramel, dark greens, black pepper, very light hard water, and light rye bread. The taste brings in more of the same, along with more black pepper, some mandarin orange, and a pinch of nutmeg. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slick, fluid feel. Overall, a nice brown ale, something easy-going enough for the beginning of the cold Winter months around here.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2011 02:54:45 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Beautiful, dark ruby color, cream-colored head, thick and sturdy. Aromatic, soft and spicy, floral notes,nuts, sweet fruits. Full body, sits thick in the mouth. Warm, but not too strong. Tilted to malty side, but hops play their part. Great winter ale, but not as dark and stormy as I prefer.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2002 17:17:59 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glad I got to try this one. 2009 vintage.

The beer pours a brownish-amber color with a white head. The aroma is very one dimensional. I get a lot of toffee notes, but that is it. No hops, spices, etc... The flavor is much more complex and a big improvement over the aroma. I get a lot of caramel and toffee malts, but there is also a nice hop component to the flavor. I get some grass and pine hops which provide a nice bit of bitterness to balance out all of the malt sweetness. I also get some cocoa in the flavor and maybe a little bit of spice, but if it is there, it is very subtle. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Another good beer from Goose Island.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 05:48:51 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a dark brown with a small, short-lived head. Leaves good lace.

S - It smelled of malt, hops and nuts.

T - Tasted strongly of roasted malt. Also, quite nutty and had a subtle hop bite.

M - It was crisp and medium-bodied.

D - Very good winter warmer. Different than most...tasted a little like a nut brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2007 02:53:51 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is cloudy reddish brown in color and poured with a finger high beige head that slowly died down but has good retention properties. A light amount of carbonation is visible.
S: An interesting mix of spicy aromas dominates the nose--cinnamon and nutmeg seem to stand out in particular--and there are notes of fruit cake and hints of pine resin hops.
T: Like the smell, the taste is rather complex and has a mix of holiday spices and fruit cake flavors along with a mild amount of bitterness and some malty sweetness.
M: The beer feels medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a light to moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer wasn't overly difficult to drink considering all of the spices and the sweetness, but there's no way that I could have more than one of these in a single sitting.

Note: 2009 vintage

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 02:47:47 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a brilliantly clear dark ruby-amber color, it is topped by a frothy amber colored head that is about an inch thick. The aroma has notes of caramel, alcohol, hints of roasted malt, toasted biscuits, subtle hop aromatics made up of citrus and herbs. The toasted malt notes come to dominate the aroma after a while.

The taste is interesting, the roasted, toasted malty notes are definitely prominent, but there is an interesting layer of hops floating on top, that mixes with some sweet malt caramel notes. The hops are not dominant, but strike a really nice balance with the various malt components with the notes of sharp herbs, and citrus. As this beer warms up it starts to pick up more of the sweet caramel notes, and perhaps a hint of diacytel as well. The beer has a solid bitterness to it as well, the finish is hoppily bitter, with a bit of astringency in the finish.

This is quite tasty, but it seems a little harsh in the finish, I will have to try a couple more of these, especially since this one started out 5 to 10 degrees too cold.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2004 22:43:39 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

2009 release bottled on date of 10/9/09, acquired from pochman, courtesy of BA Secret Santa 2009 so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 22oz bottle into a mug glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malts, lemons, some hops and some spices.

T: The taste starts out with a hearty malt character and sweetness from flavors of lemon, caramel and maple. There are some spices in the background as well. The hops presence is mild but complementary. It's a bit of an odd combination of flavors but could work for you if you want something a little bit different. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it's good beer that is worth drinking for a while but not the first Xmas seasonal that I would choose.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2010 03:59:47 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought a vintage bottle from 2008 while at the brewpub in Chicago. The beer poured out as a nice muddy brown color with a pretty good looking head on top. Some retention with a touch of lacing also. The smell of the beer reminded me more of a barley wine... I never would had said this was a brown ale. The smell is sweet, lots of caramel, maple and very malty. No hops aroma just very soft and malty. The taste of the beer is almost fruity with some spice and brown sugar. This tastes nothing like a brown ale to me. The mouthfeel is soft, creamy, warming and mellow. Overall very impressive beer. Really glad I grabbed a bottle of this. Very good beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 01:19:20 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

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

Picked this up in Wichita (goebbels)

Pours an orange/chestnut with 2 fingers of tan head into my Chimnay goblet. Insane lacing & super head retention

S: Cinnamon, brown sugar & leafy hops

T: Bready malt, herbal hops, cinnamon, orange slices, & leafy hops up front. Leafy hops, brown sugar, candi sugar & orangey hops as this warms. Finishes sweet ( orange slices & toffee ) with underlying herbal hops

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation & good balance

Drank pretty easy, a pretty simple winter warmer that makes me want to try this fresher & see what the difference is, still very solid

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2008 05:05:22 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber,

A: Pours brown with a firm finger of off-white head, nice lace. Very good head retention. Appealing colour.

S: Major hop smells suprised me, orange and Christmas tree. Some spiced bread as well.

T: Hop flavours continue unabated, some heavy pine and white grapefruit. There is a really nice gingerbread spice malt component in the mid-palate/finish that really takes the beer to the next level. Some minty hops come out near the end too. Complex mix of flavours.

M: Smooth and medium-bodied. Creamy carbonation and nice soothing aftertaste.

D: Waited to open this on Christmas Eve, and I was not disappointed. A really good Winter Warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 21:05:42 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a clear burgandy / deep copper color with a thick 3" head. The head receded quickly, and only a spot or two of lacing developed.

Smell: overall quite mild as only soft sweetness and some piney bitterness were detectable.

Taste: mild roasted malts, biscuits, decent piney bitterness, light nuttiness with a hint spice in the background.

Mouthfeel: mildly crisp at the start. The finish is smooth and the flavors linger on the tastebuds briefly after swallowing. Medium bodied.

Drinkability: nicely drinkable. This can be considered a "comfort" beer in the cold weather without being an strong alcohol or heavy bodied bomb.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2006 13:21:49 | More by Gavage

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Deep ruby brown with a nice moccha colored head leaves nice collar of lacing not bad. Aroma: Smells piney, with hints of nutmeg and other Christmas spice deep malt toastiness seems winter warming to me, hast the right color. Taste: A nice piney hop presence rides a wave of toasted malts with hints of spice and chocolate making for an enjoyable holiday inspired ride. Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied ale with mellow carbonation to form an interesting mouthfeel and nice smooth but syrupy texture. Drinkability: The piney earthy flow found in the middle of the malt wave is most impressive keeps my taste buds wanting more.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2004 18:26:05 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep, deep brown with reddish hues, had good carbonation and a small sirty white head. Nose is dominated by caramel, syrup, spice. Taste is a warming, roasty, caramel, syrup and some spice. Althought it was tasty i was not to big of a fan because tnothing made this beer stand out. Good but not great.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 20:24:56 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice clear dark brown color, some carbonation, nice creamy tan head, lots of nice islands and sticky lacing around the edge. Scents of sweet malts, slight hops, figs, and toffee. The taste is very nice of malts, and toffee. The finish is kinda dry. Medium body. Very drinkable, would recommed for sure, another great beer from GI. Thanks jhammerly for this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2006 20:25:44 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.94/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a four-finger light tan head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Murky brown color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Brown sugar and malty nose and flavor is caramel and spicy malt. Bottled 8/31/2012, $2.80 for a 12oz bottle from Bert's Better Beers Hooksett, NH

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 23:40:26 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a nonic)

A- This beer has a warm clear brown body that is a bit dense but clear with a slight red hue to it. There is a thin broken film of head with a light tan color that turns to a thick ring of foam. There is a strong carbonation of tiny bubbles that race to the surface.

S- The slight sweet caramel malt smell has a very light hint of dry dark roasted malt and a big piney hop finish.

T- there is a slight sweet lightly toasted malt flavor with a very faint chocolate malt that is dry. There is also a nougat note with a faint wood taste to it in the background but it is pretty soft aswell. The finish is a pine resin hop bite with no alcohol heat at all.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a tiny fizz in the finish but no alcohol even as it warms.

D- This beer has a smooth dry malt note with a nice spicy hop finish but it didn't really remind me of a winter warmer. Very nice average beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2006 20:13:38 | More by rhoadsrage