Christmas Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

mntlover

Tennessee

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a a beautiful hazy rich deep brown color the swirls of sediment just makes it look so much better the head is big and fluffy two fingers of brown goodness. One of the best looking browns i remember seeing.

Aroma is nice sweet malts good nutty notes dark fruit hints and some spice zing going on.

Taste is nice rich malt sweetness nice and toasted seems thick to start then moves to lighter nutty and fruit with hints of licorice and plums. Finish even has a descent hop kick to it for a brown. Not sure if I am just in the mood for a brown ale or what but enjoying this one.

Mouthfeel is nice rich heavier medium on the front where the sweetness is but seems to lighten in the finish, Carbonation is perfectly balanced.

Overall bought this while back to try I just hope they still have some of this one in so I can buy more.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 14:58:29 | More by mntlover

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.09/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I had a 2012 Christmas Ale. Regarding the aroma, the hops had a dominant expression over the malt (expected). The same happened in the taste, although the hop expression is even more pronounced. I noticed a caramelized background in the taste, but little of the nutty character I would expect. Overall, this is a good Brown Ale, and I would be pleasured to reencounter it.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 23:45:53 | More by HabiMendes

Amalak

New York

3.69/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A. It pours a sludge-like dark brown, completely opaque, with a huge tan, foamy head that leaves some lacing behind.

S. Metallic scent with a mild hint of spice.

T/M. There's a spicy malt taste to start. A bit metallic. A bit of a dark fruit taste, on the level of grape. A hint of lemon tart. Medium bitter. Quite carbonated and tingly on the tongue. Full bodied. A medium-to slightly strong alcohol presence.

O. Listed as a brown ale but marketed as a Christmas ale, I'd prefer a bit more of a spicy flavor. It's a complex flavor, but a bit all over the place.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 00:33:17 | More by Amalak

nimrod979

Maryland

3.61/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottled on 8/31/12. Poured into a Goose Island pint glass.

Appearance: Appears light in color for a brown ale but typical of what I'd view as a winter warmer. Murky, hazelnut brown with sediment floating around. One and a half finger thick light tan head with pretty decent retention. And awesome lacing.

Aroma: Huge malty and nutty with spices prevalent throughout. Caramel and toasted biscuit.

Taste: Big caramel malt up front laced with toffee sweetness, a nice spiciness, some ginger and notes of some hops adds a little balance here and there. Actually lots of little nuances going on here. Pretty complex actually. Even picking up some leather, dark fruits. all kinds a shit. Festive.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, Carbonation leans a little high, but a nice spicey and warming mouthfeel.

Fun and festive one of my favorite christmas beers so far!

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 19:11:11 | More by nimrod979

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I had this on tap at Holy Hound, served chilled in a pint.

The color is deep bronze with reddish hue w/ little head and no lace cling, the smell is good with some spicy notes and fruity yeast aroma with a light hoppiness apparent in the nose with some malt esters augmenting. The feel is very nice with some mildly bitter and hints of malt texture with dry body and medium carbonation overall adding to the apparent levity.

The flavor is very good with some mildly bitter hops up front with hint of malt and pine-like element with slight alcohol with malt toastiness rounding out the simple ale. This was a very nice Christmas ale in the traditional sense-it seems like an American Brown with a nice amount of hops -very tasty no matter how you slice it

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2013 17:57:50 | More by Slatetank

farrago

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

You get a solid finger’s worth of tan foam, mostly miniscule bubbles with an island of larger ones at the pour spot, dissipates a bit quicker than preferred, the lacing is a broad thin sheet which, in turn, clings very nicely. The base liquid is clear, however, there is a huge amount of sediment floating about creating an overall opaque appearance, red brick to orange clay in color, can’t see any bubbles with all that muck. The nose is rum cake to fruit cake, baking spices, sweet vanilla and caramel, surprisingly boozy and alcoholic, has more subtly present orange citrus, bread crust and burning caramelized brown sugar notes, the fruit muted. Full-bodied, on the heavy side even if generally creamy in texture, just feels like it’s running with ankle weights on. More dry than sweet, the grittiness of the sediment an obvious factor in impeding flow. The carbonation is mild but sufficient. Piles on the chocolate, caramel, butterscotch and ginger, clove spice with pine sap and orange citrus, here the hops get more assertive. Not that yeasty nor bready, the fruit is kind of cherry to mixed berry, the sort of thing you’d find in a chocolate and fruit dessert. Not as boozy as the nose but you do perceive some heat and imbalance. Despite the above it’s really a pretty good brew – three previous bottles consumed before this write-up were better suggesting earlier consumption for optimal pleasure (sediment too a concern).

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:46:51 | More by farrago

atr2605

New York

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

A-pours a hazy amber with a tan head with good retention
S-biscuits, plums, no hop presence
T-toasted, bready biscuit flavor with plum flavor coming in the finish
M-medium bodied, soft and creamy
O-well balanced, creamy beer with a nice varied flavor profile. One of the better christmas seasonals that Ive had. A change from some of the over spiced beers that come around during the holidays

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:35:26 | More by atr2605

Damian

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Drank on-tap at Eli Cannon's Tap Room, Middletown, CT
Served in a pint glass

The beer poured a slightly hazed, crimson-mahogany color and was topped by a tight, creamy, one-finger crown of khaki colored froth. Quite attractive. The head slowly faded to a clingy film of lace.

Not much happening with the aroma. I picked up hints of caramel and toasted malts. Subtle spice notes. Slightly fruity.

The flavor profile was much more complex and intense than the nose. A stiff, caramel malt backbone anchored the beer. Lots of brown sugar-like sweetness and toffee on the front end. Strong Christmas spice notes in the center. Ginger and allspice were noticeable. Some dark fruits as well. Candied orange peel appeared on the finish. At 7.3% ABV, the alcohol was nowhere to be found.

The mouthfeel was amazingly plush, frothy and robust. Super smooth and creamy with a pillowy, tongue-blanketing effervescence.

Goose Island's Christmas Ale really hit the spot on this cold December evening. While it seems that this beer should be classified as a winter warmer (or perhaps an American red ale) rather than a brown ale, it is nevertheless an impressive offering.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2013 14:42:22 | More by Damian

barnzy78

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I haven't had this one since 2008, and found it as a single bottle/mix 6 at my local grocery store.
2012, bottled on 9/17/2012
Pours reddish brown, tons of yeast particles, and a foamy, beige head that fades to a foam atop the ale leaving a little lacing on the glass. Aromas are spicy, cherry, fruity, and sweet. Tastes have a nice balance of spice, cherry, brown malt, brown sugar, nice tartness, different than I remember from my previous experience, which actually prompted me to take notes and review it. Medium bodied, modest carbonation. Overall, definitely different than i remember, and actually quite pleasant. I'm surprised that in others' reviews cherry is not mentioned in taste or aroma. At 7.3%, it's warming, and with the spice makes a nice winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 04:28:44 | More by barnzy78

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Cloudy brown body with tons of floaters. A nice frothy tan head that leaves a lot of lacing.

S- A lot of caramel malt and toasted malt aromas. Almost smells reminiscent of a hoppy scotch ale. A little bit of pine at the end to show that there are hops.

T- Hops show up more in the flavor and leave a lasting impression. Almost reminds me of nights talker in the fact that the hops are not in th nose, but hit you in the taste. Caramel malt, toasted malt, a hint of smoke, even a slight cocoa flavor.

M- Medium bodied, medium carbonation, some lingering stickiness with each sip.

O- The look at the smell left more to be desired, but taste matters and this one steps up.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 01:10:06 | More by stephenjmoore

BikingDutchman

Iowa

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Very murky, but a nice reddish brown color. A nice two finger head formed that dissipated rather quickly.
S- Smells very sweet with caramel malts coming through. Some spiciness as well.
T- Sweet malt is at the forefront. Caramel and brown sugar flavors are prominent. I don't taste very much spice. A little bit of alcohol bite that I didn't expect.
M- A little bit thick, but a good amount of carbonation helps it out.
O- I was expecting something more like a brown ale, but this tastes more like a winter warmer or a Scottish ale. It's okay, but not something that I'll really seek out next year.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 04:48:38 | More by BikingDutchman

Arithmeticus

Maryland

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

Poured chilled in ale glass

A: dark burgundy; creamy, decent 1-finger head; very well carbonated
S: spicy, sweet, much like a pumpkin ale or a winter warmer
T: dark roast malt, about the level of a porter; very dark spicing; malty and not very hoppy; brown sugar flavor, with allspice and cranberries, toward a winter warmer
M: mealy; a bit thicker than average

Great beer for once a year

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 00:35:28 | More by Arithmeticus

Etan

Illinois

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

12oz bottle, 2012 release.

A: Pours brown with an orange hue, and a nice off-white head.

S: Mild spice, brown cake, orange peel, a little yeasty.

T: Brown sugar, sweet caramel and dark grain, a bit of spice.

M: Medium-bodied with light carbonation.

O: This is pretty nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 04:08:53 | More by Etan

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy deep amber color with an off white head. In the aroma, big cinnamon and a mix bag of spices. In the taste, spicy cinnamon, and nutmeg, and it almost feels creamy. A spice like bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry cinnamon spice in the aftertaste. Big spice, and somewhat like eggnog, pleasant and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 17:59:15 | More by OWSLEY069

Jade

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a bottle of 2012 vintage into brandy snifter.

A - Dark amber brown ale. Decent head sticking around. Fairly clear.

S - Awesome- Candy, caramel malts. Not noticing the typical Christmas spice scents.

T - Almost like a cross between one of my favorite scotch ales and old ales, but not quite as good as either. Noticing some subtle spices now, clove or ginger. A bit piney.

M - Similar to a normal brown ale. Dries on the palate.

O - A decent beer, but not getting the brown ale or the Christmas part too much. In a way, they 'mistakenly' made it better. Worth a try- but not blown away.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 00:44:30 | More by Jade

negroobserver

New York

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a small 0,25L Heineken glass

pours a medium brown color. hazy. soft pour produces a short cream colored head which lingers for a few seconds and recedes to the edge of the glass.

the aroma is sweet. malty. alcohol.

tastes malty. moderate/medium bitterness.

beer has decent body. tastes very much like a brown ale. beyond that it doesn't shine the same as other Goose Island brews.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 19:40:47 | More by negroobserver

tone77

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a pretty mahogany color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is malts, spice, some hops. Taste is yummy, malts, caramel ,a good hop presence, some spice, alcohol is well hidden. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a high quality beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 17:14:27 | More by tone77

diddly

New York

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

2012 version, bottled in September, poured into a glass

Pours a dark amber/brown, with a beautiful off-white head

Smells richly of caramel and spices, with some nice toasty notes

Taste is rich and malty, with great hits of spice; there's a little bit of hop interaction, but it's not a powerful influence. Dark fruits top off the list.

Mouthfeel is medium, with decent carbonation.

Overall this beer surprised me with its complexity - I really enjoyed it and will certainly be on the lookout in years to come.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 06:20:16 | More by diddly

C20Percent

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a burnt copper with an nice head of tan bubbly foam on top. Looks closely and see lots of sediment floating around. Head holding strong. Nice complexity in the color of this brew. Really nice appearance.

S: First thing I smell is some spices; nutmeg and cinnamon. Mixed in with some sweet malty aromas. Slightly hoppy. A little nutty. And, a little bit of honey, I believe. Good smelling brew.

T: You can taste the spicey flavor. The hops also come through leaving a slightly bitter finish. Malts taste sweet. Solid taste -- there's quality there, but not quite as good as something like Mad Elf.

M: Smooth and creamy. Medium body. Excellence carbonation. Velvety. Actually, really good feel.

O: Solid brew. Goose Island -- best parts of this beer are probably the least important factors. Taste is good -- better than a lot of Christmas Ales, but this isn't the best. That said, very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 20:00:38 | More by C20Percent

AC-Mivsek

Ohio

2.88/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

2012 Goose Island Christmas Ale poured into a pint glass

A- Dark amber with a nice 1 finger tannish head

S- Smells pretty sour, did not expect that.

T- Also very sour. I am not picking up any Christmas ale staples like nutmeg or cinnamon at all. It has an earthy/grassy finish.

M- Med body/ Med carbonation. This is nice, but I still can't get past the taste.

O- This was unlike any other Christmas ale I've had. It is definitely the worst as it holds no flavors or characteristics I've come to expect out of a Christmas ale. It was quite sour and skunky. I would not recommend or buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:36:45 | More by AC-Mivsek

Chiefy770

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: A rich, hazy red/brown look. Not much of a head. Great lacing.

Smell: Hints of toasted nut. A sweet malty scent dominates the overall scent of this beer.

Taste: Smooth, very smooth taste. Subtle hints of fruit and herbs are layered in this great brown ale.

Mouthfeel: Medium-rich body. Lacks a little bit of carbonation. Semi-dry finish.

Overall: Great brew. There are plenty of winter seasonals to get your hands on but this one is a "go-to" for me. This is a bit overpriced for a four-pack in my area but it is well worth the extra cash for a seasonal treat like this.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:04:29 | More by Chiefy770

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into chalice. bottled on 09/19/12.

A: hazed dark maroon body. pretty hue. slightly off-white/reddish head. frothy. retention is good as is the lacing. thick.

S: a little bit of sulfur. very fruity. christmas fruits, figs, sugarplums. nutty as well, chestnuts.

T: mild cinnamon, mild allspice. lots of caramel malt flavor. dark fruit flavors too, similar to the nose.

M: mild, finely bubbled carb. medium body.

D: definitely gets better as it warms. i took it out of the fridge and let it sit for 20 mins, wish i had waited longer. some holiday spice, but nothing overwhelming on any front. listed as an american brown, im surprised this wasnt fermented with a belgian yeast strand from all the dark fruity/sweet flavors and aromas i am detecting.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 01:16:29 | More by Jimmys

TubaManJack

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance- A pint glass pours into a deep brown with twinges of a deep amber red highlights. Its pretty cloudy from a bottle with the yeast. There is a bit of lacing and no real head.

Smell - Mmm brown ale malts (biscuit, chocolate, roasted) and yeast esters. There is a bit of spice and sweetness.

Taste - Just like the nose. There are the big malts that I'd expect with mild herbal hops. There is some sweetness almost like dark honey or dark dried cherries. In the bottles there is a larger yeast component which also adds a bitterness - Its really good and a nice holiday change up.

Mouthfeel- A nice medium body punctuated by a bit of carbonation. There is a bit of heat from the abv almost as a flavor, a nice smooth brew.

This is a great holiday seasonal and worth picking up a 4 pack.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2012 05:29:26 | More by TubaManJack

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a reddish, cloudy brew. It sports an enormous off-white head, with lots of fine lace. The aroma is of yeast and malt. There is a hint of alcohol, but its not distracting. Some spice and wood in the smell, but they're distant and faint. The taste is flavorful and strong. Warming comes out here, along with some great malt toast and bread flavors. The beer is full and flavorful. Great body and lingering malt finish. Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 04:20:19 | More by Suds

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Goose Island 2012 Christmas ale

12 ounce bottle poured into a CBS snifter served slightly chilled

A) This beer is a foggy brown bit of a ruby tone there was about finger of khaki colored head that quickly dissipated to a collar. No lacing noted.

S) The aroma is similar to GI's brown ale with caramel and roasted malt, but you pick up a little bit of cranberry and certainly some festive spices.

T) The taste is very similar to the nose other than you pick up some orange peel and cinnamon stick shavings. This finishes semi dry and it is a bit earthy and grassy.

M) Medium body with moderate carbonation. This is pretty smooth overall, and has a decent aftertaste.

O) Enjoyed this Christmas offering quite a bit, and I'd say it's right up there with Great Lakes Christmas ale. On a side note, I got to say that doing beer reviews with this iPhone is so much more efficient. Kind of kicking myself for holding out on this purchase. Oh well, Glad to recommend this beer. Merry Christmas everyone...

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 20:25:40 | More by RoamingGnome