Lights Out Holiday Ale - Blue Mountain Brewery

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on tap at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA.

A: Pours a clear dark copper in color with some light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation and light ruby red highlights. The beer has a finger tall light beige head that slowly fades to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of burnt sugar and caramel malts with a touch of toasted malts, brown sugar, molasses, and dark fruit (raisin). Very subtle notes of spices with some herbal hops as well.

T: Moderate flavors of caramel malts and toasted malts with a very light hint of roasted malts as well. There is a moderate amount of sweetness upfront from the caramel, burnt sugar, brown sugar, and dark fruit (raisin) flavors. Light notes of spices towards the finish - likely cinnamon and nutmeg.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Very much a malty beer though I was hoping for a bit more depth and complexity to the flavors - the alcohol is pretty well hidden and the beer is reasonably easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2012 03:58:42 | More by dbrauneis

xybreeder

Louisiana

3.93/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - A nice dark brown, hints of red & orange. Average to small head, decent lacing.

S - Malty, hint of cherry, slight oak smell. Overall smell isn't too pronounced.

T - Sweet, smooth, caramel, hints of spice, slight cherry & chocolate flavors. Little to no bitterness or hop flavor. Surprisingly not getting a lot of warmth which was expected with a 7% ABV.

M - Carbonation is almost perfect here, maybe could use just a little bit more. Medium to full body.

O - A very tasty brew, especially if you're a sweet malty fan and you can appreciate the sweet & spicy combo. And for a malty sweet beer, surprisingly it's very drinkable at 7% (uh-oh!)...

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 00:46:26 | More by xybreeder

snaotheus

Washington

3.2/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz beer poured into a large snifter

Pours very dark amber, little or no head, no visible carbonation. Smell is boozy, rich, smokey, sweet, something candy-like. Maybe toffee?

Taste is watery, like a weak echo of the nice aroma.

Mouthfeel is flat and thin. Overall, it's OK.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 04:20:46 | More by snaotheus

WMEugene

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery - from notes.

A - A really dark reddish amber color, a very thin ring of head with almost no lacing.

S - Notes of malts and spices, nothing too distinct or noteworthy. Very faint.

T - Roasted malts and a mix of spices dominate, it tastes very similar to Scottish-style ales.

M - Medium-bodied, good carbonation with a smooth finish.

O - While nothing special to look at or smell, the Lights Out is a nice holiday ale with good flavors. It's worth a try, even if with all of Blue Mountain's other better offerings I may not have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2011 02:45:19 | More by WMEugene

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brown and clear, head was about a half finger and lace was pretty good.

Smell is light but very pleasant. Caramel malts and a bit of mixed fruits and a touch of spice come to mind.

I find the flavor rather tasty. This reminds me a little of a marzen, but spicier. The malts are smooth and caramel dominates, with a little breadiness. The spices are nicely done. I don't like holiday type beers that are over spiced, but this one isn't.

Body is quite light and a little tangy with carbonation, leaving a slightly spicy, caramel malt aftertaste.

This beer ain't bad at all. It's easy to drink and would go nice with a holiday football game after the turkey dinner.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 19:28:33 | More by AlCaponeJunior

droomyster

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very interesting beer. It's body is very dark brown, with just a bit of tan blooming up before settling to a collar. Not nearly as sweet and syrupy as some of the other old ales that I've had, but delicious all in its own right. The malts are quite toasty, and an earthy, autumnal element looms large. The whole flavor profile strikes me as fall-like, rather than wintery. The carbonation is quite low, and the feel is satisfyingly full. Extremely tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 00:06:57 | More by droomyster

plaid75

New York

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep mahogany hue with a two finger creamy off white head. There was very good retention and sticky lacing.

The smell featured a burnt caramel, raisins and an herbal hop.

The taste consisted of an earthy toasted malt, a little smokiness and a lingering hop spice.

The mouthfeel was toward the thinner side of the style.

Overall a tasty ale that perhaps lacks the depth of other old ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 04:18:10 | More by plaid75

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.65/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From winter brew tasting notes (2010): Pours almost prune into the glass, with a nice soapy eggshell head that leaves thick lace. The nose has lots of fruity sours with some toast and malt. The flavors are sour (very reminiscent of biting down on a fresh pine needle... that initial sour bite), toasted malt and finishing with a nice lingering bitter. The mouthfeel is slick and easy (due to the many esters at work). A decent old ale overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 19:24:23 | More by CuriousMonk

DIM

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I'd like to start off on a positive note by saying I enjoyed my visit to the brewpub and I loved the two beers I had on tap.

a: This was a clear, light copper color. It poured with a smallish fizzy head.

s: Very mild, tea-like cranberry potpourri. I really had to work to find that and there isn't much else here.

d: Mild to the point of being bland. Lightly sweet caramel up front and then a dry, powdery fruit flavored tea. Nothing off about this at all and the alcohol was not evident. It reminds me of Old Fezziwig without the spice.

m: Very thin for an old ale, kind of watery actually.

d: Meh.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 16:46:42 | More by DIM

bennetj17

Arizona

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours leaving only a thin foam. Not too lively with carbonation. It has a dark brown color which glows amber in the light, as you can barely see through it. The nose has a decent malty intensity, with hints of raisin and caramel. I almost detect slight notes of chocolate and coffee too, although in the end it's hard to distinguish, and I would summarize it as just a doughy, dark malt character.

Caramel malt taste but with some disagreeable vegetal character. Not bad overall, I like the dryness at the back and decent bitterness that follows. It doesn't taste too intense for an Old Ale, it's more like a slightly heavier brown, but lacking enough flavor hop balance for my liking. Carbonation is decent although the beer could use a bit more thickness to round it out.

I had no trouble drinking this beer, but it didn't impress me much. I found it an odd choice for a holiday beer. It had some decent strength but without any spice I wouldn't have known. Work on the recipe a bit and it could be good, don't keep this as your Christmas Ale though...

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 05:57:11 | More by bennetj17

BZero007

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another entry from a great local brewery. Poured a dark amber hue in the glass. Head formation was minimal but enough. Aroma was minimal but carried a strong sweetness to it with a toffee malty undertones. The flavor was not overly sweet but not malty enough for old ale for me. I felt th 7% needed to show just the slightest bit in the flavor. The flavors hide the 7% alcohol level almost to well. Mouthfeel was great and drinkability is dangerously high on this one!!
I enjoyed and enjoy sending it with the full nelson as extras to others.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 17:39:30 | More by BZero007

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Columbia Firehouse in Alexandria, VA.

Pours a dark brown color with a half-finger tan head that sticks around for a bit before falling down to just a few bubbles. The nose is decent enough with some notes of dark and sweet fruits along with caramel and a bit of raisins.

The flavor is really quite bland. The sweetness kind of takes over and all of the better fruit characteristics from the nose are essentially lost, giving way to a bit of a brown-sugar edge. There is a touch of alcohol, but not overpowering at all. The feel is quite a bit too light for the style and for the flavors in general. This went down fairly easily, but the one-dimensional flavor and light mouthfeel are not what I'd like out of this style, or many beers for that matter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2010 11:40:11 | More by Thorpe429

dball

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Blue Mountain makes great beer. This one is a household favorite for both my wife and me. The smell is strong and sweet and malty. In the glass it is a true brown and pours with very little head. It does not lace in the glass very much. I can taste and smell a delightful caramel hint. It goes down like a medium brown beer and comes in at 7abv, classic for an old ale.

It is great for a Holiday beer because it isn't too sweet and isn't spiced. We can dring it from Halloween to New Years and it is consistently good.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 00:37:40 | More by dball

MetalHopHead6

Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Blue Mountain Lights Out is malty sweet, yeasty, and slightly spicy.

It poured a beautiful deep dark copper with rust tints, a short and short-lived tan head. It left a smattering of lace on the glass. The smell was metallic and the flavor was extremely sweet with a subtle lingering hint of spice--possibly cinnamon or nutmeg. The feel was smooth and fleeting, with a slightly dry finish but not much else to remember.

As holiday ales go, Lights Out is mundane and as Old Ales go, it's weak and thin.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 22:59:59 | More by MetalHopHead6

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 bottle from a six pack.

Appearance: Pours dark brown, but is clear with ruby highlights when held to light. Off white head of about one finger never completely fades, and the lace curtains you get from sipping leave sticky spots on the glass. Looks really good.

Smell: What a letdown. Very little aroma at all. A little sweet malt and not much else.

Taste: Much better than the smell. A surprising amount of hoppiness. The malt is roasty and sweet. There's a little bit of raisin flavor in there too. The finish is roasty and a little bitter.

Mouthfeel: Not as full as I'd like. Yeah, it feels a little watery.

Drinkability: This is a pretty good beer and its easy drinking enough. I drank a few on draft and really enjoyed them, but this just doesnt stand up to many of the old ales out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 04:06:01 | More by rapidsequence

hops4me

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured with a very fizzy noisy head. The light brown head quickly fell into the glass and left no lacing. It is brown to deep amber. Smells very fruity. Brown sugar, banana, and caramel come through. The taste is very similar to the smell. Raisins, fig, and toffee. Kind of winey flavor as well. Maybe some toasted grain in the background. This is medium body and very enjoyable. I will be seeking this out again before the season is over.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 01:56:35 | More by hops4me

Seanibus

California

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A tasty and warming holiday ale on a snowy, wet Central Virginia day. A lot of "holiday" beers are just an excuse for spices and gimmicks - it's nice to find an honest, straight-ahead winter warmer type of beer.

Pours a deep reddish brown with lots of lively carbonation and a slight head. The aroma is bready and yeasty with a sting of bitter hops coming later. Flavor is yeasty and malty, with hints of coffee and intense molasses with a little flowery hop overtone and a nice malt burn. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 20:14:53 | More by Seanibus

argock

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. Enjoy by 3/10 on front label. Purchased as 6-pack at Blue Mountain Brewery for $9.

A: Murky brown with 1-finger light tan head with average retention and spots of lace down the glass.

S: Raisin and prune aromas are very strong with a decided herbal, woody, nutty hops note

T: Full-flavored brew with with hefty dark fruit component that shows more chocolate and nutty notes with warming. There is a light sour note as well. Herbal, earthy hops are more intense with warming as well.

M: Smooth and medium-full bodied with low carbonation and caramel and papery malt aftertaste.

D: Big and malty with dark fruit leading the way and some earhty, herbal hops creating a nice finish. Blue Mountain continues to produce great beers in a picturesque, pure environment.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 05:14:58 | More by argock

rugerj

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last bottle left over from second sixer bought over the holidays. This beer has only gotten better with time as the spice and fruit notes have come forward.

Pours a nice mahogany color, one finger head that fades quickly. Nice toasted malt with subtle spice aroma. Taste is of toasted malt with a spicy finish,some raisin and plum notes. Nice lacing left behind in glass as the beer is finished.

Another good beer from Blue Mountain, one of the better beers they have there. I will look forward to getting more this year around the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2009 18:40:19 | More by rugerj

JISurfer

South Carolina

2.2/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I think I got a bad bottle. Mine tasted like finger nail polish, mixed with tart fruit, and alcohol. Very strange. Smell was somewhat similar, but not as up front as the taste. I'd be willing to try it again, but for now, I'm going to have to pour the rest down the drain. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 02:15:00 | More by JISurfer

prototypic

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to guinnesdoc for the bottle. Much appreciated, man.

Appearance: It's a nice looking mahogany brown color. For the most part, it's clear and a fair amount of light bleeds through giving it a nice garnet hue. It's topped with a tan head that's roughly a finger and a half deep. It receded pretty quickly, but left a solid lacing on the glass.

Smell: The nose is underpowered, but still manages to be above average. Caramel malts are prominent and sweet smelling. Smells a tad sugary. There's some light holiday spices present. Primarily, it's cinnamon and a little nutmeg. Smells a tad yeasty. It's not particularly dazzling, but it's pretty good. Just a little more muscle, please.

Taste: The flavor is pretty consistent with the nose, but the flaws are more glaring here. Caramel malts are sweet and give it a nice, solid base. There's some roasted malts here that were not apparent on the nose. They probably drive the flavor up to average. Cinnamon and nutmeg spices complement the malts well and give it an okay flavor. It's yeasty on the tail. No alcohol is noted. What's the problem? Well...there's absolutely no depth or pizzazz. It's just a little too ho-hum.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: It's medium bodied and has a nice, smooth feel. Carbonation is well done and doesn't negate its smooth feel. Drinkability is pretty average. The flavor just doesn't really grab me in any way. I'm good with the single bottle.

Lights Out is not exactly lights out beer. It's an okay beer, but it sorely needs some punch. A nice dose of hops would probably do much to improve it. They would give it just the zeal it needs. As it is, it's maybe a little above average overall. But, there's a load of great holiday beers that are far superior. It's not something I'd seek out. But, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to give it a go.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 03:12:01 | More by prototypic

gford217

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle courtesy of CrellMoset poured into a pint glass.

Pours a deep clear copper with a decent off-white head that lingers as a swirl on top for a while and leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is pretty subtle with some toasted malts and spices in the background. There is a faint sweetness from sugar or dark fruits as well.

The taste has the toasted malt up front with a strong sugary sweetness on top. There are more hops in the taste than the aroma suggests and they linger through the finish. There is also the faintest bit of tartness in the background, possibly from dark fruits but I can't place it.

The mouthfeel is fairly light for the style with lots of carbonation.

This is a very interesting take on an old ale and certainly drinkable. I can't place the tartness in the taste, but otherwise this is pretty solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 05:03:54 | More by gford217

edmedina

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Malty, sweet and spicy.
Appearance. very dark, opaque. Very low head.
Flavor: malty, molasses can be tasted. I can taste roasted malt in there. It has some what of a sweet after taste. I can also make out nutmeg maybe cinnamon spice.
Mouth feel: Low carbonation. I am getting an after taste that is slightly bitter. Very enjoyable...I would say it has a very warm taste.
Overall impression: This is a very enjoyable holiday ale. You don't really get that it is 7% ABV. The malt and spice really blend well. This is definitely a slow sipper but one that will take away the head aches from the family holiday meals.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2008 03:23:42 | More by edmedina

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery's tasting room. Served in a traditional American pint glass.

Appearance: A deep ruby-colored beer with a swiss cheese, off-white head with above average retention and splotchy, hole-y lacing. The color is really nice on this one - it's deep and vibrant.

Aroma: Toasty malts, largely dry, with a spicy grain character, almost rye-like.

Taste: Toasty, fairly heavy in the malt character, with flourishes of marshmallow and gummy bear. Sugars in this one are pretty heavy but mellow, and it's actually a little sweeter than out of the bottle. A ton of spicy phenols and earthy hop notes, with a good amount of spicy bitterness ... and a hint of chocolate? Very crisp and mature.

Mouthfeel: Spiciness is enhanced by a good carbonation level, though not enough that the dryness and phenols become a little too prominent. Medium to thick bodied, even, and a little crunchy and chewy, given the bubble profile and malt content.

Drinkability: A little better on tap than out of the bottle, I think. This one's nice, mellow, complex, and mature, with an entirely moderate level of alcohol for the style. Glad they finally got this one out - too bad it's a style that's more suited for winter, when you can't really enjoy the beautiful scenery visible from Blue Mountain's outdoor patio.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2008 06:04:05 | More by CrellMoset

Proteus93

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice to see this finally bottled! Poured into a snifter.

A: Deep red, adding to a cola coloured brew... a finger of head topping it, slightly off-white.

S: Roasted malts and alcohol spice. A slight nose of dark currant. Almost a burnt character to the malt profile. Quite nice and rich.

T: Spicy alcohol, a deep roasted malt flavour. Like the aroma, there is a currant like hint of fruity sweetness in there. Both the aroma and the flavour have much in common.

M: A medium body, rather soft and smooth, with a lower carbonation just adding a little character. With a few swirls to get the most of the aroma, that prickle dies off.

D: A fairly mellow sipper, and a nice tasting beer. Another fine offering from Blue Mountain. I'll be looking forward to a bit more over the season.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2008 02:27:24 | More by Proteus93