Lights Out Holiday Ale - Blue Mountain Brewery

ZachKelly

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +3%

01-21-2013 01:58:00 | More by ZachKelly

crewfan1952

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +3%

12-22-2012 23:01:05 | More by crewfan1952

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

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +3%

12-18-2012 03:33:26 | More by cliff1066

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +3%

11-27-2012 03:08:38 | More by DrunkinYogi

PGVG

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9.9%

11-23-2012 17:25:17 | More by PGVG

jaidenjb

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.9%

11-11-2012 00:32:51 | More by jaidenjb

docmoran16

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +3%

11-10-2012 22:55:11 | More by docmoran16

ncaudle

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

10-13-2012 15:12:59 | More by ncaudle

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

AndrewMichael

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

02-01-2012 03:10:58 | More by AndrewMichael

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

williahd

Virginia

4/5  rDev +9.9%

01-17-2012 01:35:19 | More by williahd

axman

Virginia

3/5  rDev -17.6%

12-31-2011 21:46:45 | More by axman

hyoung41

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

12-30-2011 21:55:34 | More by hyoung41

Shilt

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -3.8%

12-29-2011 22:45:13 | More by Shilt

mbarnes0

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%

12-12-2011 20:18:39 | More by mbarnes0

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

DoctorB2B

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +9.9%

11-20-2011 17:07:27 | More by DoctorB2B

nh2032

New York

4/5  rDev +9.9%

11-20-2011 14:50:18 | More by nh2032

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