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Festive Ale
SweetWater Brewing Company
- From:
- SweetWater Brewing Company
- Georgia, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #50 - ABV:
- 8.1%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #19,181 - Avg:
- 3.82 | pDev: 12.3%
- Reviews:
- 318
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 26, 2023
- Added:
- Nov 14, 2002
- Wants:
- 36
- Gots:
- 185
A strong ale brewed with generous amounts of rich malt, coupled with a taint of cinnamon and mace
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerDawgs:
Reviewed by BeerDawgs from Georgia
3.35/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.35/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A 22 oz bottle vintage 2006. Surprised to find one 5 years old in the store.
A - A dark, but thin appearance. Not much head or lace. But it is vintage 2006, so maybe that has something to do with it
S - Sweet molasses, and dried fruits.
T - Sweet fruits, dried plums. Smooth. But high abv is very prevalent.
M - Fairly thin, not too well carbonated.
O - Not as good as expected. The fruity flavors are nice, but thin, and boozy.
Jul 02, 2011A - A dark, but thin appearance. Not much head or lace. But it is vintage 2006, so maybe that has something to do with it
S - Sweet molasses, and dried fruits.
T - Sweet fruits, dried plums. Smooth. But high abv is very prevalent.
M - Fairly thin, not too well carbonated.
O - Not as good as expected. The fruity flavors are nice, but thin, and boozy.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
3.93/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.93/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can, dated best by 10/24/24
pours a very dark brown, cream colored head that eventually fades. aroma of cola, black cherry, a little mulling spice. similar taste, on the sweeter side. medium bodied.
Dec 26, 2023pours a very dark brown, cream colored head that eventually fades. aroma of cola, black cherry, a little mulling spice. similar taste, on the sweeter side. medium bodied.
Reviewed by Cm55
3.69/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.69/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Can
L-very dark with a 1F tan head that fades moderately
S-rich, malty with some hints of leather
T-the beer itself features a minimally spiced malt forward ale with hints of vanilla. Not much yeast influence. But something goes off the rails in the aftertaste with a strange,dominating medicinal finish
F-heavy bodied, notable degree of carbonation for the style
O-a solid beer that, for me, is hampered by its aftertaste
Dec 10, 2023L-very dark with a 1F tan head that fades moderately
S-rich, malty with some hints of leather
T-the beer itself features a minimally spiced malt forward ale with hints of vanilla. Not much yeast influence. But something goes off the rails in the aftertaste with a strange,dominating medicinal finish
F-heavy bodied, notable degree of carbonation for the style
O-a solid beer that, for me, is hampered by its aftertaste
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina
5/5 rDev +30.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +30.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours a heart of darkness black, chocolate smell on the nose, tastes like a thick chocolate coffee with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg. It's a great beer, but even just a 6 pack would be too rich tasting for me, pick up a single or two.
Style: Winter Warmer | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 8.1% | Rating: 5
Dec 09, 2023Style: Winter Warmer | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 8.1% | Rating: 5
Reviewed by gonesail from Florida
4.3/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
awesome cool weather beer .. comparable to samuel smith winter warmer but a bit smoother. lots of malt in this one. the alcohol will sneak up on you. just enough hops and spice for me. a nice dark color. i enjoyed it very much while watching a football game.
Jan 22, 2023Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.79/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Picked up a sixer, based on a friend’s recommendation, from Greens Discount Beverages in Greenville SC on 12-29-21 for $11.32. Enjoy by 10-25-22; consumed the first two bottles 1-9-22.
Beer poured brown with a nice off white head with the original pour.
Nose is malty and cinnamon forward.
Taste is a mildly roasted malt base in which cinnamon and allspice are infused nicely. Finishes balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.
Overall a nice seasonal beer that was fun to try!
Jan 09, 2022Beer poured brown with a nice off white head with the original pour.
Nose is malty and cinnamon forward.
Taste is a mildly roasted malt base in which cinnamon and allspice are infused nicely. Finishes balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.
Overall a nice seasonal beer that was fun to try!
Reviewed by ArchimedesSox from Georgia
3.56/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Really dark, almost opaque, thick khaki colored head
S: Brown sugar, molasses, spices
T: Sweet, baking spice flavor, molasses. Coffee flavored aftertaste
M: Medium
O: A really tasty holiday beer. I would buy it again during the cooler months.
Dec 26, 2021S: Brown sugar, molasses, spices
T: Sweet, baking spice flavor, molasses. Coffee flavored aftertaste
M: Medium
O: A really tasty holiday beer. I would buy it again during the cooler months.
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida
4.09/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Sweetwater brewery in Atlanta. Pours a dark Coca Cola brown. The spices aren't too dominant. Raisins and light flavors. Doesn't taste boozy, so it can sneak up on you. Very smooth.
Sep 24, 2021Rated by Nass from Florida
3.87/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The pour is dark brown. The taste is roasted malt, cinnamon, nutmeg, char, & molasses. Cheers! B
Jan 07, 2021Reviewed by RedbirdRona from Illinois
3.94/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes like caramel, roasted nuts, and cinnamon. Dangerously smooth for 8.1% abv. Look is black similar to a Guinness. This is one of my favorite styles to explore. Overall this is a solid brew but their are better examples of this style. I plan to enjoy this again come winter 2020.
Mar 22, 2020Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
3/5 rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 fl oz pull-tab CAN from a variety box:
Currently ranked #36 in the Winter Warmer category.
"Ale brewed with spices." "unique seasonal blend brewed exclusively for the holidays." Best before: 03/11/20. 8.1% ABV per my can. From their website: "has a sleighload of Centennial and Golding hops and is capped with a dose of cinnamon and nutmeg." (Some online sources claim mace - not nutmeg per se - was utilized).
27 IBUs.
Malt Bill: 2-Row, Munich, 40L, 70/80, Carapils, Chocolate, Black.
Hops: Centennial, US & UK Golding
Dry Hop: N/A
Served cold into a nonic pint glass.
I get some cassia and faint herb (I guess mace...it doesn't remind me of nutmeg) atop a bready malt base with some herbal leaning English hops. Hints of bread crust, licorice/anise fennel family herbs, and toast. Caramel and toffee weave their way in and out.
It's certainly on the sweeter side, downplaying its hops, but aside from finishing a bit too sweet I think it's fairly well balanced. Malty to style. The Jagermeister-redolent herb profile isn't unpleasant, but I don't pick up on any true cinnamon or evocative nutmeg...it's less distinct and tends more towards licorice to my palate.
I can't say it's up there with the best winter warmers I've had, but it's nice to see an American brewery trying their hand at the style - I'd love to see more on the market. I wouldn't buy this in sixers every year or anything, but I'm glad I got to try it once despite ample room for improvement.
High C (3.00) / AVERAGE
Jan 10, 2020Currently ranked #36 in the Winter Warmer category.
"Ale brewed with spices." "unique seasonal blend brewed exclusively for the holidays." Best before: 03/11/20. 8.1% ABV per my can. From their website: "has a sleighload of Centennial and Golding hops and is capped with a dose of cinnamon and nutmeg." (Some online sources claim mace - not nutmeg per se - was utilized).
27 IBUs.
Malt Bill: 2-Row, Munich, 40L, 70/80, Carapils, Chocolate, Black.
Hops: Centennial, US & UK Golding
Dry Hop: N/A
Served cold into a nonic pint glass.
I get some cassia and faint herb (I guess mace...it doesn't remind me of nutmeg) atop a bready malt base with some herbal leaning English hops. Hints of bread crust, licorice/anise fennel family herbs, and toast. Caramel and toffee weave their way in and out.
It's certainly on the sweeter side, downplaying its hops, but aside from finishing a bit too sweet I think it's fairly well balanced. Malty to style. The Jagermeister-redolent herb profile isn't unpleasant, but I don't pick up on any true cinnamon or evocative nutmeg...it's less distinct and tends more towards licorice to my palate.
I can't say it's up there with the best winter warmers I've had, but it's nice to see an American brewery trying their hand at the style - I'd love to see more on the market. I wouldn't buy this in sixers every year or anything, but I'm glad I got to try it once despite ample room for improvement.
High C (3.00) / AVERAGE
Festive Ale from SweetWater Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
847 ratings
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