Christmas Ale 2011 - Abita Brewing Co.

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

2.38/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured into an oversized wine glass, because I can.

A: Pours a murky mahogany color body with a fleeting one-finger off-white colored head. Lacing is nice, but the glass put a kibosh on its retention (not like people give a crap about head retention, anyways).

S: Black pepper, coriander, nutmeg, and strong citrus notes - seemingly not from hops, but perhaps a bit of orange peel added to the brew? It's strange, but it somehow works.

T: Ack. This doesn't. Starts off with a one-two punch of black pepper and orange peel (not citrus hoppiness), without a solid malt base to hold it up. The finish is strangely ashy, where the malt backbone goes from nearly non-existent to intrusively burnt. It didn't completely offend my taste buds, it just left them wholly unimpressed.

M: Far too watery on the finish and thin bodied in my opinion. Strong carbonation helps a little bit, but not nearly enough.

O: Aesthetically, it's pretty nice. And I did get it down fairly easy. But, still, it's not a good beer. I give Abita credit for trying something different with their Christmas ale, but I'm thankful this won't be around for much longer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 02:31:10 | More by ThisWangsChung

LVbeernoob

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -5.7%

04-13-2013 02:35:15 | More by LVbeernoob

ilikebeer03

Texas

3/5  rDev -5.7%

03-27-2013 14:51:05 | More by ilikebeer03

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +25.8%

03-24-2013 11:07:23 | More by grahamboudreaux

Dapperticus

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +33.6%

03-17-2013 03:34:28 | More by Dapperticus

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -5.7%

03-13-2013 06:21:26 | More by Zachtheporter

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev +2.2%

02-27-2013 01:47:23 | More by sixerofelixir

KillaB

Illinois

3/5  rDev -5.7%

01-29-2013 09:19:00 | More by KillaB

dan027

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -5.7%

01-28-2013 21:37:05 | More by dan027

ssimpson89

Illinois

3/5  rDev -5.7%

12-27-2012 21:53:19 | More by ssimpson89

RyanSBrennan

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +17.9%

12-21-2012 01:11:04 | More by RyanSBrennan

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -13.5%

12-07-2012 16:00:47 | More by Damian74Shensky

mwar

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -37.1%

11-26-2012 22:23:33 | More by mwar

JeffTheJuice

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +17.9%

11-16-2012 17:01:47 | More by JeffTheJuice

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -13.5%

11-11-2012 18:16:28 | More by skaboom420

robertaddis

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -21.4%

11-10-2012 03:32:00 | More by robertaddis

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.25/5  rDev +2.2%

11-08-2012 06:34:29 | More by russpowell

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2012 bottle? No date but I bought it and am drinking it on 31 Oct 2012.
Two fingers of head. Dark brown body, barely transparent.
Smells like toffee, nutmeg and pine.
Stronger bitterness, mildly malty without any serious sweetness.
Soft and fizzy texture. Medium body.
Pretty good Christmas Ale. A good "Christmas" smell but without the weird spice flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 01:43:21 | More by Fatehunter

tmt71883

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +10.1%

10-25-2012 19:32:32 | More by tmt71883

sendbeer

Georgia

1/5  rDev -68.6%

10-22-2012 16:54:45 | More by sendbeer

MidtowneMarket

2.5/5  rDev -21.4%

08-23-2012 03:04:39 | More by MidtowneMarket

Cjalbers

2/5  rDev -37.1%

08-23-2012 01:13:53 | More by Cjalbers

bicyclesnbeer

Illinois

4/5  rDev +25.8%

08-19-2012 13:49:17 | More by bicyclesnbeer

harpus

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev +2.2%

08-15-2012 14:14:36 | More by harpus

Rdel444

4.75/5  rDev +49.4%

08-03-2012 14:26:11 | More by Rdel444