Dundee Festive Ale - Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark orangish bronze that becomes bright bronze-like orange when backlit. A generously sized cap of pale caramel colored creaminess was produced on the pour. The foam looks decent enough and is beginning to lay down a barely broken collar of thick lace.

The aroma is appropriate for the style in that it's both spicy and fruity. According to the neck label, the spices include nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon. None stands out, but the whole is a pleasant potpourri. Orange peel is present as well.

Dundee Festive Ale is a capable enough winter warmer from a brewery that will probably never produce better than fair-to-middlin' beer. To the extent that it succeeds, it does so because the spice load is bold without being overbearing. Those who don't care for added spices will probably want to drink something else.

The maltiness is on the order of a brown ale, with a hint of cocoa that is probably due to some amount of chocolate malt. Hops provide a balancing amount of bitterness without adding much flavor. The majority of the flavor is provided by the spices listed above. Cinnamon pulls slightly ahead of the others and the orange peel is still barely noted.

The body/mouthfeel would have been acceptable if the ABV was 5.0%. Instead, it falls a bit short in terms of heft and creaminess. So-so carbonation gets the job done, although not in especially memorable fashion.

Dundee Festive Ale is a pretty good winter warmer that colors well within the lines of the style. It's spiciness shouldn't offend too many people and I'm sure that its price is on the friendly side as well. Bottom line: not bad if you aren't expecting fireworks.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 11:57:34 | More by BuckeyeNation

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.13/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours out a clear, mahogany-hued body with a thin, wispy, whitish head.

Smell: Subtle aroma which fails to incite a feel of winter, and only come across as very mild, limp notes of brown sugar, not-so-fragrant spices including orange peel. Wow, now I'm really on the edge of my seat!

Taste: Modest earthy maltiness displays tastes of brown sugar and a touch of cocoa from the dark malts. Stingy, indirect dose of cinnamon and other spices and just the thinnest degree of orange peel. Hint of bitterness. A bit of light this, a bit of light that until you arrive at the dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Not one I'll be revisiting. For me, it comes up as far too thin and lacking for a wintertime ale or even for a beer with the word "festive" in the title.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 21:17:48 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Unusual copper color with a fizzy head that quickly disappears without a trace

Smell: Burnt caramel, with hints of spice

Taste: Lays down a caramel backbone with the nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla flavors arriving by mid-palate; after the swallow, it adds a brown sugar element

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with fizzy carbonation

Drinkability: Not atrocious, just not very enticing

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2009 02:56:08 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

2.83/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - Pours a dark copper color with a 2 inch head that fades to a 1/2 inch cap. Lacing is fair.

S - Smells of sweetness and spices. I am also getting a fruit aroma. Pie like?

T - Mild sweetness with pie like spices. There is a biscuit aftertaste.

M - This bottle was flat. This gave the beer a thick and somewhat unenjoyable mouthfeel.

D - I didn't like this one. I got this beer in a Winter brews sampler pack on clearance. I have never seen this company's beer other than this one bottle, but I wouldn't be interested in another.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 04:37:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hot damn $4.99 a six pack cant beat that with a stick,a real nice pour a deep amber/ruby color with a tight formed 1/2 finger beige head.Big caramel notes in the nose with some buttery tones and hints of honey and nutmeg,a beer on the sweeter side alot of caramel and brown sugar flavors with just a hint of mulling spice it doesnt really come out strong just a light clove and nutmeg flavor.It does get a bit cloying after awhile but its a good dessert beer it went well with some of my wives pumpkin cheese cake.I would buy again for the price but I wouldnt pay much more for it.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2006 01:34:44 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Crystal clear orange-copper. Tan head. Average retention and lacing. Caramel and fruit in the nose with just a hint of spice (cinnamon?). Standard body and carb. There's more clove and nutmeg in the flavor, but overall the spicing is very well done. Nice maltiness. Good balance. The spice never really gets cloying although it's clearly there! A very decent holiday spice beer. If I see it I'll grab a sixer or twelve pack or Xmas dinner.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2006 00:15:03 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

3.2/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The beer pours a ruby red color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a dry, yet malty scent that boasts of crystal and roasted malts. There is a faint hint of spice, but it's too hard to tell what it is. The taste is average. It has an extremely dry flavor that goes down slow and finishes dry and earthy. I guess the spices are cinnamon and clove, but I'm not sure. It's quite peppery. The mouthfeel is decent. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a real disappointment. I don't like the dry element. It's one and done for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2005 21:53:19 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a slightly hazy orange color with a white head. The aroma is a mix of caramel and toffee malt. I don't get any holiday spices or other aromas that I typically attribute to winter warmers. The flavor is rich and malty with a little bit of nutmeg mixed in. The beer is very lightly spiced but the spices are present. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A decent winter warmer, but not one of the better examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 01:41:06 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a copper color with a reddish tint. It had a small, tan, creamy head that left some lace.

S - It smelled of spices and caramel malt.

T - It had lots of spice, cinamon and nutmeg. It had a burnt toast maltiness, too.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a pretty good beer. One of the better brews in the JW Dundee line.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2008 02:05:01 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear reddish amber in color and has a high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high dense beige head that gradually died down and consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: The smell is quite fruity and also has notes of spices and some hints of sweetness.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of fruity yeast with notes of spices and some sweetness. Hints of orange peel seem to stand out in particular.
M: It feels medium-bodied, smooth and a bit creamy on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation. No warming from the alcohol is noticeable.
O: This beer isn’t really that good of a sipper because it’s lighter in body compared to others in the style and doesn’t provide alcohol warming. On the other hand, it’s rather easy to drink if you are looking for something that is fruity and malty.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 02:28:10 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.93/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a light brown with a slight reddish tint. Creates a thick off-white head that fades very quickly and leaves a decent lace.

S: Smells very malty with faint bit of spice and fruitiness.

T: Roasted malt flavor hits you first, then some bitterness and I’m tasting a corn-malt flavor in the finish. It’s not as sweet and has a little bit more hops flavor than most winter warmers. However, overall the taste isn’t very strong.

M: Medium body. Very crisp & high carbonation, considering the style.

D: Decently balanced and goes down easy because it isn’t over-powering and the 6.30% ABV is masked pretty well. Definitely worth drinking given the low price, however I’ve only seen it as one-of-four beers in the J. W. Dundee’s Craft Pack.

Overall, not bad for a cheaper beer, but there’s other stuff I’d rather drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2006 04:30:52 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This was in a sixer by it's lonesome, not a craftpack., took a chance & was mildy rewarded:

Pours auburn/chestnut with a 2 fingers deep off-white head. Just faintest hint of head retention & lacing

S: Slight brown sugar hints & metallic notes, brown sugar dominates as it warms, along with a hint of alcohol

T: Breadyness, brown sugar, herbal hops & baker's choclate up front. Brown sugar & a hint cinamon as it warms, hops still asserting themselves, this is getting better as it warms. finishes sweet with a hint of cherries & warming alcohol

MF: Medium bodied, but thin for the style & slick with low carbonation. Okay balance

Drinks easy for the abv, a little thin for a winter warmer, but probably one of the better beers you can pick up for $5.50 a sixer

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2006 03:05:26 | More by russpowell

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark red body with a bit of head. Spicey aroma with a touch of malt sweetness. Taste has dark malts and undiscernable spices with an over-riding banana flavor and aftertaste. Easy drinking, but the banana throws me off a bit.

A decent beer and cheap, fairly well balanced, expecially if you like banana in your beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2006 19:06:56 | More by tempest

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Excellent starting head. It leaves some broken ring lace. The liquid is a hazy, reddish dark amber color.

Very mild aroma of mostly malt with a background of ginger and cinnamon.

Typical winter warmer spices of nutmeg, clove and cinnamon hit the tongue up front. The beer is a strongly malty concoction. It's neither dry nor sweet. I like the full body with a spritzy level of carbonation. The aftertaste is sweeter than the taste; it has elements of scotch ale. I note vanilla and cardamon spice in the swallow.

This is more complex than I first gave credit. As with all my surprise beers, I'd love to try this in a blindfolded flight with similar offerings. I suspect that this beer would do better than the average.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 19:16:55 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours with three finger off-white head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Nice clear amber color. Malty nose. Light carbonation and light-medium-bodied. Flavor is some caramel, hints of nutmeg; finish has some of bitterness. $1.75 for a 12oz from Barb's Beer Emporium Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2009 23:36:26 | More by jdhilt

Gusler

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer released from the 12-ounce bottle set a deep reddish amber with a tall creamy off white head that stays a while before settling, lace forms a standard thin sheet upon the glass. Nose has a sweet malt aroma, chased up your olfactory opening by some pleasing spices; cinnamon seems to be right, caramel, and bit of bakers’ chocolate, at any rate a sniffable beer. Start has a big malt sweetness; touch of bittersweet spices, top is light to medium in feel. Finish as a delectable spicy hop presence, sweet spices and a purposeful acidity, quite a nice drinking beer, do not normally care for their beers, just goes to show you never know what mollusk has a pearl in it. lol

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2007 16:44:02 | More by Gusler

plaid75

New York

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep amber hue with a finger and a half creamy white head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a a soft and biscuity caramel malt with a nice warming cinammon aroma.

The taste was upfront malty with a very good flowery hop. Jagged cinammon spice as well. Mild warming alcohol.

The mouthfeel was creamy and a bit sharp.

Overall a nice drinkable macro winter warmer. Could have used a bit more variety in the flavor, but generally pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2006 03:12:35 | More by plaid75

Brad007

Vermont

4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a medium red color with a one-finger head into my glass. Looks ok for the style.

Aroma is spicy with a hint of nutmeg that seems to stand out. Not sure if it quite nutmeg but definitely a bit spicy. A bit sweet as well.

A bit of nutmeg shows up along with sweet malt. Pretty average but there is a bit of chewiness from the malt. Not very strong so easy to drink.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering spice and chewy malt. Very nice. Definitely enjoyable.

Not bad at all. Easy to drink and it shows that High Falls can produce beers that even though they may not take home awards, are still quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 03:14:01 | More by Brad007

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dundees Festive Ale, brewed with spices. Dundee's Tavarn is pictured on the label.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. An off white soda like crackly head forms and then disappears in about a minute. Copper colored brew.

Smell isn't very strong. Malt and just a whiff of something floral. As it warms the spices become more apparant.

Tastes initially malty with faint spices building into the finish. Nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice reflect the spice character which actually seems to build on the palate as the beer is consumed. Hops not very apparant just a vague bitterness to be found.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp, the spice adding a dryness to the finish.

A drinkable winter warmer, no frills and no surprises. Let this one get to optimum temperature for best results.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 06:44:28 | More by Stinkypuss

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I picked this up at Queen Six pack in Lancaster, poured at cellar temp into my Valley Forge brewing pint glass from the twelve once brown bottle.

A - A rusty/garnet shade of ale w/ a pale tan microfoam cap of about 2 fingers. The ale has good clarity and the lace is a thick film on the glass.

S - A very nutty malt aroma w/ an earthy and metallic aroma that has notes of tobacco and raw dirt odors w/ a slight pepper and pine note.

M- Slightly spiced w/ full carbonation and an off kind of dull finish w/ a lingering boozy tinge an slight sweet touch

T - A nutty taste w/ a deep roasted and metallic flavor, the spice is peppery and stale w/ subtle nutmeg and cinnamon notes. The malt is full of sweetish flavor which is roasted yet has A slight wet cardboard effect. There is a bit of stone fruit and dark currant which is appealing in the flavor, but more or less a beer that is humming along w/ a bit of hops that are piney w/ mellow malt

D - Not bad in the sense that it is offensive to my taste buds, but I could find something better and would not give this a second taste. I guess without a freshness date it is hard to tell the age of this, after learning it was retired makes me question it

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 01:57:45 | More by Slatetank

Tone

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear amber color. 1/5 inch head with poor retention and very slight lacing. Has a good hop aroma along with some strong herb/spices. Fits the style quite nicely. Has a crisp and smooth mouth feel. The carbonation level is a little high, but it doesn't detract from the smoothness or flavor. Tastes sweet and there is a good malt flavor. Hints of some spices in the background, present in the prefect quantity. Any hops are barely noticeable. Overall, a smooth and full-bodied beer. The aftertaste is mostly the spice. This is one of the better offerings in the Dundee line.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2009 02:56:51 | More by Tone

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My bottle has a silver/black 'Special Edition' label and claims a 6.3% rather than the listed 6.2. Still has High Falls as the brewing company, so this might be aged a year or more. I am thinking it is the same beer as this listing. Search of the Genesee website turns up nothing. 12 oz bottle pours a pretty clear dark brown color with a decent cap of khaki colored foam. Dissipates pretty quick but leaves some nice sheets of lace.

Nose is sweet oxidized malts, candy corn, roasted pumpkin seeds and cinnamon. An interesting and eclectic smelling brew.

Taste still has plenty of sweet spices with a burnt caramel maltiness. Some blackened toast comes in at the end and it seems like most of the hop presence has left this beer some time ago. Finishes spice-laden and wet. Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the style and there is a bit too much of a burnt spice flavor for my liking. Still, better than I thought it would be and there is surprisingly not a whole lot of oxidized malt in here.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 23:51:01 | More by twiggamortis420

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Ah Dundee! Every time I crack one I can expect well... an average brew.

A - Looks kind of lacking. Tons of carbonation reducing foam to a mild lace ring. Color of semi dark amber.

S - Well I can smell some caramel and bread maybe a bit of nutmeg or cinnamon but it's hard to really nail down since its so faint.

T - Not bad! Expected something really bitter like a pale ale but got a smooth warmer with very mild spices. The most in your face part is the yeast which is bready and strong with little spices balancing it. Kind of warming really even with the low ABV.

M - Got a kind of medium to slight heavy body. Must be from the yeast.

D - Well it's good but no really something I could see as a go to winter warmer. It's pretty decent and well deserved of at least a B+ rating but to me seems to need more spice.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 03:07:38 | More by DrDemento456

Vancer

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The festival ale in the festival winter bottle pours a clear mahogany into my Saison Dupont pilsner glass, decent ivory head nestled on top.

Aroma starts turning suspect on this brew, just weak hints of sweet malt and winter spice (nutmeg, cinnamon). And I mean weak.

But the quaff turns it up a notch, molasses and caramel adding a nice touch - and not ratcheting up the sweetness. There is enough English woody resin and hop to balance out the brew fairly well. Still, the allspice adds an oddball flavor to the finish.

Not a bad winter warmer, but much better offerings on the market.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 00:33:18 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a medium copper color with massive tannish head. One of the best lacings I've seen on a beer.
Smell is spicy-fruity with strong notes of malt mixed with Christmas spices.
Taste is strong and and malty with the background spices making a nice compliment.
Finish present a nice balancing dryness that is a grea ending to this beer.
Drinkability is perfect. Nicely done, especially at $16.99 a case of 24.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2006 00:33:51 | More by tgbljb