Saint Arnold Christmas Ale - Saint Arnold Brewing Company

goochpunch

Texas

2.38/5  rDev -36.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a clear copper with moderate carbonation. Thick offwhite head that settles down to a thin layer and leaves nice raised lacing. Aroma is a lot of sweet with some toasted notes and piney hops. Some fruitiness I can't put my finger on. Kind of a strong almost chemically tinge in the nose. Tastes like when a kid pours too much sugar in the Kool-Aid. Lots of toasted malt with cocoa hints. Hops don't show up as much as in the smell, but I get a little pine and even less citrus. Really sickly sweet without enough character to justify it. Mouthfeel is syrupy and slick, which adds to the gag factor of the flavor profile. This is hard to finish for me.

Quite different from what I remember, having it on tap, but it grosses me out just the same.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2006 04:12:24 | More by goochpunch

shivtim

Georgia

2.4/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to my friend from Houston for bringing me this beer.

Poured into a pint glass. Nice rich brown/copper color. Slightly translucent with orange hints. Thick khaki head.

Nose is yeasty and doughy, with malt. Very slight spice, maybe anise. Overall quite bready.

Taste is old malt, kind of a stale ricey quality. I don't pick up much in the "christmas" department. Slightly metallic even. Not good.

Dry and thin mouthfeel. Acidic tasting.

Can't say I like this beer...

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 23:34:11 | More by shivtim

Theitos

Louisiana

2.65/5  rDev -29%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured in to a pint glass

A: Pours a deep amber color. There is no head and no lacing.

S: I smell a little spice and a hint of cherry.

T: It tasted like they made a beer and then thought oh if we put spice in it we can call it a christmas beer. I also tasted some cherry in it. I just felt like it wasn't blended as well as it could have been.

M: Smooth with a dry finish. The taste lingers

O: The beer is ok, but I would pass over this for other holiday ales.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2011 15:01:19 | More by Theitos

Fenris244

Texas

2.7/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Freshness date on the bottle is 10/08/10

Poured into a pint glass

Pours a light amber with one finger head that dissipates very quickly leaving a weak ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass

Aroma is faint but there are traces of spices and a sweetness not much else unfortunately

Almost sweet with a taste of cooked grains and a little bit of hops to finish it out

Not much to it, it's almost watery but is at least smooth and crisp

It's a serviceable beer, I could drink 10 of these with how smooth it is, that's not to say that I would though. It's not a bad beer but it is pretty bland. 

I definitely would not have this at my Christmas dinner

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 07:22:47 | More by Fenris244

hobbes2112

Texas

2.8/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle

Pours deep red/copper with a very small Ivory head. Smell is not nearly as spicy or alcoholic as I expect in a Christmas beer, mostly just grainy/malty. Taste starts sweet and malty, but then turns quite astringent. Strong warming malt finish with a slight bitterness.

Like many of the other reviews, I enjoyed it a lot more when it had warmed up a bit.

Not bad, but really didn't give me what I wanted in a Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2004 01:00:55 | More by hobbes2112

trxxpaxxs

New York

2.83/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a thin reddish orange. There is almost no head to this beer whatsoever. Absolutely no lacing as it drinks.

S: Smells of malt, spice (nutmeg), and a bit of booze. I'm also picking up just the slightest hint of cherry.

T: Not good. It taste like a lager that has had some spices dumped into it.

M: Light bodied beer. Finishes a bit hot.

O: Not a fan of this beer at all. It's like a spicy lager. No thanks. I've had other beers from Saint Arnold that have been outstanding, but this beer falls short for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 22:13:15 | More by trxxpaxxs

jwff

Maryland

2.85/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a rigid, reddish-orange that leans more towards red. Very mild head presence that fizzes away and becomes a white, soapy outline on the glass. Not much carbonation to be seen, if any. The first scent that immediately stands out is raspberries followed by chocolate, and a swirling mix of sweet malt and sugar. There is a very faint alcohol tinge, but not enough to detract from the score.

Ok, this beer is incredibly sweet, almost puckeringly so. There is an intense raspberry tartness that sits on the tongue while other sugars creep up to "fuel the fire." A light chocolate flavor in the finish is there to tug the reigns and tame this beast. The mouthfeel is interesting, because it feels like I'm taking a bite of a really rich dessert chocolate. Something so rich that it's good in small doses, but 12 ounces is a little too much for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2006 02:06:30 | More by jwff

3/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A very good looking beer. Clear, dark brown with copper highlights in color. Light brown, smallish sized head.

Aroma pleasant as well, sweet and malty, with quite a bit of spice. Some hops mixed in there to add a bit of floral character.

Taste, well, off the cliff we go. A small cliff, but....Primarily malt, no big surprise given style. Heavily spiced, too much so, and verges on medicinal. Alcohol is present, but not obnoxious.

Medium bodied and low in carbonation. Too low for my taste. Slick.

Overall, just didn't do it for me. Too malty (appropriate for style though), overly spiced, and too flat.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2006 20:44:44 | More by

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer struck me as being overly light for a Christmas beer, and is rather thing from a mouthfeel perspective. This beer also struck me as overly light in hoppiness, and a bit unbalanced in terms of too much malted milk ball character.

Beer pours a sparkling amber color with excellent head formation (cumulus and towering and composed of tiny bubbles). Aroma is lightly fruity hoppiness with too much maltiness for my liking. Mouthfeel is rather flat. Flavor is a light sweet maltiness with a whiff of sweet hoppiness. I'm not really impressed with this beer.

Not really recommended, but not too bad (can't say too much negative about it).

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2007 02:59:22 | More by BeerBelcher

jt31914

Michigan

3/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: 1 finger of head with a darker amber color; not overly carbonated.

S: Smells sweet like typical winter warmer; Smells a little smoky, but very mild

T: Smoky taste, kind of bitter and pretty weird. The smoky flavor is dominant, but I can't tell what else is there.

M/D: Fairly drinkable, especially for the 7 percent. Okay mouthfeel that is not overly smooth, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2010 00:53:12 | More by jt31914

BKotch

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nice dark-amber color and clarity. Not much of a head. Am I the only one that has a problem with St. Arnold's house yeast strain? I detect it in almost all of their beers --it imparts a kinda funky nose and taste to this otherwise fruity-malty brew, which could also use some hops to balance the flavors better.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2001 14:29:53 | More by BKotch

dungaree

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle. Almost no head, fizzles away too quickly even after holding the bottle several inches above the glass. The smell is promising but unfortunately the taste doesn't quite deliver. I expect a little more out of a seasonal ale such as this. It definitely has a little bit of spice one should find in the style but not enough. Too much of the pervasive caramel, slickness off the tongue that one gets from St. Arnold's beers. I've got a couple left in the fridge but they're not calling my name!

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2007 00:28:00 | More by dungaree

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle obtained as part of Secret Santa 07 package from RickSawyer. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 2" beige head over the clear orangey amber brew. Thick head holds steady, with heavy coating lace. Aroma is minimal, with light spicing evident. Taste is average, again with spicing the only real standout characteristic. Mouthfeel is a bit on the harsh aide, and drinkability is kind of limited by all of the above. Winter warmers are not usually my favorite style, and this one seems to fit into that mold. Your mileage may vary.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 22:26:19 | More by ppoitras

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle shared by Azurelimits. Served in a tulip.

Pours a copper-bronze color with a very thin head that quickly fades into a thin white color. There are a few bubbles on top as well. The nose is quite plain with just a tad bit of pine and cinnamon along with some caramel backing. The taste is along the same lines--pine and a bit of faint spicing plus a bit of caramel sweetness. Medium body with average carbonation. Overall, nothing offensive as it doesn't take the spicing too far, though it's quite boring.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 00:14:38 | More by Thorpe429

TXGenX

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a St. Arnold tumbler

A -- Foamy tan head about 2 fingers high. Fine lacing. Medium brown with copper notes.

S -- Not much aroma at all.

T -- Roasted malt predominates. Some chicory. A little bit of grapefruit on the finish.

M -- Smooth. Not much bite.

I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between this and the brown ale. Although, to be honest, I haven't had the brown in a while. This is a nice warming ale but really not that special to me.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:21:43 | More by TXGenX

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.08/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Dogfish Head signature glass. Stamped 282-283/6 113011. I'm going to hazard a guess that means it was bottled on 30 November 2011?

A: Half a finger of head. Good bubbles. Amber brown, but transparent in the light.

S: Spiced fruit; slightly metallic.

T/M: I fear this may have set too long, or perhaps it wasn't very good to begin with. Either way, it's not quite what I think a winter warmer should be like. Strong and sweet, with flavours of molasses and dark fruit. Carbonated, but light in body, which conspires to downplay the sweet nature of the beer.

O: I suppose it's a little bit above average, stylistically, but in general, I wouldn't particularly recommend it. I suppose I'd drink another, but I'd have to be in the mood.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 00:20:17 | More by AgentMunky

JDV

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Clear copper pour with an offwhite head. Metallic toffe malt aroma with a hint of spice as well. Taste is light toffee flavored malt again, with a light note of spices coming into the flavor as well and a light bitterness. Slightest hint of alcohol shows, but still very drinkable. Decent beer all around, but just not my favorite style.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2008 16:36:29 | More by JDV

northaustin

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

poured into a pint glass. pours a clear red/copper with two fingers of even white head which disappears quickly and leaves no lacing.

smells very fruity sweet. some piney floral notes as well. it smells rather nice.

taste is very light and then has a slightly mediciney taste later on. no alchohol present. this is not as full bodied as i would like from a holiday ale.

mouthfeel: kinda foamy in your mouth and then goes down smooth. leaves a syrupy feeling in the cheeks.

drinkability: sessionable yes, and affordable, but there are a few other holiday ales that are just a little more my style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2009 05:04:01 | More by northaustin

TexIndy

Texas

3.13/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle with no date into pint glass. Was a solid amber color with a small head that faded to a thin wisp for the remainder. Smell was weak with sweet malt blending well with spicy from the hops. Mouthfeel was pretty standard. Overall was a decent beer and worth trying. (3, RB, T,O)

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2006 02:04:06 | More by TexIndy

TBoneJones

Texas

3.14/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours caramel brown, thin head and thin looking body. Lacks lacing.
Smells faintly of pine and apple with a spice.
Tastes bitter and biscuity, and the light apple flavor is there but lacking the spice i thought i detected with my nose earlier, and with a metallic tart finish I'm not quite digging.
Feels smooth enough though, better than I expected from how this appears in my pint glass. Ok in that department. Just ok.
Overall this is a blah brew to me, despite the great respect I have for this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 01:47:47 | More by TBoneJones

aracauna

Georgia

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Nice coppery brown with fleeting white head. Nice dry malt nose with prominent but not overpowering spice (sorry, but I'm bad at identifying spices) but it'ssomething in pumpkin pie (nutmeg?). The flavor is more of the same plus some brown sugar and it's fairly dry. After a few sips it the flavor fades and becomes a bit bland and suffers from lack of malt background. It's not bad but there's better winter beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2002 00:19:30 | More by aracauna

Treebs

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Got this as an extra in a trade, thanks Brad! Poured from a bottle into a Great Divide Cervoise goblet.

A: Pours a nice deep amber with light orange hues around the edges. A one finger white head pops up and then goes down just as quick.

S: I'm picking up some faint caramel malts and some light grassy pine, but nothing really else and the smell is faded (it's probably 8-10 months old at this point so I'll take that into consideration). There is a very slight booze note on the backend.

T: Some piney and grassy hops are very present with a slight spice undertone. The bready malts create the backbone for the rest of the brew, but like the nose has faded with Father Time.

M: It's very smooth and crisp, light to medium bodied. Very drinkable at this point.

O: Very faded in its time. This beer really doesn't hold up well. in terms of flavor profiles, but it is far from undrinkable. I would love to try this beer fresh to see if there are any spices or anything else that may have faded.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 00:39:14 | More by Treebs

johnnyirishman

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Apperance- A nice Reddish copper color with a sand colored head that dissapated to decent lacing.

Smell- A malty aroma is abundant in this one. Not suprising with most winter warmers.

Taste,Mouthfeel- Toffee toasted malts in the front, with a slight nutty finish. Good carbonation and body

Drinkability- Good drinkability, I could definately sit and have a few of these back to back.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2008 00:17:46 | More by johnnyirishman

hiikeeba

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Pours up a crystal amber with a head that dissipates quickly leaving a a few stray white bubbles around the sides of the glass.

S - Frankly it smells like an amber: some sweet grainy malt, a hint of hops. I am not an amber fan.

T - It's an amber. It has a biscuity malt flavor with some hops in the finish. Slightly sweet. Not bad. Although I am wondering why they call it a Christmas beer. I can't taste any spices.

M - Feels a little thin with a little carbonation bite.

D - Since there is nothing at all offensive about it, it is a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 21:58:33 | More by hiikeeba

sayerofthelaw

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A - Amber red with a thin off white head that fades quickly. Good appearance.

S - Smells malt and tart fruit. Strawberry?

T - Mostly malty and sweet, the hops are very mild. This beer has a sweet fruity flavor, as well as spicy flavors on the back of the tongue. Nice!

M - Not much carbonation. Average?

D - A little on the thick side to sessionable, but its not overwhelming.

Overall its a decent winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 09:02:48 | More by sayerofthelaw