Holly Daze - Fyne Ales Ltd

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Manyt lines of beading when first poured this gives the iniital appearance of being thin bodied. A reddish brownish amber colour with some haze as well suggested by the name.
Changing complex flavours over the duration of the glass. The same is true of the aroma which moves through appetising smells of malt, caramel, prune and later to a ginger cake element which eventually gives the beer a pleasant meally quality on the tongue. A nice later addition as it begins somewhat thinnish before moving to a nice smooth velvety body in the middle. These qualities do dilute over the course of the glass but its certainly not bad for a relatively low ABV festive beer. Well made.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 19:49:00 | More by Zimbo

Ruds

United Kingdom (England)

3.33/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On cask at the Sussex Arms, Twickenham into a half pint pot

Golden to Amber in colour, surprising for a winter beer!

Fruity and hoppy touch of pine on the nose with some spices/heavier fruits thrown in, more akin to a winter beer . . . thinking clove/cinammon perhaps?

Hops and citrus and a sweet flavour in the taste with a touch of spice, nice lingering bitterness in the aftertaste

Well balanced beer and retained it's head well throughout with plenty of lacing on the glass when I'd finished

Serving type: cask

12-28-2011 17:05:48 | More by Ruds

StJamesGate

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Surprisingly pale amber with sticky lumpy white head that clings and trails. Cinnamon candy, autumn leaf and nutty Caramel malts on the nose.
Spiced applesauce and ginger snaps with mulled wine spice ending.
Faint apricot ending and tingling, tightening linger. Crisp, light-medium, some stick.

Light and pale for a so-called Winter Warmer, though the label says "dark amber ale" as well. Lots of Christmas spice (Fuggles?), especially considering there seem to be no spice additions. Not exactly what you'd expect for a holiday brew, more like a British version of a hopped-up American Amber.

Fyne does better than this.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 21:06:26 | More by StJamesGate