Yulefest Christmas Ale - Big Time Brewery & Alehouse

xoqx

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big Time's Yulefest is a distinctive winter warmer, mahogany in color with a light tan head that didn't have much retention and left heavy lacing along the glass. The smell was reminiscent of German Munich beers with a primarily malty aroma. The taste was mostly malty caramel with some darker fruity esters, though not at all Belgian-styled. There was a toffee note in the taste. It was not particularly spicy as some other winter warmers. There is a medium long finish and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel which was helped by the hand pump and cask conditioning.

Serving type: cask

11-26-2006 23:14:10 | More by xoqx

youradhere

Arkansas

3.65/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage.

Pours black with no head, a thin lacing of large bubbles cling to one side of the glass. Smell is very faint bourbon vanilla, chocolate malt, and coffee. Taste is very similar, in fact almost the same. Very pleasant and mellow, the flavors show what a year of aging can do. Carbonation is near cask strength, if not less; mouthfeel is crisp and light, to match the flavor profile. A damn good warmer, and a dangerous one given how smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 21:22:43 | More by youradhere

ccrida

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draught at the brewpub, Yulefest is very dark garnet with a dark tan head that leaves light lace rings.

Smell is on the sweeter side, limes, an aroma I was getting from some of their IPAs.

Taste is very good, I really like the dark malts, chocolaty, stout like with a bit of roast.

Mouthfeel is drier, medium bodied.

Drinkability is good, I really prefer a porter/stout style winter ale then the amber winter warmers, and this one was darn tasty. I'll have another, thank you.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 03:05:46 | More by ccrida

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's always something of a crapshoot when you order a seasonal beer with no proper title. What is it and what is it supposed to be? With no definitive handle I'd just call this a strong ale or a winter warmer, though the closest taste pattern I'd assign it is a mild stout with IPA hop elements.

Yulefest is opaque ruddy brown with a soapy head of tan lather trailing lace everywhere. It has brown malt flavor, a sultry body, and an intriguing complexity of bitter chocolate with herbaceous hop ornament. Curious, refined, and fun.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2009 08:19:22 | More by RedDiamond

czechsaaz

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very hoppy aroma, piney with some citrus but mostly spicy/piney. Very little up front malt aroma. Hops definitely dominate.

Color is deep ruby, nice thick lasting head. (The more I looked and smelled this beer before I tasted it, I kept thinking this looks and smells like a dead ringer for a well know brew from San Marcos, CA.)

Flavor is very bitter at the start but then moves into nice malt sweetness mid-palate. I get some honey flavor and caramel and just a hint of diacetyl (not distracting, just a touch of richness, kind of like toffee.) The aftertaste is lingering hop oil flavor, bitter but not over-the-top. Very nice well balanced flavor profile. About halfway through the pint I started to taste a smokey or woody flavor, another layer that wasn't there when it was really cold.

Body is on the high end of medium, but not quite full. It's slightly warming but I don't detect any hot alcohol in the aroma or flavor. Medium carbonation level.

Really a pretty solid beer. Nice to drink and spicey and strong enough as a good winter warmer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2005 21:47:35 | More by czechsaaz