XXXmas Ale
Left Hand Brewing Company

XXXmas AleXXXmas Ale
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From:
Left Hand Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
8.6%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 11.91%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
48
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 13, 2022
Added:
Jan 01, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.42 by jeschaefer from Texas

May 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by harpus from Alabama

Oct 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by dgherm from Pennsylvania

Jul 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Jul 01, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by BGsWo22 from Texas

Mar 20, 2013
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

2.97/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
The nice mahogany color is the best feature of this stuff. It's sweet and spicy, like a Christmas malt liquor. Still, is it drinkable? Possibly, but it needs a chaser. Overall this is just hot and dirty, unpleasantly sweet, with cheap candy flavors. The long overdone spice flavor ends with cloves sticking in my throat. Thank goodness they've discontinued this. My notes were from 2006 on this one.
Mar 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by kobeer from Texas

Jul 24, 2012
Photo of emmasdad
Reviewed by emmasdad from Colorado

3.2/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Received this one as Christmas gift from my lovely wife. Pours a dark ruby-red color, with a little bit of off-white foam. Aromas of Christmas spice--cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice. Somewhat malty on the palate, with the same lineup of spices cutting the sweetness. Ok, but nothing special.
May 21, 2010
Photo of robbyc1
Reviewed by robbyc1 from Illinois

3.17/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
A dark look with a fluffy head, this does have the nose of honey and spices including cinnamon, clove, and anise. Nice nose, but it doesn't carry though to the taste. The roasty malt supports a sweetness from the honey, but it's over the top, a bit cloying, and the spices don't combine very well. The base beer would be something to try without all else, but it's hard to discern underneath. A bit of a mess, with a medium body, silky with good carbonation, not a great drinker overall, but not bad. It was hard to finish a bomber between two people.
Dec 29, 2009
Photo of JDV
Reviewed by JDV from Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a nice rich dark amber, and mostly clear with a medium to short lived beige head. Smell is sweet pumpkin pie like spices. If I didn't know it wasn't a pumpkin beer that's what I would have guessed it was. Taste is crisp, lightly hoppy and bittered but with a touch of alcohol flavor and pumpkin pie like spice with nutmeg and cinnamon. Medium bodied with soft to medium and slightly crisp carbonation and a dry finish to it. Not a bad winter beer at all.
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of blakesell
Reviewed by blakesell from Ohio

4.36/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the 22oz bomber into a Belgian Duvel glass.

Appearance- Beer pours a clear brown with red hues with a finger thick cap of Irish cream foam. Lacing sticks to the sides and the edges of the glass.

Smell- Ginger and spruce, malt and sugar, I had to recheck the style guidelines on this one and it is quite up to snuff with the stipulations. A lot of honey in the scent as well, hops are subdued but just enough in the nose to know they are there.

Taste- Spicey, sprucey and creamy. Plenty of cinnamon, pine tips, honey, clove, and ginger all laced through the beer. Rich and malty with just enough hops to balance out the beer with excellent bitterness. A bit of lemon rind also lingers in the finish.

Mouthfeel- Creamy and slightly sticky, full bodied, a bit chewey, and fairly highly carbonated. Slightly warming.

Drinkability- This went down quite smooth and I wouldn't mind another. Apparently Eric likes this style as there are more than one different xmas brew from Left Hand. Like Pokemon, I'll try to catch them all.
May 14, 2008
Photo of rye726
Reviewed by rye726 from Colorado

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bomber, not sure on the vintage as Left Hand does not to label the bottles. Likely '07 or '06.

A nice medium brown color with an off white silky gead. Poor retention shows this could be a couple years old.

Bamb, an complex malt profile surrounded by a mixture of stong spices and earthy floral hops. Nutmeg, corrainder, clove, ginger, cinnamon and some orange or lemon rinds.

This was not at all out of balance. The huge spice variety is balanced well and compliments the beer. A strong full bodied malt presence keeps the foundation.

Full and creamy body with perfect carbonation. I am now thinking this beer is at least 1 or 2 years old which influences this review, but this is for sure a well made brew. Can drink this ginger powered drink all summer or winter long.
Mar 29, 2008
Photo of kosmoraios
Reviewed by kosmoraios from Washington

4.74/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep, red mahogany color with a 1-finger off-white head that dissipates quickly. Minimal lacing. Moderate amount of carbonation bubbles visible when the glass is held to the light.

Smell is very nice! Piney hops and spices like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg make this ale smell like the essence of Christmas. Can't wait!

Taste is amazing. Other reviews say it was very sweet - I don't find this to be the case. In my opinion it is pleasantly dry. The toasty malts lend a toffee sweetness. Hops are piney and floral, and beautifully balanced. Plenty of spices - cinnamon, clove, nutmeg - very Christmassy. A hint of cashew nuttiness. Very complex, some apple and pear come out as the ale warms.

Mouthfeel is spicy, a little oily, stays on the tongue. Ample carbonation. I'd drink this all day.
Jan 19, 2008
Photo of NJpadreFan
Reviewed by NJpadreFan from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Left Hand- XXXmas Ale

Appearance- reddish copper brown with no head.
Smell- Very sweet and spicey. Cinnimon mostly dominate.
Taste- Molasses and caramel malt with a big spice flavor. Cinnimon, nutmeg, clove, and licorice.
Mouthfeel- Sweet up front, slighty dry in the end.

Overall- A nice Winter Warmer. Very sweet though. Thumbs up, for sure!!
Dec 18, 2006
Photo of scruffwhor
Reviewed by scruffwhor from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
When still a little refrigerated, the beer is very ruddy and hazey. But a warm, lightly carbonated deep mix between copper and garnet come together. The beer looks a little more coppery as it warms. The aromas were definetly X-Mas-ey. Nutmeg and cinnamon with other holiday spices. The flavor is just like the smell but with more definition to the nutmeg and general undefinable spices thrown in. The general malt sweetness shines through as well. Nice and roasty/toasty, a little bready even. Smooth palate and nice soft lingering palate help to finish this beer. Very drinkable for a high abv brew.
Dec 15, 2006
Photo of Morris729
Reviewed by Morris729 from Texas

3.62/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a ruby copper color with a think foamy white head that loves to cling to the sides of the glass. Nose is fruity hops with a bit of spice. Taste begins with sweet fruit and cake-like malt followed by a spiciness of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Citrusy orange hops come across towards the end. Alcohol is fairly well hidden.
Dec 12, 2006
Photo of k75
Reviewed by k75 from Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Liquid Christmas candy.

great aromas of sweet orange and spice ( clove, allspice? )

tastes great , and I don't usually enjoy a heavily spiced beer
( think Anchor mid - 90's )

enjoyable in small amounts ( 3 of us shared a 22 )

perfect take on a sweet, candied and spiced ale.

I'll have it again...

k75
Nov 30, 2006
Photo of bennetj17
Reviewed by bennetj17 from Arizona

3.32/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2005 version.

A: Glowing, clear amber, virtually no head, weak frothiness with little carbonation.

S: Nutty caramel, raisin, hint of cherry. Not a real strong aroma, but decent.

T: Cinnamony malt, dry with a hint of gingerbread. Pleasant taste up front, weak finish. Alcohol seems pretty low for almost 9% though.

M: Very average, medium body, decent carbonation.

D: This beer had a pleasant flavor, but was very one dimensional. There wasn't much in the finish either. I wouldn't recommend this one as there are many better winter ales out there...
Nov 29, 2006
Photo of BeerSox
Reviewed by BeerSox from Virginia

3.82/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bomber into mug.

Cloudy dark amber color with a thin light tan head that settles to a think cap. Strong lacing along the glass.

Sweet malt background with a prominant cinnimon spice aroma along with clove and some caramelized sugar. Warming alcohol is also included.

Strong spicy flavors with bits of pumpkin pie coming through among the warming alcohol. The high carbonation along with the spiciness and alcohol lends a little bit, which then moves to a slightly hoppy finish with tiny bits of phenols and apple cinnimon. The alcohol is hidden well.

This is a very spiced variety of winter warmer. Not bad, although it may be too spicy for some. Watch out for the alcohol, as it can sneak up on you. You'll probably be satisfied by the time you reach the end of the bottle.
Nov 05, 2006
Photo of AlexJ
Reviewed by AlexJ from North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Another nice surprise from Left Hand, been looking at it on the shelves for a long time, finally decided to give it a whirl.

Dark mahogany brown pour with a thick 2 inches of khaki froth that leaves scores of lace on my glass as it slowly recedes. Cascades of bubbles feed the head for a long time.

Aroma is sweet and spicy. Brown sugar and cinnamon toast drizzled with vanilla infuzed molasses. Gingersnaps, clove, and nutmeg, with a tease of pine hops.

Flavor is chewy caramel malts and oatmeal raisin cookies. Hints of cocoa and toffee intertwine with Christmas spice and a evergreen wreath of piney hops in the finish. This is over 8%, never would have guessed it, this is smooth.

Body is just above medium, with a creamy texture and chewy mouthfeel. A bit intensely spiced to drink a ton of, but very good all the same.
Aug 04, 2006
XXXmas Ale from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 48 ratings