Schlafly Christmas Ale - Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

Vancer

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ruby red brown topped off with lacey ivory rings. This pour came from a bottle, but I had the ale last nite on tap – which always is a notch better.

Just like the kitchen on Xmas, the aromas of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon really tantalize the nose. Also, I smell….pumpkin!! Damn, carln26 planted that thought in my head. Anyway, taste was solid – small notes of citrus and pine is in there, but in the background.

It does hop bite just a tad too strong, a couple more malt seeds would have worked wonders. Oh well, it may be 8%, but I could drink these all evening long, although slowly.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2006 20:33:18 | More by Vancer

jokelahoma

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very bright and clear amber, with minimal head. Very nice looking beer.

Spices come through nicely in the nose. Not exactly pumpkin pie, but very "country kitchen"-like, with a good deal of cinnamon, ginger, clove, and a bit of citrus. A touch of sweet caramel adds to the complexity. Very, very, appetizing!

A bit of fruity sweetness up front, followed almost immediately by the spices. Note this doesn't taste hoppy. I'm getting no perceptible hop flavor. But there's bitterness here to balance the sweetness. The clove really comes through in the flavor, giving it a spicy burn that I found very appealing. Almost a cinnamon roll flavor, but nowhere near as sweet. Unsweetened cinnamon rolls? Nah... not even sure if there's cinnamon in this. But it is spiced nicely, and tastes very good.

The mouthfeel is well done as well. Not watery, but you don't have to shew it, as you do some winter beers. That makes this one a lot easier to drink than many others.

Overall, I found this to be surprisingly good. Easy to drink, with nice "holiday" spiciness that is balanced by the sweetness of the malt. I could drink many of these, I'm sure. Nicely done!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2006 04:26:33 | More by jokelahoma

hckyfn9999

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled with love on Oct. 25 2006. Pours a nice clear amber color, with a one finger, cream colored head. The head doesn't last for very long and leaves some thin lacing in and around the glass.

The aroma of this beer is pretty sweet. Smells of clove, ginger bread, cinnamon, and spicy hops. Very good smell.

Taste is sweet upfront. A little caramel and sweet bread. This is followed up by some spice. the cloves are definitely noticeable as is a little cinnamon. Next up is the taste of ginger, also the orange peel is noticed. The spicy hops help to balance this beer out a little bit.

This is definitely a full bodied ale as the label promises. Carbonation is at a pleasant level also.

Despite the 8% ABV, the alcohol is not noticed at all. Even with all of the spice this is a drinkable beer.

If you don't care for a lot of spice in your beer, this probably isn't your thing as it is definitely noticeable. I can see myself enjoying a few of these on a cold night by the fire. Proud to be the first reviewer of this beer.

(edited for spelling errors)

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2006 01:32:41 | More by hckyfn9999

weonfire

Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - Red/brown hue. Full finger of off white head. head dissipates quickly. not much to any lacing.

T - smell the spices from my glass which is 2' away. carmel, nutmeg, pumpkin and vanilla. solid nut.

T - Carmel. A moderately sweet but Nutty, pumpkin and a bit bitter from the alcohol.

M - A bit frothy, alcohol tingles the roof and tongue. Viscosity is high.

O - I thick its a descent Christmas brew. 8 ABVs could be hidden a bit more. burns a bit more than i wanted. Missing all forms of lacing. Solid carmel malt. I would buy this a christmas next year.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2012 23:38:41 | More by weonfire

kylehay2004

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the brewpub in St Louis, reviews from notes.

A: 1.5 finger head with nice lacing on a clear amber body. Nice head retention.

S: caramel malt, toffee, peppermint and cinnamon.

T: very similar to the nose with spices of the season including nutmeg, mint, cinnamon with barley, breads and ginger.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: very nice seasonal brew. Not usually a fan of seasonal beers but this one is very good and matches well with the season.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 21:20:49 | More by kylehay2004

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a cool christmas beer, a drinker, not a novelty. the pour is amber to red, darker than that, but not brown at all, mostly clear, and a minimal head. the nose is really boozy, but juniper and cardamom permeate too. love the taste of this, complex, fruity, spicy, strong, and as drinkable as any holiday ale or winter warmer out there in terms of subtle and not dominant or aggressive spice notes. sour fruit up front, sweet finish, daring but approachable at the same time. body is thin, too thin really. it lends to drinkability, but it makes it less of a winter warmer in the classic sense. its carbonated fine, but its just a tad too little on body for me, especially given how alcoholic this is. better and better as it warms. overall an exceptional holiday brew, a must try at the taproom.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2012 03:43:56 | More by StonedTrippin

MTNboy

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Brown amber body.

Smell: Spicy and very sweet malty aroma.

Taste: The flavor has a European like Christmas dessert like feel. Spicy at first but a sweet finish.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, It reminds me a lot of the pumpkin but smoother. It is very slick feeling.

Overall: One of my favorite holiday beers. Very thick and warm it feels like the holidays.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2012 06:29:34 | More by MTNboy

Dave128

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at pazzos pizza pub in Lexington KY. Brought to me in a pint glass.

A - Almost no head with only a slight ring around the edge of the glass. Lacing is nonexistent and color is clear amber.

S - Smells like Christmas. I don't know how else to describe it. It smells like a pot of spices my mom would simmer on Christmas morning.

T - Similar to the nose, but alcohol is very evident.

M - medium bodied. Correct for the flavors present.

O - Pretty awesome smelling beer. Alcohol is a little heavy though.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 00:21:29 | More by Dave128

Rukasu

District of Columbia

3.05/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tried at Pi - Washington, DC

Great deep, dark ruby/copper color with a clean white head.

Smell is sweet and spicy.

Taste is a bit overly spicy. Abundance of cloves, ginger, and cardamom. A bit overpowering for me, but just about every kind of spice you can think of associated with Christmas, is probably in this brew.

The sweetness of the beer is immediately a bit cloying, but as it sits in your mouth you're able to begin to dissect the different flavors. Nice beer to try during the holidays, but anything beyond a 12 oz. snifter is probably more than enough.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2011 20:18:05 | More by Rukasu

DCon

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on-tap @ the Schlafly Tap Room in St. Louis, MO for $4.25. Tapped from the Plain Black/Silver tap handle w/o a Label on it into a 12oz Snifter Glass.

Aroma- The aromatics are very tough to pick out in this one... Very strong hops are around, a bit of caramel, and then a booziness that may be too much. Zesty and bit of orange peel? Good all around.

Appearance- Received with a .5 finger head that dies almost immediately. Has the darkest orange colored body you can get but then is very clear. Leaves good lacing behind.

Flavor- Very sweet starting and then the nice orange peel and zestiness come into play again. Little bit of booze hits the mouth throughout and has medium hops involved.

Mouthfeel- Full Bodied, Medium Carbonation, Strong malts, and viscous... Not much to say here on the mouthfeel but this is my meal tonight?

Overall Impression- Not an easy one to drink! I would say you could have your 12 ounces of this and then can call it a night. More of a Night Cap. Go for it if available but only buy a 6-pack of this if your with 5 other guys. Not one to be enjoyed one after the other. You'll see what I mean!

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2011 20:03:15 | More by DCon

paxchristi

Missouri

3.4/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from tap into snifter at Schlafly Bottleworks in Spring 2011.

Appearance: Pours reddish copper with about 2.5 fingers of tan head. Lacing and fairly tenacious head retention.

Smell: Biscuity cinnamon, ginger, pine, and a bit of orange peel. A lot going on but done very thinly in intensity.

Taste: its a spicy brew though it is a bit more underwhelming than what I had anticipated. Its held together nicely, but it does what many Schlafly beers do and have good balance with their flavors but to a lowest common denominator of intensity. Nose is like taste. There are some earthy hops and a sweet pear in there somewhere.

Mouth: Chewy, warm, and low carbonation.

Overall: I really was underwhelmed by this one, sadly enough. I had high expectations, but it seems to succumb to the lowest common denominator again. If I find it on tap again, I might try it again. But there are so many other fall ales that they have leftover by the time its around that it will probably get washed over by the fall leftovers and the spring releases. Give it a shot though if you find it. Not anything to rearrange your life over.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 22:16:15 | More by paxchristi

mdfb79

New York

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 11/17/10 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in Washington, DC.

a - Pours a amber color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of cinnamon, cloves, spices, and fruity malts.

t - Tastes same as the smell with cinnamon and spices, fruity malts, and then also some graham crackers and bready malts.

m - Medium body, very smooth, low carbonation.

d - A pretty decent spiced beer, I enjoyed the taste a little more than the smell. Would be willing to try again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2010 22:12:32 | More by mdfb79

drabmuh

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is brown and clear with almost a reddish hue to it and a thin head that forms a halo around the edge of the glass. Beer is lightly carbonated and leaves very little evidence in the form of lacing that it was ever there.

Aroma is spicy, almost like cloves and cinnamon. Eh...

Beer is light in body and sweet at the lead off and finishes with a light cinnamon flavor in the background. It's nice, not a great beer in my opinion but a drinkable one. The spices aren't terrible, its just an average beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2010 14:59:40 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Churchkey. Served in a snifter.

Pours a light bronze color with only a half finger of head to start out with and that doesn't last all that long. There is a light ring a foam around the edges of the glass for some time. The nose is quite muted, not something I'd expect from a Christmas ale. As it warms, there's just a hint of light spicing with a bit of cinnamon.

The taste is a bit more pungent and the mild spices are fairly tame and well-distributed. At the same time, the beer is completely one dimensional and I'm not sure I'm enjoying that dimension all that much. Light cinnamon and some ginger are what I pick up as well as a bit of light malt. The spicing is nice on the medium body. This is a fairly-drinkable winter brew, but it's not all that special in the end.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2010 13:40:51 | More by Thorpe429

Tone

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, amber/red color. Oddly, no head. Smells of strong spice, yeast, slight citrus, and some herbs. Fits the style of a Herbed / Spice Beer. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of spice, herb, slight citrus, and slight yeast. Overall, drinkeable, but a little lacking in body.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2009 23:38:27 | More by Tone

kdog630

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Much more flavor and aroma than I've come to expect from a Schlafley offering. The spices are very apparent in this darker beer. Not much head on this glass but the tender worked to get it pretty full. Still, there was some lacing occurring as I drained the glass.

Very spicy. Hints of cinnamon, clove, and maybe some allspice. Mouthfeel was average (or above average for a Schlafley) as was the drinkability. Maybe if it had been a little warmer in more of a snifter or tulip style glass, I might have enjoyed it more.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2009 21:23:55 | More by kdog630

naterock

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep Amber in color with a decent head that doesn't lace.

smell is rich malt and brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves. definitely a christmas aroma.

tastes very well blended on flavors, spicy cloves and cinnamon, nutmegy undertones. Rich malt with a slight hop bote in the back.

mouth is thick, oily and very candy-like. medium carbonation and easily drinkable. Way to go Schlafly!

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2009 01:32:20 | More by naterock

karst

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a smaller sniffer that shows off its chestnut amber, low head persistant ring. A fireside beauty!
Cinnamon, clove, and sweet caramel meets the nose at the taproom with all its competing aromas. Malts don't dominate but easily support the spices that give a gingerbread impression to the palate.

Well balanced with alcohol and IBUs easily handling sweet malts and dextrins that provide a nearly full mouthfeel. Still young but very nice as winter approaches. Pleasing carbonation that allows sipping without going flat.
Alcohol very nice and although apparent very nice in that it overall supports what the brewer is doing.

Hats off to Steve Hale and the rest of the Schlafly brewers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2006 04:03:50 | More by karst