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Christmas Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- From:
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #16 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #12,913 - Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 12.91%
- Reviews:
- 979
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 27, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 16, 2002
- Wants:
- 177
- Gots:
- 879
Do not open ‘til Christmas? Whoever coined that phrase obviously hasn’t tasted Christmas Ale’s fresh honey, cinnamon, and ginger flavors.
A Yuletide’s worth of holiday spices and sweet honey to keep you a-wassailing all season long.
World Beer Championships 6-Time Medal Winner Since 1999 (Gold, Silver)
A Yuletide’s worth of holiday spices and sweet honey to keep you a-wassailing all season long.
World Beer Championships 6-Time Medal Winner Since 1999 (Gold, Silver)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by joeseppy:
Reviewed by joeseppy from Illinois
4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear cranberry amber with half inch white head. Wispy on the top and spider webs down.
Aroma mainly of cinnamon powder and ginger snap. Smells deceivingly full bodied. Basically a full onslaught of holiday spice and sweet malt.
Tastes pretty darn close to a lot of pumpkin ales I've had this year. Cinnamon is the first spice to come to my mind. Candy spice drops and crystal ginger essence. I'd say its Christmasy alright.
Mouthfeel is of medium body and is actually refreshing. Nothing overbearing or heavy laden.
Again, this reminds me of a lot of the pumpkin beers yet the ginger, for me, gives this the edge to give this that christmas feel. Shared some this year with my BMC friends who all agreed this was a quality beer. Nothing is worse than weighing your friends and family down with heavy beers. GL Christmas ale is a great choice for yourself and to share during a festive time such as this.
Dec 29, 2013Aroma mainly of cinnamon powder and ginger snap. Smells deceivingly full bodied. Basically a full onslaught of holiday spice and sweet malt.
Tastes pretty darn close to a lot of pumpkin ales I've had this year. Cinnamon is the first spice to come to my mind. Candy spice drops and crystal ginger essence. I'd say its Christmasy alright.
Mouthfeel is of medium body and is actually refreshing. Nothing overbearing or heavy laden.
Again, this reminds me of a lot of the pumpkin beers yet the ginger, for me, gives this the edge to give this that christmas feel. Shared some this year with my BMC friends who all agreed this was a quality beer. Nothing is worse than weighing your friends and family down with heavy beers. GL Christmas ale is a great choice for yourself and to share during a festive time such as this.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by dkoehler42 from New York
3.21/5 rDev -18.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.21/5 rDev -18.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I was excited to try this seasonal ale based on the reviews. It looks like a good red winter ale with a white head. There's the faintest of sweetness in the nose and that's it. Unfortunately, the taste continues this trend. I found a slight fruit sweetness and the mouthfeel is non-existent. At least it's not bad or offensive. This could be so much better.
Jan 27, 2024Rated by Nass from Florida
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
The pour is amber colored. The taste is cinnamon, ginger, toasted pecans, honey, & cherries jubilee. Cheers! B
Dec 26, 2023Reviewed by JKENNEKE
3.77/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
December 2023. Des Plaines. Overall good little heavy on the spice. Nothing too special might be that I’m getting sick of these flavored pumpkin and Christmas beers but they are tradition anyway I wouldn’t go out on my way to buy this one again but I did enjoy it.
Dec 23, 2023Reviewed by The_Snow_Bird from Michigan
3.34/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.34/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours out a medium caramel color and a medium white head. Has a watered down malty smell. Has a delicious taste of malt and a hint of cinnamon. Goes down smooth, easy to crush.
Dec 12, 2023Reviewed by DaleHolmberg from Ohio
4.4/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I find this beer tastes differently each year, but it could be that I change each year. (2023) This year tastes very good, in fact the best that I can remember. Every sip from the first to the last is excellent.
Dec 12, 2023Reviewed by RPO from Minnesota
4.49/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Dark reddish brown, weak head.
Deep malt and honey flavor, strong and warm cinnamon and ginger spice.
Cinnamon, ginger and honey were not skimped out, giving the beer a very strong and deep flavor. One of the best beers if you like deep spicy flavor notes.
Dec 06, 2023Deep malt and honey flavor, strong and warm cinnamon and ginger spice.
Cinnamon, ginger and honey were not skimped out, giving the beer a very strong and deep flavor. One of the best beers if you like deep spicy flavor notes.
Christmas Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
3369 ratings
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