Great Lakes Christmas Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company

beck4020

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a rather appropriate ale for the winter months. There is a very clear but dark auburn color and very little head develops. The alcohol is rather prevalent but it is hidden to a degree by the noticeable smell of spices, which gives the ale both a distinct smell and taste. Although this is darker ale, temperature is very important in this case. A little colder is better for this gem of Great Lakes.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2005 00:31:21 | More by beck4020

songoose

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice beer. Can certainly taste all the spices: cinnamon, ginger, and also the honey is very prominent (which is probably why this drinks so smoothly, even at 7.5%).

The ginger was a little off-putting for me - not that it was overwhelming, just that I didn't feel it was quite the right spice choice for a Christmas Ale. Even so, this is one of the better Christmas Warmers out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 04:15:37 | More by songoose

bcray

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one on tap at Jakes in Ashland Ohio. This is by far my favorite offering from GL though I enjoy many of their other beers.

The spices really sit upfront without being overbearing. The balance of this brew is darn near perfection. Very drinkable considering it has a slightly higher ABV.

I wish it were Christmas all year long! Also delicious in bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2009 16:34:06 | More by bcray

doc10house

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Given to me by my greatest friend. I tried not to let that bias my view.

A: Exactly what I'd expect from a beer branded "winter," or "Christmas." Murky, caramel-colored. Nice swirls in this one as I poured it, since it had developed some tiny ice crystals within...like fresh snowfall; light flakes in a wind. Beautiful, frothy head when poured into my Perfect Pint glass. Dissipates a little more quickly than I'd like. I love a little more lacing and notching of the glass as I drink.

S: Nearly perfect. Christmas in a glass. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, a hint of alcohol that warms the nose. This is definitely still beer. As suggested to me, try rimming your glass with a bit of cinnamon before the pour. Doesn't do much for the taste, but the smell is just intoxicating. Purists, forgive me.

T: Smooth, but still spicy, if that makes any sense. As complex as I'd hoped, without being overly so and risking pretentiousness. No discernible alcohol burn on the tongue, even though the nose suggested there might have been. Fruit, cloves, ginger, and all the cinnamon that the smell promised. Although the alcohol is masked well in the taste, it "warms" the soft palate and the chest as it goes down the back of the throat, just like the style's name advertises.

M: It's an ale; what's to say? Thinner than a stout or heavy strong Belgian, but appropriately chewy for a winter brew. Feels substantial enough. When it gets cold outside as the seasons change, one stays warm by donning more/thicker layers. Moving from summer ales to Oktoberfests to this winter warmer is no different, and this offers the ramp-up from those early-season styles that it should.

D: All day. All month. All season, I could. Enough alcohol so you know it's beer, but not so much I couldn't have four or five of an evening. Thank goodness. Now, if only it were more readily available here...

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 20:04:38 | More by doc10house

Tronix

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Rich Copper Color.

Decent head that dissipates quickly.

Aroma is just what you would expect from a Holiday Seasonal. Honey, nutmeg.. maybe a little cinnamon.

Very nice bite to this beer. It is one my favorites. Mix this with a Blackout Stout or Guinness for a traditional Black Christmas and you have a beer that's all around tough to beat.

From the feel of just one I continue to believe that Great Lakes understates their ABV by almost 1%. But the taste is very smooth considering the ABV.

GL is one of the best brewers in a top to bottom lineup comparison and This one is their Crown Jewel.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 00:36:00 | More by Tronix

joshwilliams

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

GLBC never stops amazing me year after year with this seasonal brew. I figure that when I go to heaven this is what will be there waiting for me on tap. Christmas Ale is so delicious during the Christmas season I purchase a keg to have in the house (it doesn't last to long). This is my favorite winter seasonal of them all, the taste and smell of the brew is more of a Christmas smell to me than evergreen and sugar cookies could ever be. Side note: dunk your snicker doodle cookies in the beer and it makes the cookie that much better.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2010 04:25:20 | More by joshwilliams

ChiBeerKM

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from 12oz bottle into an imperial pint glass

appearance is a copper color with a deep red hue. about a half inch of white head which dissipates quickly and doesnt leave much lace.

smell is just like a winter ale should be. sweet bready malts with a nice dose of honey. ginger and cinnamon are prevalent in the aroma as well. a slight citrus hop aroma on the back end

taste is awesome. the malts combined with the honey make for a great combo. this beer is surprisingly sweet, but in a good way. the ginger and cinnamon are definitley there but they play a supporting role and are great compliments. a little hop bitterness comes through at the end, but not substantially.

mouthfeel is medium with a good deal of carbonation. the beer feels smooth on the tongue and the carbonation does well to give this beer some life while drinking.

overall this is one of my favorite winter ales and i look forward to it every year. a bit pricey (13.99 for a six in chicago), but worth it and a great brew during the holidays. highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 21:31:27 | More by ChiBeerKM

XenonX

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served in a Bottom's-Up cup at Progressive Field.

Appearence: A very dark amber with a beautiful finger thick head.
Smell: difficult to tell with the other smells related to being at a ballpark
Taste: Had a slight malty and bready taste complete with some toffee and cinnamon and nutmeg tossed in for good measure
Mouthfeel: Meduim and creamy with some flirts of carbonation.

To be honest I cannot very well describe this beer having had it at an Indians game in a Bottom's-Up cup to boot! It was part of the whole experience and will always remind me of going to a ball game.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2012 00:55:30 | More by XenonX

bw2k69

New York

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 Oz. Bottle poured into a Sam Adams glass.

A: A nice 1 finger head that dissipates gradually, leaving a bit of lacing. A nice, deep red/orange color to it.

S: Predominantly spicy, ginger and cinnamon are quite pronounced up front. Catching a hint of honey in there as well. Very nice.

T: Malts are toasty in flavor, carrying with them a slightly spicy sweetness. The honey is far more predominant in the taste than it was in the smell. Hint of cinnamon and ginger on the sides.

M: Nice carbonation, body is thin. The upfront balance and dry finish make for a well balanced beer, not surprising as it's Great Lakes.

D: Very drinkable, fantastic for a cold winter night as the flavor makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside (although that could be the ABV as well). For someone looking for a more balanced winter warmer, I'd say give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 23:08:51 | More by bw2k69

nhaberkorn

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter glass.

A - Medium carmel color

N - Gingerbread cookie, cinnamon, slight resemblance of clove

T - Gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, spice, and slight vanilla

M - Medium body, smooth

O - I'm not a huge fan of Christmas beers, but this one caught my attention. It smells and tastes like Christmas. I would say it tastes like a gingerbread ale with a cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of vanilla. It reminds me of a slightly weaker Christmas version of the Southern Tier Pumking...has a good aroma (albeit slightly more subtle) and has a unique taste (by the way, Pumking is my favorite pumpkin beer).

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 03:20:09 | More by nhaberkorn

Lindseyk12

Ohio

5/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I get so excited every year for Christmas Ale, as do most in NE Ohio.

I think Christmas ale taste best on tap rather than bottle. Golden-Amber in color, Similar to GL Dortmunder, only a little more red. Great smells such as Cinnamon, Allspice, and Nutmeg. Very warm comforting beer, Reminds me of family and friends. Next year save a case for Christmas in July. All your friends will be jealous!!

My favorite shot is "A Christmas Story Bomb"

Fill pint glass 1/3 with GL Christmas Ale
Equal Parts of Goldschlager, Bailey's, Frangelico in shot glass
Drop Shot glass into beer and drink

It Tastes like Christmas. How does christmas taste?... Christmas taste like "A Christmas Story Bomb"

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 22:54:06 | More by Lindseyk12

luckylefty

Ohio

5/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beer review #1:

It is not by coincidence that GL X-Mas Ale is numero uno.

This beer is cherished by many in central/ northern Ohio and is a symbol to Christmas similarly to that of a present under a tree. There are a number of beers that I get excited about during different times of the year but no more so than THE X-Mas Ale. Furthermore, this beer is very dangerous if not drank in moderation, like tequila it has the ability to erase ones memory (I just don't understand why at 7.5abv)? Future reviews will be more scientific in nature but this beer is not judged with the same criteria by me.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 19:23:04 | More by luckylefty

atg7777

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

In Cleveland, when Christmas ale goes on sale it is a sign that the holidays are coming.
This holiday in a cup has the option of being served with brown sugar on the rim. The first sip is like christmas day. The consistency and flavor instantly brings warmth to the soul. I wish they would raise the ABV count back up to what it use to be to add some more warmth. All in all it is a tradition for me. Nothing like walking in from a snowy day and warming up to a glass of this brew. It is the only reason why I look forward to Cleveland winters.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 03:29:18 | More by atg7777

ChicagoShoop

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Snifter

A- Cloudy Copper color that looked almost like an iced tea

S-Large Sweet Spices, hints of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon. I Don't get as much honey as i would have liked for a Christmas ale but still small hints of it. About a finger worth of off white head that seems to dissipate rather quickly

T- Very sweet at first with the spices lingering on the back end. Cinnamon would be the most predominate spice I could taste. Lingering clove, nutmeg also. I get a very small bit of honey near the end

M- Medium bodied with low carb.

O- I heard that previous years were not that good so I was wanting to try this years for myself. I enjoyed it for about half of the bottle but I would not say this would be my go to for a Christmas ale. Would I drink 1 or 2 of this in a sitting, sure. But, I would not see myself drinking a 6 pack of this in a night. Ill stick with a big stout for the winter.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 15:50:51 | More by ChicagoShoop

ReverendTrips

4.23/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into standard pint glass

A - looks really nice, somewhere between red and coppery, nice amber 2 finger head

S - this beer smells delicious, smells like caramel, cinnamon, and honey.

Taste - tastes sweet to start and then has a bitter aftertaste, can definitely taste the spices with the cinnamon being the strongest and the others less so.

Mouthfeel - really smooth, feels thick as it goes down and really coats your mouth.

O - My friend just convinced me to buy this beer and I cant say I'm disappointing. Ive passed on great lakes a lot of times in favor of imported English ales but this is up to par or better than a lot I've tried and I'd reccommend it to anyone

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 03:03:33 | More by ReverendTrips