Great Lakes Christmas Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company

deejaydan

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. Pours a deep orange color. Slightly decent head and retention here. Aroma is spicy, perhaps cloves, perhaps ginger? Taste is great. Malts, fruits, and spice playing well together. Mouthfeel is thick. I can see how this could warm you up on a cold winter's day. The alcohol is well hidden in this beer as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2005 21:49:13 | More by deejaydan

kirok1999

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm not much for flavored beer but this one is one of my favorites.
Appearance- Gold copper, clear with a nice white head that mildly clings to the glass.

Smell- Sweet malt, ginger or cinnamon and honey.

Taste- Mildly sweet, ginger up front with a nice malt to back it all up. Some mild hops to add balance.

Mouthfeel- Crisp and clear, mild carbonation with a nice clean finish.

Drinkability- I can't wait for this one every year. I try to buy a case to keep in the cellar for those special occasions when I want a flavored beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2006 02:11:06 | More by kirok1999

LeftyBWS

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. brown bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass.
A: Rich copper color, quite orangy. Very full white head, bouncy and frothy but smooth. Sheets of sticky lacing, very nice.
S: Citrus and sweet honey, rather floral and yeasty overall with a good amount of sugar, not too much and not too little. Pleasant and enticing. After warming a bit, I notice some other spices, cinnamon maybe and ginger too.
T: Spicy up front with some ginger flavors, and then quite sweet and soft in the middle, letting the honey and sweet malts rise up. The finish lets everything mingle together and fade out. Overall, a unique taste in a beer that I haven't really encountered before, and can't describe all that well. But it is definitely tasty and flavorful, quite enjoyable.
M: Overall smooth, with a nice gingery tingle in the finish. Somewhat watery though.
D: Very nice. Never thought it was 7.5%. I could have a few of those.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2007 20:21:19 | More by LeftyBWS

pacothrash

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ordered in pint at Beef O'Brady's and really enjoyed this beer. This was my first GL Christmas Ale on draft. It was brownish/orange with a small head. The smell and taste were very similar with some nutmeg, cinnamon and maybe a hint of ginger. This is an excellent Christmas ale and is very drinkable. I ended up having a few.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2008 23:24:48 | More by pacothrash

schoolboy

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

Alright, I admit that I had three (honest to goodness) pints of this at Night Town and it did me in. It was on an empty stomach and I take Lyrica for back pain. But I couldn't resist the outstanding taste of Christmas Ale as it should be.

They served it properly too - the temperature was perfect
(not co cold). How could I not havea few? Fortunately they ran out because some lady tried to buy me another (and then I would have been completely out of it).

Pretty close to perfect.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 01:57:45 | More by schoolboy

auroracrisis

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a Goose Island pint glass.

Appearance: Copper red with a pinky finger sized head. Lots of bubbles, looks like a real good beer.

Smell: Smells like nutmeg, cloves, spices and malt. Pretty good.

Taste: Oh man, this is great tasting. Tastes alot like cinnamon to me with a malt background. Once it warms I'm sure it'll open up a bit more. As it warms I can begin to taste the nutmeg and cloves which compliment the malt and spices well.

Mouthfeel: Pretty thin and bubbly but it works.

Drinkability: High, high, high. I could drink this all night, it's delicious.

Overall, this is a great beer. I don't know if I could drink it all year 'round but it works well in this weather and season.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 05:56:41 | More by auroracrisis

eth916

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on draft at local BW-3

A - Nice 1/2" foamy head and nice glass lacing.
Nice medium amber color.

S - Cinnamon and bitter hops.

T - Cinnamon, spice and bitter hops.

M - Smooth beginning with a slightly bitter cinnamon finish.

D - Easy to drink with any meal. Love the beer - would definitely recommend. A winter favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2010 15:55:18 | More by eth916

lukekruse1

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

For those of you outside of Northeast Ohio, Great Lakes Christmas Ale is more than simply another beer. It has a devoted cult following and cases usually sell out within days of hitting the shelves. I had to call 3 groceries stores this year before finding one for myself.

A - Beautiful red ale with slight head retention.

S - Malts, Cinammon & Honey

T - They call this "Christmas Crack" for a reason around here. Honey, Malts and a sweet finish.

M - As with all Great Lakes Brews, this one feels "just right."

D- At 7.5% be careful. The taste hides it well. This one does sit a bit heavy, so more than 3 in a session is probably overdoing it.

Overall this is the best "Winter Warmer" of many I've tried. A true Cleveland classic.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 01:35:24 | More by lukekruse1

davecavemaster

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

If you live where they distribute Great Lakes beer, then you look forward to their yearly release of Christmas Ale. This is my favorite seasonal beer.

great lakes christmas ale

Christmas, it seems... pours a beautiful clear and copper color. So long green and red.

The head is a nice off white foam. The foam dissipates, and turns into a thin coating on the sides of the glass, and in the center. Nice amount of lacing sticks around while you drink.

The nose of this brew is heavy on the honey and ginger spices it is brewed with. Malty, but a sweet and pleasant blend of fragrances.

The taste of Christmas follows the nose. The sweetness of the honey hit me first, followed by the spices, and then a bit of the hops bite at the end. This is a truly wonderful flavor combination, and the ratio is just right.

Not a heavily carbonated beer, but just enough to make it tingle in your mouth and make the flavors stand out. Very crisp for all the malty tastes, not sticky at all.

Great beer! Although at 7.5%, you need to be careful how fast you put them down.

If you have not tried this seasonal, and can find it near you..I highly recommend checking it out. I would lay money on it becoming one of your favs.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 03:32:22 | More by davecavemaster

trumick

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a light amber color with a thin head that leaves nice lacing all around.

Scent is of sweet, biscuity malts, and spices like nutmeg and ginger.

The taste really stands out in this one. There's lightly sweet malts with some fruity notes, light hop flavor, spiciness is not overwhelming at all. The cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are all well balanced within the sweetness of the malt, and the ever so slightly bitter hops. The finish is lightly sweet, dry and spicy. The abv. is nicely hidden in the mix of malty spiceness. The taste is exceptional.

Mouthfeel is smooth, light to medium bodied with the perfect amount of light carbination for this beer.

Drinkability is good. This is a beer that tastes soo good the abv is dangerous. I could easily put several away without realizing that fact until it's cab callin time.

Nice, nice beer from GLB. I will buy it again before they are gone till next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2004 04:36:31 | More by trumick

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

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a clear amber color and a modest head that leaves dots of lace

Smell: Nutmeg, cinnamon and a bit a honey along with the caramel base

Taste: Biscuity flavors up front with plenty of Christmas spices building by mid-palate; modest earthy hops appear after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: One of the great Christmas beers out there

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2007 03:08:36 | More by brentk56

zsk

Ohio

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

This is from a nearly one year old sample.

Poured a reddish amber with a nice one inch head.

Smell was of cinnamon and ginger. I've had this fresh on tap. The ginger is stronger now. Nutmeg too.

Taste is of MALT, cinnamon and honey. Ginger lays back. Hops are here, but way back.

This feels smooth and crisp at the same time.

I can drink these any time. It was tough to hold on to these till late summer. So complex.

Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2008 00:29:20 | More by zsk

TravelinJones

Ohio

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

poured from bottle into a clear pint glass around 45 degrees.
should have let it warm a little but couldn't wait.

A: very clear amber/orange/copper with 1/2 inch head, which quickly dissipates. small carbonation bubbles trickle up.

S: Strong bouquet of orange blossom, hints of ginger & honey, backed with some spicy hop aromas.

T: Light ginger, cinnamon, and orange flavors blend with moderate bitterness and sweetness, for a very balanced and intriguing flavor. Light biscuity malt background. Much more subtle and balanced with the spices this year. Slightly sweet, but balanced, and finishes more dry.

M: Moderate body and carbonation. Carbonation and spices help dry out the finish.

D: Very drinkable beer -- well-balanced and quaffable, and not over-spiced compared to other years. Easy to drink a few of these, although not a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2010 05:03:27 | More by TravelinJones

Thanby

Ohio

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

Pours a nice clear copper color with a finger of off-white head that leaves good, sticky lacing.

The aroma is mainly of winter spices, being cinnamon, ginger, honey, nutmeg and maybe some clove in that order. All come through and for once in a winter warmer the cinnamon isn't overbearing. The sweet caramel malt fills it out, and there some other bready malt characteristic in the background.

The flavor is full of the spice boquet, again with cinnamon in the lead, but the honey dries things out a tiny bit and leaves room for the roasted malt to show through. Not very common for this style, and something I really enjoy.

Sweet and roasty malt flavors make up the finish with a thin sheet of dry cinnamon that isn't too sweet and isn't too bitter. Medium body, not as syrupy as a typical winter warmer, good carbonation and supremely drinkable. This is definitely my favorite in the category and is a nice break from the typical sickly sweet or "beat you in the face with a cinnamon stick" warmer. Everything in balance and still festive enough to satisfy, it doesn't get much better than this.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 21:12:03 | More by Thanby

schleprock

Illinois

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

A: A nice reddish color with a creamy head.

S: Floral with ginger and cinnamon notes.

T: Took me a while to figure the mix of spices honey, ginger, cinnamon and possibly some nutmeg in there.

M: carbination is correct for this beer and even though it's higher in alcohol, I didn't notice it.

D: On tap this is one of the best if not the best Christmas beers you can find. It was so good we kicked the keg. A great mix of spices in this beer.

I enjoyed it so much I ran to liquor stores trying to get some. All I could find was a couple six packs, it's such a hot seller that one store owner told me the distributor was limiting people to two cases each.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2011 16:59:31 | More by schleprock

Crundy

Ohio

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

Appearance: Bright and clear amber color with a foamy cream colored head, lots of visible carbonation

Smell: Bready, orange citrus hop, spices, feint malt flavor

Taste: Nice hop flavor, feint malt, bread, and nutmeg and cinnamon spices

Mouth Feel: Nice bite, medium bodied, dry

Overall: good beer, more hoppy than malty but it does have a good balance of flavors. Great Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 20:55:53 | More by Crundy

MCain04

Illinois

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

Bottle 12/12, drinking about 6 weeks fresh. Poured into a Spiegelau glass. $13/6pack

Appearance: Clear golden orange color, 1-2 fingers of off-white head. Mild lacing, decent retention.

Smell: How a Christmas ale should smell. Spicy, cinnamon, roasty malts, nutty. Very nice.

Taste: Follows along with the smell profile. Really nice spice profile carrying through onto the taste. Really liking this. Not too hoppy or bitter. No heat or alcohol present.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, moderate carbonation, average finish.

Overall: Really enjoyed this. One of the best Christmas Ales I've had. Better than Goose Island's Christmas ale, in my opinion, and less expensive. Next to blackout stout, probably my favorite offering from Great Lakes.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 18:01:18 | More by MCain04

JackStraw22

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Yum. This is a beer to drink with some Christmas cookies and presents. The beer pours a crystal clear, amber orange with a beautiful foamy white head. The overriding taste here is gingerbread. This tastes more like a beer flavored gingerbread cookie than the other way around. But it's oh so good, not too sweet, just a little hop kick to balance it out. I'll be sorry when the holidays are over and I can't get these any more, better stock up. Only downside is the aroma, just not much there. But the taste more than makes up for it.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2004 04:54:37 | More by JackStraw22

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a nice medium amber. Small bubbles and very faint lacing. A head thats only a finger and a half in width. But maintains all through my drinking experience. For some reason, a Christmas beer has to be more cloudy to be festive. The aroma is very festive indeed. Plenty of X-mas spices like some nutmeg and cinnaon and anise all mixed together very well with a toasty malt profile. The taste is a little more clear on whats really driving the beer's flavors. Lots of nutmeg adn a few hints of chammomile. Don't forget the cinnamon. All of these spices are blanaced with a light Pacific hop presence and a medium toasty alt stance. Great Holiday beer, certainly has the best drinkablility of all the winter warmers. Doesn't bog you down with Holiday spices and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2007 09:03:25 | More by scruffwhor

Slynger

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful crystal clear light copper color with a small, slow rising, fuzzy white head and some lacing to boot.
The first whiffs deliver some sweet caramel and honey along with lightly toasted malts. Subtle cinnamon and ginger spices meld this into a solid and well balanced nose.
The taste is every bit what the nose suggested and more. Lightly sweet honey along with caramel and toasted malts. A faint white grape fruitiness makes an appearance accompanied by ginger and cinnamon, with a very mild bitter hop finish.
Mouthfeel is excellent as great lakes always is. Perfectly medium bodied; honey smooth yet creamy from modest carbonation.
Bottom line, GLBC rocks and so does their winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2008 05:21:39 | More by Slynger

Ezekiel81923

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Found a loner at Capone's. Wanted to give it a whirl since I'm interested in finding a winter warmer I actually like. Poured this one into a pint glass.

Appearance: Clear amber color. Small tan head that recedes quickly but leaves some spotty lacing. This isn't as dark as other "winter warmers" I've tried which, as far as I'm concerned, is a good start.

Smell: Smells like Christmas to be honest. Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry, sweet bready malts. This is the kind of thing I hoped for out of other winter brews.

Taste: Spicy. Strong notes of ginger and cinnamon. It's sweet as well. Some cherry, raisin, nutmeg. Some hop bitterness. Solid malt backbone without being too heavy. Not much hop presence to speak of other than the bitterness. Real solid.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Spiciness lingers on the tongue. Carbonation adds a tingling sensation. Just a slight alcohol warmth as it goes down, but that could just be lingering spice in the back of my throat...it's that faint.

Drinkability: I only had one of these but I wish I had many more. It doesn't matter to me that it's after christmas, this was a delicious beer whose only limitation might be the abundance of spice.

Glad I got to try this one. I'm not sure much of it made it to PA, hopefully we get plenty for next year that I can drink it up over the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2010 05:39:59 | More by Ezekiel81923

Hophead717

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A 12 oz bottle, poured into an oversized wine glass.

A: A nice amber/ruby red, with a one finger foamy head on top. The head hangs around for a bit, before dissipating to a cap on top of the beer.

S: A heavenly aroma that just screams Christmas. Perfect ratios of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg first (mostly cinnamon), with biscuity malt notes. Overall, a nice sweet scent, with light hints of fruitness, and just the right amount of spices. Perfect for a winter warmer.

T: Yummy. Great mix of spices, with the cinnamon leading the way, without being overly dominant. Hints of ginger and nutmeg are most pleasant. The beer has the perfect level of sweet maltiness, enhanced by the spices. It tastes also like a gingerbread cookie! Nothing present from the hops. The finish is of the spices.

M: Perfect. Medium body, with enough carbonation, but not too much. Somewhat creamy body overall.

O: Winter warmers are far from my favorite style, but Great Lakes makes a wonderful one. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 01:21:48 | More by Hophead717

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I think this beer deserves a bit of a better rating than (currently) an 88. As far as Christmas Ales go, this one is pretty damn good. I am a huge fan of Great Lakes beers and this one does not disappoint!

Normally when you think Christmas Ales, the taste of overpowering spice comes to mind, but this beer is smooth and taste really nice from start to finish. You can definitely taste the spices, but to an overpowering level. Subtle hints of honey round this beer out nicely!

Overall, a great Christmas beer from a great brewery! Very nice

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:43:02 | More by 4thelvofbeer

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This slightly hazy copper colored ale pours with a beige head that fades quickly, but still leaves a faint lace on the glass. The aroma is faint and hard to pinpoint. Malt and a hint of spice is noticable, but not overpowering. The taste is malty with a touch of cinnamon and citrus, with little bitterness on the rather clean finish. A hint of alcohol sweetness lingers on the finish. The beer feels full on the tongue, with a touch of carbonation effervesence. A moderate ABV with the good, basic flavor profile makes this a very drinkable winter ale, as long as you don't need to go anwhere anytime soon. Another solid offering from Great Lakes.

This is even more enjoyable on tap! Better balance, smoother mouthfeel, and just oiverall better flavor (or perhaps it's just this year's edition.) On tap at Sapphire's in WashCo.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2003 06:37:51 | More by aaronh