Holiday Spice Lager Beer - Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

flagmantho

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: deep tawny brown hue with a haze-free body and a robust effervescence. The head poured a finger of creamy ivory foam but doesn't have a lot of retention. That color is just so rich, though.

Smell: nutmeg, cinnamon and clove are all right there. I feel like the underlying beer is quite sweet smelling, like a bock; I suppose it could be a lot worse, though, at 11%.

Taste: sweet, almost sickly sweet, brew. The spices don't work as well in the flavor as they do in the aroma. Upon further tasting, the disappointing beginning actually ends in a decently spiced pumpkin-pie-type finish. Not the worst thing in the world, although I don't love that start.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation, just as you might expect from the strong apparent effervescence. There's a really good level of creaminess here, which works well in the style.

Overall: an interesting beer, definitely one to limit to once a year. It is a lot like a pumpkin beer without the pumpkin (read: cinnamon and nutmegy), and has some flaws, but overall it is drinkable and perhaps worth a try if you're into this sort of thing.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 19:16:34 | More by flagmantho

bushbeer75

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz brown bottle dated on neck October 23, 2012. According to Lakefronts website 9.4 ABV and no mention of 11 ABV.

Lakefront Holiday Spice Lager filled my pint glass with a almost clear dark amber colored body and produced a very, very small off-white slightly bubbly head that dissipated quickly to a thin ring of bubbles. The nose is sweet, fruity and spicy. The taste is smooth, dominate by spicy cinnamon, orange, clove and a little sweet from the honey. There is just enough hops to balance and keep this lager from becoming too sweet. The mouth feel is a little sticky, high medium bodied and there is a light warming alcohol character.

Holiday Spice Lager is only the second herb/spiced beer I have had. To date Holiday Spice is by far my favorite in the style. This lager goes well paired with BBQ potato chips.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:28:44 | More by bushbeer75

BamfBacon

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

04-17-2013 08:03:59 | More by BamfBacon

Bromine

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

04-11-2013 11:34:25 | More by Bromine

olfolxholme

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

04-05-2013 05:53:49 | More by olfolxholme

t0rin0

California

2.75/5  rDev -26.3%

04-04-2013 00:38:26 | More by t0rin0

Chucker17

South Dakota

2.5/5  rDev -33%

03-19-2013 18:09:31 | More by Chucker17

RadfordBrewing

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

03-18-2013 14:39:30 | More by RadfordBrewing

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +7.2%

03-12-2013 18:37:45 | More by Zachtheporter

enelson

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

03-07-2013 01:08:19 | More by enelson

GRG1313

California

2.75/5  rDev -26.3%

02-23-2013 23:19:37 | More by GRG1313

Cthulhu

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +7.2%

02-22-2013 02:52:32 | More by Cthulhu

dpage27

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

02-21-2013 01:52:30 | More by dpage27

KingMe

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

02-15-2013 05:07:45 | More by KingMe

matjack85

Illinois

3/5  rDev -19.6%

02-11-2013 20:56:51 | More by matjack85

wingman14

Ohio

3.66/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a reddish brown with a nice off white head that sticks around for awhile. Smell is clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet notes, very powerful, mostly inviting. Taste starts with the clove and cinnamon and moves to the nutmeg, and stays sweet throughout. A hint of orange comes in at the aftertaste, then the cinnamon and clove linger. The high ABV comes through at the end of each sip, easy to tell that it is much higher. A medium mouthfeel, not super smooth, but nice, the noticeable ABV takes away from the beer. Overall a nice holiday beer, super spiced, tons of flavor, not for those looking for subtle. Worth a taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 23:19:40 | More by wingman14

tfsimpkins

Florida

1.25/5  rDev -66.5%

01-20-2013 04:54:03 | More by tfsimpkins

dbattey

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

01-17-2013 17:45:12 | More by dbattey

tt_andy

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

01-05-2013 17:49:58 | More by tt_andy

silverking

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It pours a dark, clear red/brown with a tan head with poor retention. lacing is moderate while the head lasts. It reeks of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The malt, however, shines through that dense jungle of spice brilliantly. The taste is nice and malty with all of those wonderful holiday spices. there is also a moderately bitter hop presence. The finish is very bread-like, almost to the point that you can chew on it. There is moderate carbonation with a moderately full mouthfeel. The finish is a bit on the dry side, but it's quite pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 18:57:03 | More by silverking

ncketchum

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served chilled in a SN pint, 2012 vintage

A - pours a dark, murky brown, 2 fingers of light brown head

S - Lots of spice - cinnamon, nutmeg - but not overpowering, on top of a bready malt backbone

T - The spice again is evident up front, substantial yet somehow mellow. Malt follows, no hint of alcohol

M - Very smooth, no hint of alcohol, minimal carbonation

O - I can't believe how well they hide the 11% abv, and I also can't believe I've waited till now to try this one. This beer rivals other holiday brews I've tried recently, I think I'll be picking up a 6 pack soon.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 04:24:47 | More by ncketchum

Garrett092112

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -33%

12-30-2012 20:27:24 | More by Garrett092112

liqman612

2.75/5  rDev -26.3%

12-28-2012 06:48:30 | More by liqman612

CoolGuy42

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

12-27-2012 15:53:17 | More by CoolGuy42

mrosenfeld32

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%

12-27-2012 15:20:57 | More by mrosenfeld32