Pickled Santa - Ridgeway Brewing

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a three finger cream head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Clear amber color. Slight spicy nose. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Flavor is light cinnamon and nutmeg, a not overpowering decent Christmas ale. Brewed for Shelton Brothers Importers for exclusive distribution in the U.S. $6.40 for a 500ml bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2008 23:35:12 | More by jdhilt

AndrewMcLemore

Texas

1.8/5  rDev -45.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Let me say first, I think is a terrible beer. If you love Bubblelicious gum and shots that mix cherry and chocolate, you'll probably enjoy the Pickled Santa.

However, if you like real beer that doesn't taste like expired candy from the back of the corner store, you will not like this beer.

At first the Pickled Santa seems pleasing enough. It has a humorous label and the color is a nice golden brown with a decent retention and a fluffy, sensitive head.

But then there is the faint whiff of chemically-enhanced pink chewing gum of the kind that stales quickly within the plastic wrap of trading cards and one wonders where this beer went very, very wrong.

The taste continues the theme I've already latched onto. I searched my palette for the spiciness one assumes would exist in an English X-mas ale, but they mostly alluded me with the exception of way, WAY too much coriander, which I'm not altogether certain should be in a beer to begin with and certainly not this one.

I'd give the mouthfeel a decent score mostly on the benefit of the doubt. It's hard to be sure with so much false sweetness to contend with. Seriously, did they put Splenda in this thing?

Don't pay for this beer. Buy Bud Lite before you dole out your hard-earned money for this sugarless gum of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 19:49:20 | More by AndrewMcLemore

scoobybrew

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - clear deep copper color with a nice head that settles into a chunky lacing

S - seasonal spices out front with a hint of malt sweetness

T - rich malt with a touch of toasted character and prominent, but not overpowering, and of course there some hops in there as well; finishes slightly sweet

M - medium body, moderate carbonation

D - This is a nicely done Christmas/seasonal beer. The spices, malt and hops are all within balance and noticeable. It's complex, but not complicated.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 01:22:38 | More by scoobybrew

scottoale

California

3.95/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This came in a seasonal four-pack of Ridgeway brews from Cost Plus. The brown 500ml. bottle pours a deep copper with an off-white head of a finger. 6% ABV.

The smell is sweet and malty with a dose of spices. The taste is the same with apple, plum, grapes and a bit of citric hops. The addition of the spices pull through with notes of nutmeg, allspice, clove, cinnamon and a dash of corriander that bring the finish to a bitter spiciness. Alcohol is masked quite well.

Medium body with a bit of tartness on the tongue, overall it's a pretty tasty seasonal that suits the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 20:25:35 | More by scottoale