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Father Christmas Highland Ale
The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
- From:
- The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
- Connecticut, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
- ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.88 | pDev: 10.57%
- Reviews:
- 30
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 30, 2017
- Added:
- Jan 27, 2004
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 4
Legend has it that Father Christmas wandered through Scottish villages gathering a merry following and distributing sweets to children and "wee heavy," a cheery libation, to adults. Like its predecessors, Father Christmas is heavy and potent, tremendously and uniquely satisfying and flavorful. The aroma of toasted grain and mocha are mouth-watering. Father Christmas Ale is ruddy and ruby-brown, topped by a thick, loose, tan head. Sweet, roasted malt and mild smoky tastes merge into a phenomenal finish. The tall, cobalt-blue bottle, brightly labeled, makes for a wonderful presentation and host's gift. Delightful in every respect, Father Christmas Highland Ale is a Yuletide staple and Santa's favorite. He enjoys a pint at my house annually and never spares a drop.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by goodbyeohio:
Reviewed by goodbyeohio from Connecticut
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
big 1L swingtop, bottle #3730 purchased at southington wine and spirit depot or whatever its called.
pours a dark dark brown with ruby highlights, rather clear overall. big soapy head dissolves halfway leaving craterous caverns and thick, dominant lacing on the glass. aged hop aroma mingles with a big brown sugar blast. sweet, bready and lots of honey roasted malt wafts. musty forest scent lingers in the wake of the big-nosed maltbomb. medium-bodied and lacking much carbonation, this beer leads off with heavy almond flavor and mild chocolate. hops pepper the taste nicely, and create a mild, attention-grabbing bitterness. finish contains lip-smacking vanilla and overripe banana muffin flavors. unlike previous reviewers, i can detect the larger alcohol presence although i still disagree with the 11.8% listed.. more like 8% IMHO. very drinkable and satisfying with no off flavors to speak of. i am also distressed by the fact that the maltiness and sweetness of this beer fails to produce the stickylip syndrome that one would expect from such a monster.
i think i ended up with a good, fresh, healthy bottle from a different batch than those rec'd by my homies pbrian and mikeys01. very much on-par and similar to the kilt tilter (lifter?) wee heavy from bru rm. for $5, this is a must-try connecticut seasonal and pleasantly warming for a cool winter's eve.
Dec 26, 2005pours a dark dark brown with ruby highlights, rather clear overall. big soapy head dissolves halfway leaving craterous caverns and thick, dominant lacing on the glass. aged hop aroma mingles with a big brown sugar blast. sweet, bready and lots of honey roasted malt wafts. musty forest scent lingers in the wake of the big-nosed maltbomb. medium-bodied and lacking much carbonation, this beer leads off with heavy almond flavor and mild chocolate. hops pepper the taste nicely, and create a mild, attention-grabbing bitterness. finish contains lip-smacking vanilla and overripe banana muffin flavors. unlike previous reviewers, i can detect the larger alcohol presence although i still disagree with the 11.8% listed.. more like 8% IMHO. very drinkable and satisfying with no off flavors to speak of. i am also distressed by the fact that the maltiness and sweetness of this beer fails to produce the stickylip syndrome that one would expect from such a monster.
i think i ended up with a good, fresh, healthy bottle from a different batch than those rec'd by my homies pbrian and mikeys01. very much on-par and similar to the kilt tilter (lifter?) wee heavy from bru rm. for $5, this is a must-try connecticut seasonal and pleasantly warming for a cool winter's eve.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by KelsoSaaz from Maine
4.19/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into snifter
A: Pours a deep mahogany brown that shines amber when held to light. Thin, quickly dissipating, khaki head.
S: Woody, peaty and rich cherry aromas up front. Caramel and other sweet malt tones are apparent as well. Earthy and boozy notes too.
T: Sweet and rich malts up front dominate flavors. Not as much cherry flavor as I would have expected. Very soft, medicine and cherry flavors are what you taste here. Earth and slightly tart dark fruit flavors lurk in the background.
M: Very slightly viscous body. Moderate to mild carbonation.
O: A nice winter treat. Malty and sweet with deeper cherry flavors than other similar beers this beer sets itself apart from the pack in a good way. Not your typical scotch ale; this beer is great for philosophical evenings in the dead of winter.
Mar 04, 2014A: Pours a deep mahogany brown that shines amber when held to light. Thin, quickly dissipating, khaki head.
S: Woody, peaty and rich cherry aromas up front. Caramel and other sweet malt tones are apparent as well. Earthy and boozy notes too.
T: Sweet and rich malts up front dominate flavors. Not as much cherry flavor as I would have expected. Very soft, medicine and cherry flavors are what you taste here. Earth and slightly tart dark fruit flavors lurk in the background.
M: Very slightly viscous body. Moderate to mild carbonation.
O: A nice winter treat. Malty and sweet with deeper cherry flavors than other similar beers this beer sets itself apart from the pack in a good way. Not your typical scotch ale; this beer is great for philosophical evenings in the dead of winter.
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
4.4/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.4/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Appearance: high carbonation, 1/4 inch head, clear, brown in color
Smell: peat, caramel, and berries
Taste: big time caramel and cherries, light chocolate and bread
Mouthfeel: very sweet, medium body, moderate carbonation
Overall: I loved this beer and is now one of my favorites coming out of Connecticut. This is a malty dessert beer and not an everyday drinker. The caramel works perfectly with the cherry for a holiday treat. I will be getting this again.
Jan 06, 2014Smell: peat, caramel, and berries
Taste: big time caramel and cherries, light chocolate and bread
Mouthfeel: very sweet, medium body, moderate carbonation
Overall: I loved this beer and is now one of my favorites coming out of Connecticut. This is a malty dessert beer and not an everyday drinker. The caramel works perfectly with the cherry for a holiday treat. I will be getting this again.
Reviewed by PicoPapa from Connecticut
3.71/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle. Part of the ever so popular 2 pack.... Pours a dark brown color with some medium brown ruby hues and a half inch of head. Minimal lacing. Aromas of caramel and butterscotch. Malty and boozey. The taste is more of the butterscotch with lots of caramel malts. Slightly watery with lots of alcohol flavor. Earthy towards the end. Slightly medicinal. Butterscotch finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thin. Overall, a decent Scotch Ale I'd buy again, but I'm not a big fan of the 2 pack format.
Dec 02, 2013
Father Christmas Highland Ale from The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
58 ratings
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