Gordon Xmas - John Martin's (John Martin SA)

beerenjoyer1

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gordon's Xmas is a overall good dark strong beer. The appearance is dark, of course, with a small tan foam on top. The smell is a malty smell with a hint of caramel. The taste is good with full flavor on each taste and a nice freshness throughout. The mouthfeel is full if I can say that because it is good, and the drinkability is remarkable so that I want to savor it alittle longer. i think this beer should be drank after the temperature achieves a range of 50-60F because the full floaovr really comes out.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 21:30:11 | More by beerenjoyer1

kojevergas

California

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

2008 Gordon Christmas served on-draught into a Gordon Xmas goblet at Kulminator in Antwerp. 8.8% confirmed. Cost was 3.50 euro. Reviewed from notes taken in early July 2011.

A: Pours a two finger tinted white head of wonderful fluffy froth, great cream, brilliant thickness, and excellent retention for the ABV. Body colour is a dark red-ruby.

Sm: Dark fruit, floral hops, caramelized malt, and light cream. A delightful mild strength aroma.

T: Too much cream and vanilla. Tame restrained dark fruit. Generic floral hops. Rather muted and bland overall. I wish the flavours weren't so restrained. Complex enough, and balanced well, but built problematically.

Mf: Too wet. Very smooth, which suits the muted flavour profile.

Dr: High ABV is well hidden; it's very drinkable. Of pretty good quality. I like it, but the muted feel bothers me.

B-

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 22:00:19 | More by kojevergas

JavierGC

Spain

2/5  rDev -46.7%

02-04-2013 17:24:52 | More by JavierGC

Satyr179

Sweden

4/5  rDev +6.7%

02-03-2013 17:10:21 | More by Satyr179

Pelicanrocks

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev 0%

01-08-2013 19:05:24 | More by Pelicanrocks

WilstonOreo

Germany

4/5  rDev +6.7%

12-26-2012 15:27:28 | More by WilstonOreo

Keegan

Germany

4/5  rDev +6.7%

12-19-2012 07:32:59 | More by Keegan

RogerDoger

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +20%

10-11-2012 01:06:02 | More by RogerDoger

samEBC

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev 0%

01-21-2012 23:13:12 | More by samEBC

rekel

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +6.7%

01-03-2012 13:50:39 | More by rekel

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.7/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Drunk from my Traquair tankard on Christmas in Scotland, this has a pleasant smoky spicy smell in the bottle . Forms a light foamy off white big bubbly head which really thins over the course of the drink but does leave some relatively complex lacing around the medium transparent red brown body. Deep sugar y bitter tang. Fairly chewy on the palate with a degree of perfectly restarined light Christmas spice. A buttery caramel quality makes a very late but very welcome addition as the end and the various fields together build a beer which is actually greater than the sum of it parts.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 21:22:53 | More by Zimbo

educorgan

Portugal

4/5  rDev +6.7%

12-27-2011 02:15:44 | More by educorgan

Daredevil

Switzerland

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

strong foamy head, dark transparent color

the nose gives some hints of marsh and moss on malty notes

the palate is rich, with notes of liquorice, dark chocolate and dates, some bitternes in the finish

a beefy seasonal brew - a good heart-warmer on a cold winter night ....

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 22:34:44 | More by Daredevil

spacemanvt

Virginia

4/5  rDev +6.7%

12-12-2011 17:00:56 | More by spacemanvt

falcon1

Ohio

5/5  rDev +33.3%

12-02-2011 01:31:59 | More by falcon1

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pretty good beer. Had it served in a thistle glass with large, foamy, frothy, light tan head that lasted and lots of lace. Color was a clear, dark cherry wood with deep red tones. Aroma was roasty, toffee, caramel malt. Flavor was similar to nose. Great phenols. Body was a tad thin and had high carbonation. Finish was similar to taste, long, and boozy.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 00:24:25 | More by drpimento

fugitive

Greece

3.45/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

750ml bottle at Beer Factory,Athens-Greece. Color dark red with medium creamy head. Aroma caramel, spicy, cinnamon, cherries. Taste cherries, sweet, spicy, yeast, suggar. Nice beer but definitely a winter warmer. Will buy again, if I can find it for Christmas.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 22:19:10 | More by fugitive

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.33/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2001 vintage consumed in the vlaamse reus in Wageningen
Look: the beer pours an dark amber-ruby color, with a nice fluffy brown head.
Smell: Sweet malts, caramel, dark fruits and some light spices.
Taste: Quite sweet malts, caramel and dark fruits again. Aging mellowed the bitterness and spices in this brew. Raisins, Madeira and dark sugars are overpowering the hoppy spicy bitterness in the aftertaste of the fresh vintage.
Mouthfeel: Medium-carbonation, sticky mouthfeel and medium bodied.
Overall: Nice brew, aged much better than the fresh

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 11:59:29 | More by rvdoorn

ThaCreep

Belgium

2.93/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Alcohol and malt nose. As always in this range of beer would be tempted to say. It feels as fruits (plums, cassis) macerated and a hint of liqueur fruits. Alcoholic mouth with hints bitter and spicy with a little bit of dried fruit. Finish hot with alcohol. The latter is still too present in the mouth and spoils the flavor.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-28-2011 20:48:08 | More by ThaCreep

impending

California

2.23/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

this is a scotch ale

33cl into a tulip. Pours a fantastic deep copper that appears as a dark ruby red when back lite, perfectly clear. Minor off white head subsided quickly, minor lacing.

Aroma is sweeter and more vinous than most scotch ales - this being a Noël brew. Lots of malts and quiet spices.

Taste is of a scotch / dubbel meld with a surprisingly strong alcohol punch. Lacks complexity. The alcohol is far too dominant for a brew of this simplicity. Following the minor bitter finish the aftertaste is dominated again by alcohol. Nothing in the flavor says Noël. Warmth provides only a slight improvement. Medium bodied mouthfeel.

Weird seeing corn listed as an ingredient of a brew from Belgium.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 21:27:38 | More by impending

jeranbrews

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - low frothy whispy head.  Islands of lacing deep ruby brown body.  clairity is high.

S - wheat bread. Very wheaty whole wheat bread. Wheat plus wheat plus more wheat.

T - Taste has a few surprising flavors. Contrast the nose nicely.  A kind of subtle, complex, sweetness.  Not like sugar or malt or fruits much more dense and sneaky.  Middle flavors are deep spicy and ester-like. Aftertaste is mildly hoppy/oaky

M - a nice smooth syrupy sipping texture. Initially watery after warming the beer thickened up and got a little thicker.

D - smooth yummy sipping beer. However I can't find anything about this beer that makes it a seasonal beer or Xmas worthy

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 04:51:51 | More by jeranbrews

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.73/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured in a chalice.

A: Pours a beautiful dark amber almost brown clear color. Big beige and fluffy head which dissipates quickly (but not completely) leaving many lacings around

S: Smell is really barley malts. Sweet. Like a biscuit. It's a bit fruity too, it reminds raisins. Notes of wood and, no surprise, Scotch

T: Really remarkable by strong taste of roasted barley malts. Sweet upfront. Wood, raisins and a nice (really nice) hoppy and bitter end

M: Heavy body and medium to low carbonation. Really molasses. Alcohol can be felt and the bitter end is a must

D: Good. Well done "Scotchy" beer...

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 20:41:58 | More by eduardolinhalis

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.75/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

33cl bottle poured into a delirium tremens chalice

BB 20/10/08

A- 2 finger tan head sits atop an extremely dark ruby body. Clarity is excellent with excellent lacing and moderate retention considering the ABV

S- Toffee caramel rich maltiness, some dark rich fruit cake.

T- Sweet munich malt richness dominates, a hint of alcohol is underneath, almost like a sweet sherry in a rich fruit cake.

M- Full bodied,slightly creamy, luxuriously smooth, medium carbonation. Maybe lacks carbonation for the style, but i previous this is such a rich beer.

D- A very rich smooth luxurious beer.
A beautiful fireside sipper. Dangerously addictive!

*Note* Not had this fresh but i would say a 3 year old bottle of this would beat a fresh Delirium Nocturnum in the taste/richness department. Would be interested to see what 3 years would do to a Nocturnum.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 22:25:51 | More by seanyfo

Travlr

District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep maroon color with a thick light tan head that lingers. Nice lacing.
S: Aroma of toffee, dates and vanilla.
T: Flavor is fairly complex, starts sweetish with butterscotch and progresses to malts and light spice.
M: Reasonable body.
D: Very nice Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2010 11:28:30 | More by Travlr

weissbierdrinker

Belgium

4.38/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep ruby red almost red wine color, with a tan head that leaves spotted patches of lacing around the glass.

Smell is of raisins, caramel, maybe some vanilla.

Taste is dry and spicy up front with some dark chocolate notes, tobacco, plums, dried fruit, and a coffee finish that is dry and peppery.

Great Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 20:34:22 | More by weissbierdrinker