Penn Brewery - St. Nikolaus Bock Bier

After our trip to Market Garden Brewery, we dove right into the first of seventeen Christmas ale. Yes, seventeen. There are too many to narrow down to just a week's worth. First up, Penn Brewry St. Nikoluas Bock Bier purchased at the Cornersburg Party Shop.

"At the start of the 19th century, he was a tall, stern patriarch in bishop's robes. Today, he's a jolly globular sky-riding elf. Saint Nick may be a milk-and-cookies guy, but he knows what you want, and it's this St. Nikolaus Bock Bier. Rich, dark and full bodied, because it's brewed just like beers are brewed in Germany. With a blend of roasted barley malt and Bavarian Hallertau hops. It's fresher though, because we make it right here in Pennsylvania." This won a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and is 6.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.0/10

It pours a translucent red amber color, with aromas of caramel, malt, nutmeg, honey, and slight cherry. The taste gives a full tongue bite, although it's light. There's a little honey and caramel in the finish, and there is no distinct hop flavor.

Shawn- I can't wrap my head around a beer with a great bouquet where none of those aromas make it into the flavors, 4.5/10.
Angela- I expected more flavor/richness based on the smell, so I am a bit disappointed, 5/10.
Chris- The problem is that it has an incredible smell, but the taste dies off. They could have done a lot more with this beer, 5.5/10.