Hoppin' Frog - Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Our seventeenth and final Christmas ale is Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

"The essence of Christmas is captured in this very bottle you are holding. Perfectly blended spices compliment Frosted Frog's rich malt flavors, creating the ultimate Christmas experience. Celebrate the holidays as you savor this very special seasonal offering." It has 12 IBUs, 80.1°P, and is 8.6% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.25/10

This beer pours a ruby red with a good carbonation. The first aroma to hit you and a "big boy" cinnamon and then nutmeg, honey, clove, and orange zest. The taste has the perfect amount of honey to counteract the cinnamon. We constructed a "Bell Curve" for this beer. You start slowly with the hop and orange, build to an intense cinnamon, and finish slowly with honey and nutmeg.

Shawn- "Honestly, I think I smell happiness," 9.25/10.

Angela- This is a smooth beer, spicy and yummy in both aroma and taste, I love it, 9.25/10.

Chris- This is fantastic. You can taste all of the flavors. I can't rate this a 10, but I also can't tell you what it needs to improve, 9.25/10.

Gouden Carolus - Noël

Our second to last Christmas ale is Gouden Carolus Noël purchased at Vintage Estates.

This Belgian beer is refermented in the bottle, and ours was specifically bottled on 09/23/09. "Gouden Carolus Noël was brewed exceptionally for Christmas by the Anker brewery, established in Mechelen since 1369, and is one of the classic Belgian breweries. This very specific Belgian ale is brewed using traditional methods and a recipe with top fermentation. It's high gravity gives this ale its warmth and body. It improves with age and will charm you with its warm, coppery colour and its rich bouquet." It is 10.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.0/10

It is a cloudy copper reddish brown color with aromas of Belgian yeast, cherry, mint, and honey. The taste is a refreshing mint flavor.

Shawn- The mint give sit almost a medicinal finish that kills it a bit for me. They should have extracted the leaves earlier, although it is still well-balanaced with a great body, 9/10.
Angela- There are different flavors in this beer than what I'm used to in Christmas ales; the mint is unique. This is not something I personally could drink a lot of, 8.5/10.
Chris- This beer does so much from beginning to middle to end. The mint is unexpected but well-received, 9.5/10.

Tröegs - The Mad Elf Ale

"The Mad Elf, a jolly and delicious beer for the Holidays."

Our fifteenth (!!!) Christmas ale is Tröegs Mad Elf purchased at Vintage Estates.



"A cheerful concotion to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. Fermented and aged with a spicy yeast, this ruby red beer delivers subtle cherries and enticing aromas." This is 11% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.25/10

This pours a translucent red with sweet aromas of honey, cinnamon, cherry, and clove. The taste is cherry, honey, and slight alcohol, which is to be expected with this high of a percentage ABV. We all agree that this tastes better on tap.

Shawn- First of all, the Mad Elf is not your friend; drink responsibly. That being said, this is one of the best renditions of a Christmas Ale in the United States, in my opinion. You can taste the alcohol, but it's not overwhelming. It is truly a Christmas ale, 9.5/10.

Angela- This is one of my favorite Christmas ales, although it is uniquely flavored with the cherry added to the traditional Christmas spices. I look forward to this beer every year, 9/10.

Chris- I love this beer. It is my favorite American Christmas ale to drink every year. The way it unfolds on my palate is unlike other American Christmas ales, 9.75/10.

Thirsty Dog - 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

Next is Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

"The name sums up the idea of bringing the best together to celebrate. It is filled with seasonal flavors from generous amounts of toasted and caramel malts, mixed with equally generous amounts of honey, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. We feel it is the perfect libation, filled with flavors of the season." This is best served between 43-49°F, has 21.51 IBUs, 18.5°P, and is 8.3% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.8/10

It is a clear light red amber color with aromas of ginger, honey, cinnamon, and clove. The taste is pretty much what we smell, with top and side tongue bites.

Shawn- I prefer this exponentially to Great Lakes Christmas Ale. This is delicious and pure and is smartly executed. I am a huge ginger fan, and it is good from the smell to the taste with a refreshing finish, 9.25/10.
Angela- This is a Christmas ale. It is spicy and drinkable, something I actually drank while baking the hundreds of Chistmas cookies I baked this year, 8.75/10.
Chris- This is a phenomenal beer, though I think the flavors could be developed a bit more, 8.5/10.

Breckenridge - Christmas Ale

"Plenty of good cheer - Good friends ever near."

We're nearing the end of our Christmas ale journey! Next up is Breckenridge Christmas Ale purchased at Havana House.

"The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and strength. Here it is. Our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire." This has 22 IBUs and is 7.4% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.5/10

This is a slightly cloudy red amber beer that smells of burnt sugar. The taste is thinner than most Christmas ales, with a side tongue bite and a back of the tongue finish.

Shawn- This has good drinkability, but it doesn't hit true Christmas notes. Sweet ≠ Christmas, 6.5/10.
Angela- This is thin but drinkable. It doesn't remind me of a Christmas ale, but it is decent, 6.5/10.
Chris- I could drink this year round, but it's not much of a Christmas ale. My lower rating is based on style representation, 6.5/10.

Three Floyds - Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter

"It's not normal."

Our twelfth Christmas Ale is Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter purchased at Vintage Estates.

"Alpha Klaus is Alpha King [their flagship beer]'s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers!" It has 38 IBUs and is 6% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.0/10

This pours black with a long-lasting mocha head. The aroma is "citrus hoppy as shit," says Shawn. There is also a slight wheat scent. There is a front tongue bite with a slight back and side tongue finish. We also taste something sweet we assume to be a cinnamon/Mexican sugar combination and not honey because it's a light sweetness.

Shawn- This beer follows the Three Floyds style well with a slight Christmas interpretation, 7.5/10.
Angela- This isn't "porter" enough for me, although it's not a bad beer. There is just enough hop in it, however, for me to not particularly like it, 6.5/10.
Chris- The taste is not as hoppy as the smell, but it tastes more like a barleywine than a porter, 7/10.

Ohio Brewing Co. - Jingle Bell Ale

"Spice up your holiday season!"

Next up is Jingle Bell Ale from Ohio Brewing Company purchased at Havana House.

(I cannot find a picture of this beer anywhere. There isn't even a description of it on their website.)

"In the spirit of giving we have concocted this festive holiday brew. One sip ofour slightly sweet and spice amber ale will bring joy to your heart and peace to your senses." Interestingly, the Ohio Brewing Company was founded in 1997 in Niles, Ohio, before moving to Akron. This has 25 IBUs and is 7.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.1/10

This beer is a very clear red amber color. The aroma is very sweet, with honey, cherry, and a slight caramel malt scents. It reminds me of caramel candies. The taste is creamy with a slight syrupiness. It has a bubbly sweet soda finish.

Shawn- This reminds me of a cream soda, and the vanilla is a suprise. It's a little sweet for me, and I'm not sure it's truly a Christmas ale. I think the sugary richness could hold more flavor, however it is still pretty balanced, though the taste doesn't develop enough for me, 7/10.
Angela- I didn't expect the taste based on the smell, though it is a very interesting flavor. It makes me think of eating those bullseye caramels, 7/10.
Chris- It's like a red ale trying to be a Christmas ale; it should taste stronger. It's not bad, but they could do more with it, 7.25/10.

Goose Island - Christmas Ale

Our next beer is http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/beers/3.php Christmas Ale purchased at Cornersburg Party Shop.

Goose Island changes the recipe of this beer slightly each year to give its customers something to look forward to. It is an American Brown Ale best enjoyed in a nonic pint glass (where the glass bulges out a couple of inches from the top) and can develop in the bottle for up to five years. It is 6.2% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.8/10

It is an orange-y amber colored beer with a quick to diminish off-white head. There is citrus hop in the aroma, as well as a pine/evergreen scent (from the hops?) and a rich sweetness (honey?). We taste hops at the beginning, then cherry with an earthy honey finish.

Shawn- It reminds me of a honey cough drop, something you'd curl up with if you aren't feeling well. It's like the beer version of a hot toddy, 6/10.
Angela- It's an okay beer with a unique flavor, but not one that's very drinkable for me, 5.5/10.
Chris- It's alright, but I think more could have been done with the flavor because the hop overpowers whatever else there is, 6/10.

St. Bernardus - Christmas Ale

"Bringing heavenly nectar within reach."

Our eighth Christmas ale comes all the way from Belgium! It's the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

The term "Watou" is on the glass on the label, and it refers to the village in Belgium where the beer is brewed. It is a Belgian Abbey Ale that is best stored in a cool, dark place and is best served between 46-50°F. It is 10% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.25/10

This pours a rusty red color and is opaque because of being bottle conditioned with a good head and lacing. You get aromas of Belgian yeast, dark cherry, honey, a little molasses, and maybe wheat and cranberry. The taste gives flavors of honey, Belgian yeast, and cherry. There is a bite on the tip of the tongue. The guys agree that this is "simple but perfect."

Shawn- "It's just beautiful." It is extremely well-balanced, although I would prefer a little less of the Belgian yeast. For being 10% ABV, you don't taste it, so be careful when drinking this! The brewer definitely hit a homerun with this, 9.25/10.

Angela- This is a very good Belgian beer and a good representation of what a Christmas ale should be. It is a fulfilling, flavorful beer, 9/10.

Chris- "This beer leaves me speechless," 9.5/10.

Label:

"Brewery St. Bernardus was founded in 1946 in Watou, Province of West Flanders in Belgium. These exceptional quality ales are brewed by using only the finest malts, local grown hops, yeast and artesian water pumped from a depth of 500 feet. After the brewing process these traditional ales are matured in tanks for three months, before being bottle conditioned. The result is a naturally carbonated 'living ale,' which can be aged for up to 15 years and will satisfy the taste of even the most discriminating connoisseurs.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is the youngest descendant in the illustrious family of delicious Abbey Ales brewed by brewery St. Bernardus since 1946. This specialty ale of 10% is characterized by its deep dark color with a creamy, thick head, and a full, almost velvety mouthfeel with a fruity nose. It's a seasonal ale, brewed annually for the Holiday season. The long winter nights are perfect moments to savor this ale, with family and friends, and to enjoy its unique, complex taste."

Ridgeway Brewing - Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout

"This little coal-black gem is much more than you deserve for Christmas this year."

Next up is Ridgeway Brewing Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout, purchased at Havana House.

"Yet another bummed-out holiday? Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout is liquid consolation. It's a deep, rich, sweetly rewarding stout to take the edge off of that grim family gathering, that cheerless annual festival of alienation. This brew is as dark as it gets, as black as the lump of coal you'll be getting for Christmas. Because, let's face it, you've been pretty bad this year." It is 8% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

This beer is dark brown, almost black - Chris says a "hinch" of red as well (hint + pinch? lol). The aromas are rich malt, cherry, and honey with slight alcohol undertones. The taste gives flavors of chickory and slight coffee with a side tongue bite and a light back at the back of the tongue. It tastes richer than it smells.

Shawn- This beer has a deep, rich, complex flavor that leads toa great finish. I like how the more you drink, the more it develops. This would be good to drink by the fire at the end of the day, 8/10.

Angela- This is a fantastic cold weather beer; it's one of those that warms you up even though it's cold. I love the rich malty flavor. This is definitely a beer to be enjoyed by a fire or by the light of the Christmas tree, 8/10.

Chris- This is much better compared to the previous beer from this brewery. This reminds me of a stout mixed with a winter warmer. I like the full, rich flavor with the minimal alcohol smell, 8/10.

Bell's Christmas Ale

"A bit of cheer from the north country"

Our next Christmas ale is Bell's Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

This beer was created to be "a sessionable holiday beer" differing from the "spiced winter warmers" standard to this time of year. It is a malt-driven beer, "made with 100% Michigan grown two-row barley malt and a mix of Michigan and Northwest hops." It has a shelf life of six months and is 5.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.2/10

This pours a slightly cloudy red amber color with aromas of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg - very Christmas-y, in my opinion. There is a lot of tongue bite with flavors of honey and cherry. It very crisp and refreshing.

Shawn- It is pretty well-balanced, but I wish the complexity developed more, 6/10.
Angela- It is a good and very drinkable Christmas ale, so their goal to make a sessionable holiday beer succeeded, 6/10.
Chris- I was disappointed in the aroma, but the taste made up for it. It is a delicious Christmas ale I would recommend to anyone as a good starter Christmas ale.

Great Lakes - Christmas Ale

"Savor the flavor - responsibly."

Being as close to Cleveland as we are, we most certainly had to include Great Lakes Christmas Ale, purchased at Havana House. Well, we would have included it anyway because it's good. Shawn and I have been on a couple tours of the brewery - it's really cool. (And I still have to try that Edmund Fitzgerald chocolate ice cream!)

This is brewed from all natural ingredients - barley, hops, yeast, water - no chemicals or preservatives. This is a gold medal winner at the World Beer Championship and is best served at 55 F. It is 7.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

It pours a translucent amber/red color and gives off aromas of honey, light cherry, a little nutmeg, and cinnamon. It tastes spicy with flavors of hops, a little malt, nutmeg, and light cherry.

Shawn- This beer could use a little more body, but it is complex and rich with a sweetness that lingers, not overpowers. The delicious flavors within the beer definitely beat out the taste of Cleveland water, 8.25/10.
Angela- This is very flavorful and spicy; it is a delicious go-to Christmas ale, 8/10.
Chris- It lacks some body, and I find that while you get what you smell in the taste, the flavor fades - you get it all up front, 7.75/10.

Corsendonk - Christmas Ale

Next up is Corsendonk Christmas Ale, a true product of Belgium, purchased at Vintage Estates.

The brewer uses roasted malts, hops, and yeast, spiced with coriander. It is a dark ale refermented in the bottle. It is 8.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.4/10

This has a thick, solid head, and is a cloudy/unfiltered, dark rich brown color. As Chris pours this, he is smilking from ear to ear :) The aroma is of honey, a little cherry, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The taste has the same flavors as the aroma with a slight front tongue bite and a cinnamon bite at the back of the tongue.

Shawn- This has a creaminess that coats but doesn't linger on the palate. It has an amazing complexity - the more you taste it, the more flavors you pull from it. By the third or fourth sip, you can taste the Belgian yeast, 8.5/10.
Angela- This is very delicious and not overly spicy. It is a very good and drinkable Christmas ale, 8.25/10.
Chris- "I taste 'yum!'" Belgian Christmas ales are some of my favorite beers of all time. The lacing, sediment, overall complex flavor - they are one of the most enjoyable beers to have, 8.5/10.

Ridgeway Brewing - Insanely Bad Elf

For our next Christmas ale, we went overseas to Oxfordshire, U.K. to Ridgeway Brewing for their Insanely Bad Elf, purchased at Havana House.

"'My goodness,' muttered Claus, recalling his visit to the Institute, 'the restrictive outerwear, the padded room - even padded Christmas tree ornaments. Horrifying! Yet the little chap seems happier than he's ever been.' Claus took a thoughtful sip of a most warming red ale. 'Perhaps sanity is over-rated... Ho, ho, ho!'" This is 12.0% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.7/10

It is a light straw color with a little amber hue to it. The aroma is of cherry, honey, a little cinnamon.. and alcohol. It's almost like smelling liquor. It tastes like a strong mixed drink. You can absolutely taste the strength of the alcohol in this.

Shawn- Considering the higher alcohol content, it's a little cough syrupy, almost like a simple syrup viscosity. The sweetness and alcohol stick everywhere in your mouth. I think it's a bad attempt to clone Mad Elf, 5.5/10.

Angela- Never before have I had a beer that reminded me so much of liquor. There is a slight cinnamon finish, but the thick syrupiness of it makes it too sweet, 5.75/10.

Chris- It reminds me of a honey liquour - almost like a light mead (Shawn and I agree). There's too much obvious alcohol in this, in my opinion, 5.75/10.

Abita - Christmas Ale

Our second Christmas ale is Abita Christmas Ale, purchased at the Cornersburg Party Shop.

"Each year at the Abita Brewery we craft a special dark ale for the holiday season. Each year the recipe changes so that Abita Christmas Ale is always the perfect gift." It's suggested to drink this spicy beer with traditional holiday flavors like gingerbread or spiced nuts, as well as either bleu cheese or Camembert.


Overall average rating: 6.1/10


This pours a translucent light red amber, lighter than the previous beer. This also has tons of egg white head with a lot of lacing. There is a lot of citrus hop in the aroma, with a little malt and honey as well. The hop finish in the taste is exactly like the aroma.


Shawn- Normally a Christmas ale from Louisiana would seem odd, but their Pecan Harvest was really good. The crisp bitterness of the hop in this beer is refreshing, however it doesn't have typical Christmas flavors in it. I'd classify this almost as a "red winter" more than a Christmas ale, 5.5/10.
Angela- This tastes exactly like the smell, so it's consistency is good. I actually detect an aroma of sweet potato as well as the hop. It's not my favorite Christmas ale, but I think it would go really well with Shawn's sweet potato curry soup (hint, hint), 6.25/10.
Chris- This tastes like a hoppy amber beer with a little honey added. It's not bad, it's just not that Christmasy. My rating is based on the smell/taste consistency, 6.5/10.

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.

Anchor Brewing - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Our tenth Christmas ale is Anchor Brewing's Merry Christmas and Happy New Year purchased at Havana House.

This beer is sold only from early November until mid January, and it is the 37th "Our Special Ale" from this brewery. The recipe differs every year, but "the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life." The tree on the label is a pinus longaeva, and since ancient times, "trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew." It is 5.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.3/10

This beer is a translucent light reddish brown with a light mocha head. The aroma is a deep, rich molasses and dark cherry. The taste is primarily a sweet cinnamon flavor - it reminds me of cinnamon sugar and Chris of cinnamon with molasses. Surprisingly, we didn't smell cinnamon at all. There is also a cherry wood flavor.

Shawn- This is a really neat beer. The smell is completely different from the taste; they are not indicative of each other, and I love both. I wish it was more cohesive, but it's great that it's so opposite and delicious, 7.5/10.
Angela- This has a really, really unique flavor, and I think it's one of the most interesting beers I've had, 7.25/10.
Chris- Regarding the cinnamon flavor, "where the hell did that come from?!" This is so different from anything I've ever had. I would give it a higher score if it were more consistent between aroma and taste, but I appluad the effort, 7.25/10.