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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

Our next porter is Breckenridge Vanilla Porter purchased at the Havana House.

This ale is brewed with real vanilla beans from Papua New Guinea and Madagascar. It is "remarkable and partakable" and the website provides a recipe for a Vanilla Porter Milkshake. It has 16 IBUs and is 4.7% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.7/10

It pours a rich, dark amber/red color abd is slightly opaque. The head is a slight off white and carbonated and there is lacing on the glass. The aroma is a sweet vanilla, dark malt, molasses, and collfee, as well as a crème brûlée scent. The very first taste to come from this is vanilla, but it's cool and refreshing, not overpowering. You then taste coffee with a sugary finish; there is almost no hop flavor. It has a front tongue bite with a slight lingering on the sides.

Shawn- This is an excellent dessert beer because of the sweetness and the fact that it doesn't coat your palate. I do question it's consistent drinkability, however, 7.5/10.
Angela- This is a drinkable beer with a rich vanilla flavor. This is another good porter, and it's nice to taste a different flavor (in this case vanilla) rather than the usual chocolate or coffee (although I love those too!), 8/10.
Chris- It is thin but still rich with a lot of flavor, 7.5/10.

Our friend Eric has shared his opinion on this beer: "This is a really good dessert beer - the last one of the night.  It is an ideally balanced porter with definite vanilla flavor.  This is not a hint of vanilla or something only an experienced palate can discern; there is plenty of vanilla.  On tap, it is smoother but slightly watery compared to the bottle version.  Rating: 9.0."

Founders Porter

Happy 11/11/11! After our long pumpkin ale journey, we are now venturing onto porters. Our first is Founders Porter purchased the Havana House.

"Brewed for us. Enjoyed by everyone."

The company was founded in 1997, and the beer has a bottled on date of 8/23/11. This beer is "cozy like velvet," "a lover, not a fighter," and "dark, rich, and sexy" - who can resist a beer that boasts such allure?! It has 45 IBUs and is 6.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.5/10

This beer is black with a thick pour and is completely opaque. The head is a caramelly light brown and is quick to diminish. The aroma is roasted malt, smoke, coffee, and deep, dark cocoa bean. The smooth taste is delicious - chocolate and "smoked coffee bean" (-Chris). There is a mainly front tongue with a little back tongue bite. It ends well with a hop finish that is not predominant but more of a hop undertone. This has great drinkability.

Shawn- This beer is nice and clean with coffee and chocolate flavors. This is so smooth it seems thin even though it's rich and thick. The flavors are well-balanced; the coffee is refreshing and gives this beer amazing drinkability - I could wake up and drink this, 8.5/10.
Angela- One word: yum. This is absolutely dark, rich, and sexy. It is thick and rich - a great cold weather beer. I will absolutely drink this again, 8.5/10.
Chris- This is what I expect from a porter; it has a very good thickness. Personally, I would like a little less coffee flavor because it becomes too predominant for me, 8.5/10.

Dogfish Head - Punkin Ale

Our next pumpkin beer has a pretty awesome backstory: DogFish Head Punkin Ale purchased at Havana House.

Backstory: It is located in southern Delaware and was first released in November 1994. The cool part is that it is named after a locally-known event - Punkin Chunkin, which from what I gather, is where people build devices to launch pumpkins into the air and then into the ground. Sweet! It is a full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is 7% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.2/10

The appearance reminds Chris of Blue Moon - it's translucent and orangey amber in color. The aromas are allspice, pumpkin, cinnamon, and light nutmeg. The taste gives a front tongue bite, a slight metallic taste, and a clean, crisp finish. We taste brown sugar, molasses, and a little wheat.

Shawn- I like that the flavors are poignant and not overpowering. You can definitely taste the flavors without them consuming what you're tasting, 7/10.
Angela- I would definitely drink this again. It has a good taste and a good pumpkin flavor, 7.5/10.
Chris- I get more out of the smell than the taste, though I think it is well-balanced. The metallic taste knocks down my score a bit, 7/10.

Hoppin' Frog - Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale

One of the beers with the best story written on the label is Hoppin' Frog's Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale purchased at Havana House.

"There's a place just south they call Frog's Hollow, with cauldron's afire in Fall, and they only speak in whispers of the name. There's a brewery they say who has the secret, of spices picked just right. With a crying shout, they'll knock it out, and hand you this Frog's delight." It is brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove). This 2010 GABF gold medal winner is 18.4°P, 7.3 IBUs, and 8.4% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.7/10

This beer is orange and cloudy with no head. The aroma is very crisp and uncluttered - you get pumpkin and spices, particularly nutmeg and cinnamon. The taste yields a strong pumpkin start with honey, cinnamon, and light clove flavors. It is overall and excellent flavored beer with a front tongue bite.

Shawn- It is clean and crisp, and I'm able to decipher the flavors and aromas well. My rating is again damned because of the Pumking Ale, 8.5/10.
Angela- This is a well-flavored beer, and it is what I want when I crave a pumpkin ale, 8.5/10.
Chris- I actually like this better than the Weyerbacher. I really like that I can taste the flavors individually and together, and it also doesn't taste overly alcohol-y considering the higher ABV, 9/10.

Weyerbacher - Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Our next pumpkin beer is from one of my favorite brewery's: Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale purchased at Havana House.

"Like a pyramid for a pharaoh, we set out to make a bold monument for The King of the Pumpkins!" The brewery says this is more "caramelly" and "pumpkiny" than other beers of the same kind. It is brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and clove). Also, the angry jack o' lantern king on the label is fantastic. It is 8% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.9/10

This pours as a translucent dark amber/orange color with slight lacing on the glass. The aroma is wonderfully strong overall, and you can definitely smell all of the flavors. You get pumpkin, nutmeg, light clove, cinnamon, and a sugary/honey scent. The taste is well-balanced between the pumpkin and spices, with a front tongue bite and an almost slight vanilla finish. (Note: I have had this beer on tap served in a glass with a cinnamon sugar rim - it enhances those spices in the beer. Delish.)

Shawn- This is really well done, and the only bad thing I can say is that I've had the Southern Tier Pumking already this year, and I prefer that to this, 9/10.

Angela- This is a delicious, well-spiced October beer - definitely something to drink with colorful, crunchy leaves outside when there's a chill in the air, 9/10.

Chris- It's a really nice beer that's fantastically done. It is memorable, but for me, it lacks a wow factor, 8.5/10.

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.