Beer Tasting - Christmas Ale by Great Lakes Brewing Co.

[davidrcoulter]

l like all GL beers, the only thing is that the Xmas Ale recipe changes each year. Take care and enjoy your beers! Prost!

[terpsichoreankid]

@davidrcoulter True--that year in particular it was good. This year was pretty good too! Cheers!

[senseikodysh]

Warning: Do not review other beers for a period of 60 - 90 days after experiencing Great Lakes Christmas Ale. You may begin to display signs of depression (up to and including thoughts of suicide) if you attempt to drink Bud Light (or similar) within this period.

[terpsichoreankid]

@senseikodysh Hahaha--so true! Though, I don't think I would drink Budweiser if someone paid me to do it... LOL

[erin707]

omg luv ur review! u have a good nose n taste buds :-) Luved GLBC Christmas Ale for some time now and every Holiday season (Nov 1, normally) I wait with batted breath for this magnificent brew to hit store shelves :-)

[terpsichoreankid]

@erin707 Thank you!

[CheertoBeers]

BEST CHRISTMAS ALE!

[terpsichoreankid]

@CheertoBeers It is a good one!

[smoovbeing]

I just got some. I've been waiting for today to try it.  I hear they only brew it once a year.

[terpsichoreankid]

@smoovbeing It's a good one!

[jmohno]

thanks im currently respecting the seasonal brews and understanding why you would want to get them although im getting pretty gung-ho about my first homebrew! it might be making me a little egotistical! but damn! now i see what i was missing out on wish i was more motivatied at your age about homebrewing but hey now im a lifer!

[terpsichoreankid]

@jmohno Haha--awesome to hear! I'm still loving the homebrew, and will continue making plenty to keep in the keg fridge. I forgot to start a batch of holiday beer this year early enough (they take a while to mellow the flavors out with those spices), so I'm living vicariously through them. Next year though, I'm definitely brewing a batch of my own! Cheers!

[TheGraydon]

UHG! i want some but i live in Ontario so they dont sell it :/

[terpsichoreankid]

@TheGraydon I've heard you guys have a heck of a time finding good beer that doesn't cost an arm and a leg... That sucks! :-(

[TheGraydon]

@terpsichoreankid a good beer? the cheapest 24 i can buy (Old Milwaukee) is $28.50! i always make sure to bring a bunch of the good stuff up from new york whenever i can haha

[terpsichoreankid]

@TheGraydon Holy crap! That's insane!

[bigbear34744]

only bad part is us southern people cant get great lakes as far as i know itsa midwestern beer

[terpsichoreankid]

@bigbear34744 Yeah--on their website, it looks like they only currently distribute in the midwest and northern east coast... Such good beer--I wish they could spread out! But I guess that's all the fun with a microbrewery--so many great varieties out there... I'd like to do a road trip, brewery to brewery... That would be a hoot!

[PUCK271]

Awesome beer....and he is right you can realy taste the cinnamin.....and it is delicious

[terpsichoreankid]

@PUCK271 So true--I'm very happy that it wasn't overpowering and added to the ginger and honey balance so well.  Definitely a good brew.

[steeljan]

Looks like a great beer. Thanks for doing a review on it. I'm wondering like some of the other guys, how they got the real flavors to come out. Maybe they add the honey and spices during bottling? Hey, wonder if they use the honey as the priming sugar? Cheers!

[terpsichoreankid]

@steeljan Yeah, I'm not too sure on how it all worked... I'm thinking the ginger may have accentuated the honey taste, so it is possible that only a small amount of honey was used. The ginger/cinnamon/honey balance was perfect though, in my opinion, and I was impressed that it wasn't too much. I like the winter ales, but when it tastes like chewing on a cinnamon stick... well then, I just make a Hot Toddy! :-D

[immolateus]

Im over using honey in beer, I always get a weird flavor when I use it. I will admit that I made a raspberry ale once with honey, it turned out OK but that was the exception. My only other successful experience was the 2 meads I recently made. In primary-tertiary for 11 months, bottled 'em a few weeks ago and I don't expect to start drinking them for a few more months. If anybody has feedback on honey I'm all ears

[terpsichoreankid]

@immolateus I've actually never brewed with honey...  Thought about it, but then didn't want to pay for as much as I would need!

[MaximAvs]

Joe,

I'd like to donate to the heating bill so you don't have to wear a parka indoors! Haha ;)

Thanks for the review!! I'll look for it at my local liquor store!!

[terpsichoreankid]

@MaximAvs LOL Yeah--I thought it would be funny when reading the poem, but then wound up just not taking it off... lol

[dorf68]

im a west coaster, can't get it. bummer.

[terpsichoreankid]

@dorf68 If I ever find it at the store again and pick it up, I'll be sure to let you know so I can send you a couple. So far, this one bottle is the only bottle I've seen that is on the shelves--the stuff flies off them!

[bigbear34744]

i wonder if you tooka red ale and added some honey and spices i bet wecould clone that lol

[terpsichoreankid]

@bigbear34744 Hrmmm--possibly. The spice blend was spot on--so I think the balance is in finding that honey sweetness with the ginger and cinnamon. I'm thinking that the ginger is the key in the equation--too much would make it taste horrible, and too little wouldn't accentuate they honey sweetness right...