CHRISTMAS ALE ~ SHEPHERD NEAME

7% from Faversham, Kent, England
Sheperd Neame is one of England’s oldest brewery. Christmas Ale is their seasonal release and is a winter ale. Sampled from a bottle, the beer poured a clear copper-orange with an average creamy head, which reduced to a cap and left decent lacing. Lots of carbonation was apparent. The nose had notes of Christmas cake, fruity esters and dark fruit, caramel and brown sugar, a touch of spice and earthy floral hops. The taste is quite sweet with fruity and caramel notes, spice and earthy hops. The finish has a sweetness balanced with the earthy hops. Body is medium but the mouthfeel is little thin. The carbonation is active. I thought this was a very pleasant Christmas Ale, not to much of anything and nicely balanced.
Malts: Pale and Crystal malts
Hops: Goldings (aroma), Target, Challenger (bittering hops)

BAH HUMBUG ~ WYCHWOOD BREWERY

Bah Humbug is a seasonal winter warmer (spiced beer.) Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a slightly opaque coppery mahogany with a thick cream coloured head. The nose contained caramel, nuts, dried fruit, cinnamon, spice, breadiness and a hint of sweetness and leafy hops. The taste had notes of dried fruit, caramel, light toasted malts, cinnamon, subtle banana, bread malts and nuttiness. The finish is leafy maris otter hops along with spice, which leave a drying subtle bitter aftertaste. The body was medium-light and the carbonation on the soft side. A very palatable Christmas beer.

6% from Witney, England

GREAT LAKES ~ WINTER ALE

A Winter Warmer sampled from a bottle. The beer poured a translucent medium beer brown with slight amber hues. It had a fingers height of head that left good lacing after it fell. There was lots of spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger) on the nose as well as caramel, dark fruits, and sweet malts. The beer began with sweet malty caramel and suggestions of orange, followed by dry spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), with a touch of honey. It finished fry with a pleasant earthy hop and warming ginger. It is well carbonated and the mouth feel is on the thinner side of medium. A pleasant offering from GLB, but these beers are like pumpkin ales to me, I want them as a treat not all the time. Worth checking out.

6.5 % from Toronto, Ontario