Abita Christmas Ale

Brewed by Abita Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
Covington, Louisiana USA

This beer has been on-deck for a few weeks now, but, like mopping the kitchen, I’ve put it off as long as possible. No longer! Appearance: Pours a clear, dark amber body with an inch of frothy, off-white head. Smell: Lightly spicy, vaguely malty nose with a small note of roasted nuts. Taste: Meager taste of nutty brown malts with only a very light, brief sweetness. Indistinct touch of fruit. Hint of roast. Pinch of cinnamon. Medium-low bitterness, though more than enough for the nearly vacant malts. Bit of pine upon warming. Dry, watery, but crisp finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: So thin! The beer is so meek and so mild, that it certainly doesn’t make me think of "Christmas". Perhaps another holiday would be more fitting... how about Tweed Day on April 3rd? Yes, that seems much more fitting.

copper pour with small off white head. I know this brewer is known for it’s euro style malty beers, but this one is more than a little off balance. bitter finish.

Bottle. Pours clear copper with a medium-sized white head that fades to lace. Weak aroma of gingerbread, roasted nuts, malt, potpourri and light ginger. Grainy malt character in the flavor with a bit of sweet toffee and caramel. Christmas spices are nearly absent in the flavor. Finishes dry and fairly weak. Pretty one-dimensional, but I think the average rating is a bit low.

Bottle. Pours a brown reminiscent of a light brandy. Medium eggshell white head. Burnt nut aroma, spice, and malt. Flavor follows the nose, but certainly not the good parts. Flavor is burnt, and slightly acrid. Ended up drain pouring most of it.

Draft and bottled. Pours an amber body with an off white head. Malty up front, caramel and some sweet sugars prevail. Fruity esters and lightly spiced with cinnamon. Fruity esters, no warming. Could have gone for a higher abv here.

6 pack from liquor depot in monee. clear amber color, medium off white head, very attractive lacing. aroma of sweet malt. flavor of lightly bitter chocolate, raisin, sweet malt. medium bodied, lightly bitter finish. a mildly disappointing brew.

Tasted 1/1/09. 12oz bottle. Filtered with a ruby amber hue. Lacing off-white head. Malty aromas with a dash of cinnamon. Light to medium bodied with a spicy note and a decent dose of hops. Noticeable spice character, but one dimensional. Sticky finish. Doughy malts and citrus hops. Touch thin, but tasty.

Chestnut orange huge, modest head and lacing. Restrained nose of caramel and fruitcake, with a touch of orange rind. There seems to be something herbal or floral in there too. Balanced and somewhat Britishy, somewhere in the vicinity of an ESB, with an herbal hop and light caramel fruity malts. Lightish finish. A little too fizzy. To say its boring and uninspired might be a bit harsh but not far off the mark.