Back Road Christmas Ale 2008

Taking the back road can lead to many adventures of the short road and long road of life. This time around, the back road has taken me to a Christmas Ale. That would be the Back Road Brewery out of LaPorte, Indiana with their Christmas Ale. Christmas may be long over, in Florida especially, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a good holiday brew in March. But it’s too warm, you say. Pish-posh. It’s never too warm for a Christmas beer, especially if it’s tasty. I’ve oft compared beer drinking to experiencing a little of the excitement, joy, wonder, and sometimes disappointment of Christmas morning when you open that most anticipated wrapped present and you squeal in joy or moan in disappointment.

As I tear on down the back road of beer, my glass fills half full with thin, brown-black nectar. No head or lace to speak of, though a few random bubbles appear to comfortably laze about the brackish surface below. I feel as if I have walked into nature’s greenhouse in full bloom as herbs, dark fruits, dark breads, licorice root, brown sugars, and rich, healthy soil permeate the air. Candied fruit weigh in the background of what is a deep, heavy nose. Holly, sage, and rosemary make up the herbs while figs and dates mingle with fresh rye, pumpernickel, and holiday breads. Intense and bordering on pungent, but so far she hasn’t crossed that line. My first foray into her bountiful forest is dry, herbal, and lingering with brown spices. There is a sharp bite of intense sweetness in the finish, much like burnt sugars. A very dry palate which continues to expand its arid territory. A touch of bitterness develops, leading into rough, splintered wood and dry herbs. I’m not quite sure what to think. The potential is there, but the execution is a bit rough with the finished product leaning more towards an unbalanced and overly dry conclusion. That being said, I kind of really liked it.

So, not the best Christmas Ale I’ve tasted so far, but still tasty, albeit it a bit on the rough and rustic side. This Back Road Brewery offering may have been a step off the beaten path, but it was a journey worth taking.

Aroma of malt and stout. Taste is of a strong ale. Some caramel and chocolate. Little vanilla. Little bit of cola, the only major complaint I have. Finally got around to opening it. Not bad at all.

CPLYFO 09. Bottle shared by Miketd. Pours a deep dark mahogany brown with a hint lasting head and sticky lace. Aroma is licorice, and cardamon right form the start- hints of cinnamon with nice toasty and sweet malts- nuts and chocolate as well ass some woody vanilla/oak. Flavor is similar, but as it warms some plastic pool toy- phenolics come through along with a malty sweetness paired with maple and honey- earthy and roasty finish. Pretty good.

12-oz bottle from Pat’s Liquors in Porter, Indiana: This pours an intensely dark, opaque brown body with a tan head and loads of lace. It has a smokehouse aroma over strong coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and chewy dark malt. The flavor brings out some piney hops that mesh fairly well. There is a burning charred bitterness that grows as the drink goes on, getting a bit annoying near the finish of the glass. Over all, a pretty decent brew.

Red wax capped bomber. Pours opaque black with a thick, lasting head of spongy, mocha colored foam. Sticky patches and flares of lacing mark the glass well. The nose is unique, showing an espresso and dark chocolate malt base, with a savory, smoked meat component and a good bit of sharp spruce hops. Flavors are what they are expected to be, dark cocoa and burnt caramel providing sweetness that is countered by roasty espresso, smoke, and resinous, evergreen hop bitterness. Fresh, new oak and vanilla are there as well. Medium-plus on the palate and balanced, the feel is dry and roasty, with a lingering, slightly acrid coffee taste. Pretty nice, but not great.

Name: Christmas Ale
Date: March 28, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2008
Appearance: opaque brown, wispy tan head, bits of lace
Aroma: sweet chocolate and caramel aroma
Body: big creamy body
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, lots of caramel sweetness, light smokeyness
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, near black body with a smallish, frothy, light khaki-colored head. Smell: Chocolaty, roasty malts with notes of toasted caramel, coffee, and, though only a subtle oak and smoke presence. Taste: Roasted malts with a taste of semi-sweet chocolate and toasted grains. Thin drizzle of caramel-flavored coffee. Understated oak flavor. Touch of smoked spices. Roasty, earthy bitterness. Finishes dry and roasty with a dash of ashy soot. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: A real "feel good" Christmastime brew. It’s definitely one of the better brews I’ve had from Back Road.

A. Vanilla, oak, smoke, malt ,caramel, chocolate,dark cherries App. Opaque, dark brown with a light brown thin head. Long stringy legs F. Dark chocolate, hops, oak, vanilla, dark fruit P. Med-hvy body, creamy MF, light carb. O. Strong porter with smooth alcohol, Very tasty.