CooperSmiths Jingle Ale

750ml bottle. Murky orange and brown with grainy floaties under a huge large-bubbled head. Nose of cardamom, gingerbread, cayenne pepper and some other musty-soapy spices. Thick and soft mouthfeel, some subdued spiced apple and pear flavors, with a apple and maple finish. Ringo is right about this resembling a cider.

2004 750ml bottle. Head is initially small, frothy, off-white, mostly diminishing. Body is medium amber. Aroma is lightly malty (cookie, caramel), with strong notes of nutmeg, sassafrass, pumpkin, clove, and similar assorted spices. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, heavily bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Were this richer and around 8%, this might be very nice. As it is, the spices pretty much obliterate the beer...not that they’re not attractive smelling, but some balance would be nice.

2003: Medium amber and mostly clear with a huge, lofty head that lasted a long time. Huge bouquet of spices wafted up the noggin ... dry cinnamon, sweet nutmeg, hot ginger, and aromatic clove. Smooth and meaty mouthfeel. Carbonation was a little prickly at times. With time, texture seemed to lighten up a bit. Malts were sweet (molasses, brown sugar) and toasted -- big and noticeable at first, but it slowly shifted to the back seat. Hops were somewhat grassy, sharpish and slightly bitter. Spices were a little hot and peppery, curbing the sweetness and drying out the finish. Surprisingly drinkable. 2005, aged a couple of months: Nicely balanced, mellow, and easy to drink. Sweet cinnamon, light clove, orange, and light nutmeg. A little yeasty, too.

No head. Dark copper color. Spicy aroma. One of the spiciest beers I’ve had. Lots of nutmeg and cinnimon dominate the palate. Evidence of lots of alcohol, but hidden well by the spices. Some hopping evident in the finish, along with a metalic undertone. Needs to be maltier and less harsh, but other than that nice beer.

Tasted at Sean and Ryan’s tasting, 750 old at least 2 years old. Pours amber with a tan ring. Nose is spicy and nice. Taste is sweet spiced and really pretty good.