Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Brewed by Great Lakes Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Cleveland, Ohio USA

Copper, bubbly pour. The nose was filled with malt, yeast and spice. The spices dominated the flavor especially the cinnamon. Still, there were hints of sweet malts and bitter hops that lead to a bitter aftertaste. Thin to medium body with substantial carbonation. A comfortable and tasty winter warmer.

I can’t say that I liked this too much, I guess i just don’t like this type of style. Way too much berry type flavor. Maybe I had to much expectation.

Bottle. Pours a burnt orange with a white foamy head. Yeast and rye bread aroma along with caramel and malts. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices dominate the taste but do not overpower the beer. Finishes with some nice hop bitterness.

Nice light amber in color with a lacy white head. Malty aromas of munich and caramel followed by a slight spice aroma. The flavor is malty, with a light bitterness and mild spice finish. The carbonation is nice and the malt flavor lingers with the cinnamin on the tongue. I think this is one of my favorite Holiday beers. GLBC does a great job of spicing the beer, you can taste the spices but you can still taste the beer.

Pours a bright transparent copper with a finger-width high clingy light tan head. Has a sweet sugary caramel and cinnamon aroma. Body starts with some sticky caramel malty sweetness revealing some nice ginger spice and some piney citrusy hops toward the bittersweet finish. A nice and balanced holiday beer. Thanks to bkelley68 and jsquire for the bottles!

Light amber with white head. Aroma is grapefruit and caramel, flavor follows suit. Mouthfeel is light, finish is bitter and slightly sweet.

What is that flavor? Corriander? I think it’s that. Very mulchy tasting. Spicy, some cinnamon. Lemon peelish. Thin mouthfeel, very watery which I didn’t like so much. Bitter end.

This beer entices the sense of smell with a fragrance consisting of honey, cinnamon, and nuts. This beer fills the glass with tawny-rose colored solution that resides under thick cream soda colored head. This beer is thick and smooth and flows through the mouth well. The taste is a grainy honey sensation that has hints of clove and all-spice in the background. The sweet taste turns a tad bitter as it tickles the throat on the way to the tummy.