smashweights (15), Ohio, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 5/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Nov 13, 2009 12oz bottle. Tan, ginger ale color. Moderate head that hides fragrance. Sweet malty aroma. Much thicker and creamier than it appears! Certainly taste the cinnamon and ginger notes, very sweet. Mild bitterness. Can’t seem to find the 7.5% abv in the taste. Finishes sweet balanced with a touch of hops. Easy to drink. Very good.
jlhuston (2), Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
does not count  | 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 10/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Nov 11, 2009 This is the one beer I wait for each year. Yes, there are beers that are better, there are beers that are more complex, but if you are in the Great Lakes region (northeast Ohio) and you do not wait in anticipation for the all too breif christmas ale season, then move to the south! You have no right being in this area. The beer has a deep distinct flavor that is specific to the GLBC. It is understood by individuals when you say the beer is Great Lakes, they definately have a distinct finish. However out of the Winter Ales, this is the finest I have ever tasted.
 17thfloor (1501), Chicago, Illinois, USA
| 2.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 3/5 | 5/10 | 3/5 | 11/20 |
Nov 11, 2009 12oz bottle 2009. Pours a clear but thicker sticky looking glassy red auburn with a thin foamy white sticky froth. Aroma is grainy and sweet, some piney hops, malt flour, cocoa powder and cinnamon, but still glassy sweet. Flavor follows, but is very perfumy upfront, floral, sweet, chalky, harsh, disjointed, piney, malt flour, odd citrus, urinal cake towards the finish, finishes chalky with a weird airy aftertaste. Medium bodied, fluffy sharp carbonation, glass body with a weird chalky sensation. Not for me, ZERO harmony of flavors.
kmyers8807 (35), Ohio, USA
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 5/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 |
Nov 5, 2009 Updated: Nov 26, 2009On tap. Was impressed compared to other spiced christmas beers. I could taste the ginger and citris flavor, with little cinnamon or pine like i expected. very tasty. IFirst sip wasnt to impressed, but it grew on me quickly.
WeeHeavySD (3040), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 |
Nov 4, 2009 First beer post surgery, 12oz best by 1/02/08 meant to be consumed by date. Meant to give this away to a friend years ago but it never happened. Pours orange with a tan head. Nose is sweet and rich. Taste is good, carbonation has been lost buts good and sweet and rich, a touch cloying but good.
barak316 (7), USA
does not count | 2.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 3/5 | 5/10 | 3/5 | 11/20 |
Nov 4, 2009 What happend to the almighty GL Xmas Ale??? This years batch is lacking the spices...you can barely tasted the cinnamon and ginger...I know they produced 30% more this year, i think they skimped on the taste!!!
braxto (2), Ohio, USA
does not count | 5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 10/10 | 5/5 | 10/10 | 5/5 | 20/20 |
Oct 22, 2009 Best. Beer. Ever. People come from all around the country for this stuff. Clevelanders who move out of state beg for me to send it to them. This stuff is amazing, why is it not rated higher?
craftbeerdesign (760), Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 17/20 |
Oct 11, 2009 bottle thanks to jsquire pours a hazy orange with a small white head... nice ginger aromas with a touch of cinnamon and light citrus... medium body evenly felt throughout the mouth... somewhat soft sides with the spice dominating the front... I didn’t pick up on the honey... the finish brings some clove and nutmeg forward as well. really nice Christmas Ale...
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