Hereford & Hops Christmas Ale

[Growler, thanks Skyview] Pours dark brown with a yellowish-tan head. Aroma has quite a bit of spice in it--clove, cinnamon and something else that I couldn’t place. Some caramel malt was also in there. Taste was also spicy, but there was some roasted malt in the finish. Definitely not bad, but not my favorite Christmas beer.

A growler from Skyview. Dark ruby red color with a medium head. Aroma of cherries. The taste is really a mix of stuff: cherries, cinnamon, caramel, sweet malt, coconut. Someone made the pina colada comment, and that’s pretty accurate. I really enjoyed this. I nice change of pace from the usual "mulled" beer for Christmas.

Poured from a growler. Mahogany in color and fairly transparent. Aroma is scattered with random spice and polished sweetness; black licorice, clove, coriander, cinnamon, and banana. Dries out with a watered out cardboard downer at the end. Flavors are similar; molasses, cinnamon, bittersweet chocolate, gingerbread, and clove with lots of black licorice and wet pumpernickel bread. A bit of heat in vanilla bean and bourbon type of sweetness. Palate is tight and and soft with moderate carbonation; finishes with a slow drying out of spiced fruit and dark sugars. This one is really all over the map in terms of flavor and aroma components; while complicated and not especially rounded, the messiness remains sufficiently unannoying and on the outside. Thanks Bob!

Courtesy of Skyview. Dark red/ almost brown pour with a nice sized dirty white head. This was a quite complex beer. Sweet smelling (can’t quite get at it) with maybe a touch of coconut. The taste reminds me of a mild pina colada drink with a hint of pineapple and coconut as well as vanilla and maple.

On draught at the brewpub in Wausau, Wisconsin. Pours a clear dark reddish amber brew with a fast dissolving off-white head that leaves behind a fine film and some spotty lacing. Aroma of dark caramel malt, candi sugar, some holiday earth spice, cotton candy and a touch of tart berries.Taste is medium to full bodied, very light carbonation with flavors of dark caramel malt, candi sugar, some molasses, holiday earthy spices and a touch of clove. Finish is slightly bitter, some alcohol presence with a caramel and dark berry aftertaste.