Howe Sound Father Johns Christmas Ale

Brewed by Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Squamish, Canada

Foggy light red colour (like a winter’s fog settling in on a town) with medium head. Huge nose bursting with cherries, plums, sugar cane, lime and exotic spices. I could smell this one all day long! Rarely do I come across such a lively and rich nose. The taste starts off exactly the same, with gigantic malt and more cherries. Mid palate shows a hint of pepper and some salt water taffee, with a finish that’s surprisingly short but quietly rich in citrus. An extremely well-crafted beer which should be in everyones fridge at some point or another, a real gem!

1L brown swingtop bottle. Amber-brown colour, thick beige head. Nose is gingery, spicy, sweet. Sweet malts in the mouth, caramel, spicy notes (nutmeg), finishes moderately hoppy with some leafy/citrus tones, slight lingering bitterness with some nutty malt aftertaste. Trace of alcohol. Carbonation a bit prickly, medium bodied.

A big ol 1 Liter flip top Labeled with Winter Ale. Pours out a brown with some red highs topped with a small head. Aroma was of sweet spice and ginger bread cookies. Taste was more of the spice some nutmeg, and cinnamon along with sweet molasses. A tasty winter brew thanks Matt.

1 litre bottle, pours amber colour with a thin tan head. Very malty with lots of spices. A pretty good winter ale.

Christmas ale out early this year! Giant 1L bottle shared with Rockley. Pours a dark honey amber with a brief white head. Very spicy sweet aroma that instantly reminds me of those little windmill-shaped spice cookies that Superstore bakery used to give out to kids for free. Flavour of spice cookies: vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon, a little marzipan. Warming finish. Not bad, but I yearn for more malt (and darker malt too).

Spicy looking dark amber with lasting thin head. Aroma is very spicy with strong nutmeg and cinamon. Flavour is the same. Light malt and strong spice. Could almost be a pumpkin/fall beer rather than a winter ale......or both. 1L is a long night’s sipper.

Bought as a bottle in BC awhile back. Good tasting beer and I bought it specifically for the alcohol kick, which was significant in the one-litre bottle. Kind of a darker ale and not nearly as complex as one would hope from this style, however.

[2426-20090807] 1L bottle. Brandy spicy worchester sauce aroma. Clear, amber brown body with a quick foamy off-white head. Sweet worchester syrup flavour is mildly spicy. Medium body. Really interesting sauce characteristics.
(c/o Derek, w/ others)