Kern River Holiday Ale 2007

Brewed by Kern River Brewing
Style: American Strong Ale
Kernville, California USA

Tasted at the February Northern California Beer Tasting. This American Strong Ale pours a medium brown color from a 22oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is brown sugar, malt and spices. A medium bodied ASA. The malts are caramel and sweet, lots of brown sugar and molasses. The hops are floral and earthy. Nice holiday beer. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and round. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

(22 oz. bottle via trade with <A HREF=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=3 target=blank>IrishBoy, thanks Richard!) Pours somewhat cloudy burnt amber with about a finger of khaki head that recedes to about 1/4" and stays. Aroma is a bit of rye, some rock candy or caramel, maybe some pine. Mouthfeel is actually kind of thin and loose, maybe a bit fizzy. Very slight stickiness. Nice lacing with rings and sheets. Flavor is a bit of the rye and maybe some light rock candy and even licorice but overall a pretty weak taste profile. Maybe a light touch of bitterness in finish. Kind of unimpressive.

bottle from irishboy: pours a caramel coour with a small off white head. aroma is a sweet caramel some fruit aromas and a bit of caramel, i believe i can pick up hints of the rye. flavour is a slight bitter with great carael, good breadiness adn a slight spice from the rye i believe.

Bottle… GIABMISGFAB … Burnt amber ale with an orange tint and a small, creamy, white head. Decent retention. Earthy, malty fragrances of toffee and wood. Full-bodied with medium carbonation. Sweet toffee infused with holiday spice. Finishes sweet and strong with a touch of vanilla. Bottle courtesy of mcbackus!

22oz Bomber - Trade - IrishBoy
Aroma – Nice aroma of hops with a good malt backing.
Appearance – Deep Amber in color, Nice head and clear.
Flavor – Lots of hops and malt flavors with a hint of spices.
Palate – Nice Mouthfeel, great texture with a good dry finish.
Overall – A very nice holiday ale it was light in taste. This was a average Holiday style beer.

22oz bottle from Irishboy. Moderately hoppy aroma with toasted malt accents. A touch of spice and oily pine as well. Pours dark brown/amber with a thick, lasting off-white head. Dry on the tongue. Apple cider vinegar, cedar, tobacco leaf and alcohol. Moderate carbonation in a medium body. Average example of the style. Thanks Richard!

Bottle bonused from Odeed. Thanks Jake! Pours a very dark brown with a nice off white head. Good initial lacing. Aroma of rye, wood and a bit nutty/earthy. Maybe a bit of leather. Pretty bitter and dry...just a touch of sweetness. Pretty abrubt finish. Well done beer, but rye isn’t my thing.

22oz bottle acquired in trade with odeed (thanks!). Poured a deeper and slightly hazy amberish / brownish color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, caramel, tea, rye bread, and toasted grains. Tastes of caramel, citrus (oranges), rye bread, and a trace of spices.