Marin Hoppy Holidaze Ale

Brewed by Marin Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Larkspur, California USA

2006 release, Sampled December 2007
Very well carbonated as a careful pour produces a four-finger thick, light tan colored head that sits a top a brilliantly clear amber hued beer that is just filled with excessive carbonation bubbles. Aromas of spices dominate the nose; nutmeg is the most persistent, but a backdrop of cinnamon is also noticed. Not much else is noticeable in the aroma, though there is perhaps a touch of herbal hop character here.

Lightly sweet, yet with a sharpness that is a combination of spice notes as well as a slight sourness. Dusty nutmeg flavors and flavors of muted cinnamon turn a bit astringent and almost woody as one gets towards the finish. Fairly light, especially for a 7% alcohol beer, this would definitely be an easily quaffed beer if not for the excessive spice notes. Some fruit flavors are noticeable under the spices, with touches of apples and perhaps a hint of pear flavors. Hop flavors add some bitterness as well as some herbal notes that become muddled together with the more powerful spice notes.

This is not a bad beer, it is just not my cup of tea. Too spice dominated, even after a year of age.

Cloudy orange colour with a white head. Malty, fruity, caramel sweet aroma with hoppy notes. Malty, light caramel sweet flavor with fruity and spicy notes.

Orange, white fizzy head. Soft aromas of spicy cinnamon, citrus, and spruced vanilla. Spiced citrus peel rides on light waves of hops and faint chocolate malt flavors. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, spicy hop finish. Not bad, but just doesn’t come together well enough for me. Thanks for sharing Ryan!

22oz bottle, courtesy of artusory. Thanks, Ryan! Pours a hazy, golden-orange color; large-bubbled white head with decent retention. Pleasant, spicy and piney / citrus notes in the aroma; a Belgian core mixed with nutmeg and hops. Medium-to-full mouthfeel, showing plenty of spice (cloves, nutmeg) and citrusy / mineral hops; pleasant dry-hop character and Belgian chewiness; a slightly unfocused winter warmer. Lengthy, dry citrus and dough in the finish.

2007-11-02, Papsoe Blind Tasting
Hazy orange color. Fruity, woody and a bit sour aroma.; some apples apricots and flowers. Medium body, some dry malt flavor, a bit woody, too poor at the end. Ordinary bitterness. Not interesting.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle. Slightly hazy and light golden appearance. Confused sweetness and spicy heat on the nose; cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, and wet wood, with a bit of caramel and sprucy bitterness lingering underneath. Crisp flavor, with funky sweat pungency and some old peach and orange juices. Strange. Hint of dry lemon juice, and plenty of grassy hop. Thinned, prickly mouthfeel with a vegetal presentation. Lightly sweet vanilla finish. Unimpressive overall, but a pleasant surprise in the sense that it isn’t a complete mess. Thanks for sharing, Ryan!

Hazy golden brown, moderate head, good lacing and retention. Aroma is spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon. Some sweet malts here as well, minor hops. Medium bodied, fairly sweet. Enjoyable but came off as ’eh.’

Odd hazy light orange color, coarse head. Spicy aroma with lots of nutmeg, some clovey yeastiness seems to be present as well. Flavor is moderately sweet, seems to come across as sort of spiced orange peel. I don’t get much of the vanilla. Finishes with some late-hitting sweetness, moderate bitterness, prominent carbonation.