Maritime Pacific Jolly Roger Christmas Ale

Brewed by Maritime Pacific Brewing Co.
Style: English Strong Ale
Seattle, Washington USA

This is a yummy little rendition of this style. I love it when these are transformed into holiday ales. Big juicy fruit aromas, with a bit of alcohol behind them, with lots of rich carmalized brown sugar. Has a sweet maltiness, but not over the top, richly overbalanced and a little spicy, but a very solid and delicious ale.

Slightly hazy amber colour. Interesting sweet caramel aroma with lots of brown sugar, and light fruits. Quite malty, almost candyish. Decent beer, though a bit too sweet for my tastes.

Draught at the Brouwer’s Cafe, Seattle. Clear dark amber. Appley nose. Very sweet, thick and syrupy. Plenty of malt, but everything gets lost in a sea of syrup. A dentists wet dream.

Deep reddish orange color, semi-smeared, thin ivory topping; keeps a good skim and collar present throughout the session. Stringy rings of lace coat the glass. Aroma is juicy with berries, jam, and caramel with a touch of Ameretto. Taste plays out with what the aroma gives out, and quite nicely too. Fruity and jelly-like with some purple grape, apple, cherry, and berries, all mingling within a marmalade-like threshold and caramel smoothness. Sliding warm finishing quality with the caramel and floral hop notes. Semi-sticky and cloying with malty sweet action and silky smoothness. Body is mediumish with a light carbonation that tends to build slightly into the finish. Nice little warming hints gradually gain hold as you go. A nice beer; perfect for helping warm up the winter.

Cherries, plums, raisins, apples and bananas are apparent in the ashy yet sweet aroma. Clear ruby brown body is topped by a decent, fine bubbled, tan head that recedes to cover. Marzipan like nuttiness and a light chocolatey note underlie the thick beryy, plum and cherry fruitiness. Malty sweetness is cut by a moderate bitterness before returning with some light spices in the aftertaste. Medium body with fair carbonation and a very smooth texture. Tulip glass. Allowed to warm from fridge temperature. Bottle (trade, May-05). Thanks, jahnoth!

Pretty darn good. Solid body, tastes like Christmas. Whatever herbs or spices they added do enhance the hoppiness and it’s all rounded well out by solid malt.

Poured an almost clear almost ruby color with a medium off-white head. Thick apearance the way the bubbles slowly rise to form the head. Sweet fruity aroma with cherries and plum. A little bit of bubble gum. Aroma is thick. Malty flavor lightly fruity but not distinct in any one flavor. Moderate bitterness starts mid way and has nice length. Medium to full body and almost sillky. Never heard of this beer before so it was a pleasant surprise after trying it.

Ruby color. Not much aroma; basic amber aromas. Crisp carbonation in the mouth. Flavor is balanced, drinkable, unremarkable.