Stone/Nøgne Ø/Jolly Pumpkin Special Holiday Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Escondido, California USA

Considering my first experience with Nogne-O was memorable in all the wrong ways possible, the prospect of trying yet another Nogne-O beer is rather intimidating. At least, to some people it may. Personally though, a beer I haven’t tried yet is just that, and thus needs to be tested, tried, and hopefully savored with much relish.

Known simple as their Special Holiday Ale, she pours a murky brown with a nicely formed head rich with soft tan hues. Lace speckles the sides of my glass while rustic copper glints at me from the bottom where more light peers through. Quite the romantic first meeting, if I do say so myself. Wafting seductively from her nose to mine is a sweet and spicy perfume of nutmeg, ginger, juniper, prunes, and raisins. Our first embrace is medium-bodied with nutmeg, ginger, and warm winter spices. Mingling throughout her palate is a definite presence of juniper which, even though I am not a huge fan of gin, is most enjoyable in their Special Holiday Ale. Dark prunes moist and fresh soften her spice-forward nature as she slowly dries my palate. Fresh lemon zest and crunchy bitter nuts creep into her finish, nipping playfully at my tastebuds. Each quaff is highly enjoyable, and I have to give the brewmasters at Stone, Jolly Pumpkin, and Nogne-O props for this delightful Special Holiday Ale. As I savor my last quaff, my breath exudes warmth tinged with spice and juniper.

It is easy to understand why Christmas and the winter holiday season is the most anticipated beer season. There is no limit to the quantity or variety of beers awaiting a beer aficionado’s quaffing enjoyment. While a few may disappoint, far too many to count will delight, and I can say with experienced assurance that the Special Holiday Ale is one of those. Made even more special by the three breweries involved, we may not see another Special Holiday Ale next year so if you have a chance to find one, take her home with you to savor and enjoy.

Bottle. Deep dark brown pour. Short tan head. Aroma is very unique. Lots of spices coming out of this. I can pick up the chestnuts, juniper and perhaps sage but I’m not getting the caraway. Yet. I’m not big on overly spiced beers but the aroma on this is rather nice. More like a meal than a beer. Taste is spicy with more sage notes, strong nuttiness, caramel, light chocolate, sweet malts, and some herbal flavors. Would never guess this is 9% ABV. Body is thick and rich. Rather chewy with soft carbonation. Ends with more spices, chocolate, creamy malt, caramel, cocoa, and herbal notes. Very good!

A nice dark brown color with massive brown tinted white head. Aroma of juniper and sage and a mild nuttiness. The chestnuts dominate a malty body with the caraway and sage providing a nice balance. A piney bite on the finish. Easily the best beer from Stone I’ve ever tried that didn’t have a few years of age on it.

Dark brown appearance with an off white head. Aroma is mostly spices with some hops. Taste is prominent spice with some caramel malt. Hops are present but aren’t as noticeable with the spices. A little sweet in the finish, but not too strong for the abv. Overall, pretty good, definitely interesting but I didn’t love it.

12oz bottle. Pours reddish brown with brown head. Aroma floral hops and spice. Taste bitter hops, malt and spice with bitter finish.

Bottle. Pours very dark, near black with a ring of foam. It is pleasingly aromatic. Low level of spices for a beer which is advertised as being spiced. hints of anise, licorice and the good kind of vegetal character are here. What an interesting flavor. The spices are certainly more pronounced now, with caraway most noticed by my tongue, but still not overdone.The palate is kind of fizzy which is weird for the heaviness of the malts and the flavor profile. The finish is light, though it lingers something like gin. Pretty interesting beer. I’d probably like it more during Christmas.

12 oz bottle
This one has been tempting me for a while. Coming from three breweries who know how to make a solid beer I expected and got a product which was more than the sum of its parts. There is another bottle lurking in the cellar that I will have to resist the lure as this seems to be a one-off specialty.

Aroma / Appearance - The clear sheet of lacing bled into the deep maple body which swallowed most of the light that flowed into it. Chestnut, pine, and holly spark a seasonal mood despite the lack of snow and cold.

Flavor / Palate - The hoppy bite that begins soon relaxes into a more mellow presence. Dark chocolate and black coffee mark the transition to a raspberry and ginger finish. Even at $5.99 this was worth splurging on more than once.

Bottle from City Beer in SF. Dark reddish-brown color with an off-white head. Aroma of sweet malt, sage, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caraway. Flavor is malty with lots of spices, chestnuts, caramel, brown sugar, and mild hops. Fairly full and really smooth palate with somewhat low carbonation. One of the better holiday ales I’ve had in recent memory.