Stone/Nøgne Ø/Jolly Pumpkin Special Holiday Ale

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

Definitely a lot of refined spices on this beer, a little exotic on the nose. Caramel, pear, lilac and spices. Thick palate, slick finish. Roasted nuts, tobacco, pine. Really an interesting and well-constructed beer. The heavy mouthfeel really allows those flavors to hit the palate with a lot of weight.

Bottle courtesy of fiver29 – thanks John! Pours a clear dark amber with a huge 3 finger tan head that results in great delicate lacing. The nose is ginger, cinnamon, caramel and floral hops. The taste is ripe fruits, burnt caramel and spice with a citrus hop finish. Medium body – interesting beer. Thanks again John!

The nose was quite spicy...which I like. In the mouth it was medium-bodied, rich and concentrated with a smooth midpalate and slightly dry finish. The flavors are tart yet savory. This would go nicely with roast turkey.

Pours a ruby, brown, copper with a small beige head. Aroma is very sweet and sticky with lots of herbal notes. Aroma reflects in the flavor of fresh brewed tea. Some sweet berries and grassy hops finish off the brew. Some roasty notes as well, very unique brew.

Pours a murky magenta brown hue, modest layer of off-white head dissipates, spotty lacing. Nose of holiday spices (mostly sage), pine resin, berries and lighter fruits. Taste is a sage and spice showcase, some fruits and berries in the background, modest malt backbone is consistent, finishes full and sweet. Medium-bodied, moderate-high carbonation, creamy texture. Overall, fairly one-dimensional in terms of the spice profile, my palate good pretty tired by the end of the bottle.

Bottle thanks to Lagunitasfan. Pours a deep brown-red color with a small white head. The aroma is fairly light and hard to nail down; some light berries and nuts, some hops also. The flavor was similar; light fruit mostly berries, some citrus hops, lighter malts and some spices. Nice and interesting. Very easygoing but flavorful.

Color is a deep amber with good carbonation and a thin tight tan head. Aroma is spicy with a pine like back tone. Taste like Christmas. Starting with a medium body it goes down crisp and fizzy. Finish is a bold spicy feel with pine and nut flavors then a full bitterness on the end. After taste is more of the bitterness and the pine lingers on. Its good, but I really do not like juniper in a beer, it gives off to much of a pine like taste. I must say it has a real holiday taste so I think its just what they wanted it to be.

Thanks to John for sharing. Pour is dark brown decent beige head. Aroma is strong sage, pepper and other spices. Flavor is a lingering sweet, spicy and kinda hot. Medium bodied. Glad I got to try but won’t be buying again.