Stone/Nøgne Ø/Jolly Pumpkin Special Holiday Ale

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

Pours a dark clear mahogany that sits underneath a small creamy beige head that dissipates pretty quickly and leaves sporadic lacing. The aroma is striking with the spices dominating, especially the juniper and sage. There are hints of hops as well the sweetness of the caramel malts. The taste starts with a bit more sweetness than the aroma with caramel malts and dark fruits. But the spices kick back in and really shine through the finish with the juniper. The rye malts are also more evident than the aroma. The mouthfeel is silky smooth due to the rye with soft carbonation helping this go down smooth. This a very distinctive beer with lots of interesting spices. The spices are probably a little heavy for my liking and a little unbalance. Still a tasty brew.

Bottle from Belmont Party. Poured clear dark brown color with an average creamy light brown head that lasted with good lacing. Good complex tart citrus, ginger, yeast and spicy aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy complex spicy flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. Complex standout brew for style.

bottle. I’ve been looking forward to this one since I heard about it - glad to see it in GA. pours a deep brown with a quarter inch light tan head. the juniper and sage come forth nicely in the aroma... medium body with the spices up front and on top... softer sides and warming overall. A touch of bitterness on the finish, keeps this one around for a bit once it’s all gone. A very nice collaboration between 3 world class breweries.

Courtesy kegbear. Pours a dark crimson color with a small foamy off white head that settles quickly. Very interesting aroma of pine and spruce trees, juniper, mint, and nuts. There is a bit of vaniila oak in there to blend with the spices. Interesting flavor as well with the pine and spruce dominating with hints of mint, juniper, and other spices. Very earthy and tree like flavors. Medium bodied and smooth with a long finish with the winter spices left behind. Definitely an interesting brew and am glad I got to try. I was still hoping for some of that JP funk to come through, but never got it.

Pours a murky brown color. Nutty spicy aroma. Flavor is nutty again with a caramel sweetness and the finish is a bit sour at first and then that fades to a bitter experience. The sour reminding you jolly pumpkin worked on this and then the bitter hops reminding you of stones presence. An entertaining beer at least.

bottle, 1600th rating - Pours black with a very thin tan head. The aroma is mild at first with the juniper and sage coming out as it warms. The superb flavor is of dark roast malt, bitter chocolate, sage, juniper, and I think some citrus accented hops. Hops and some herbals linger in the pleasant finish of this full bodied brew. Excellent!

Name: Special Holiday Ale
Date: December 24, 2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: South Bay Drugs, San Diego
Appearance: clear dark ruby red, wispy tan head, streaks of drippy lace
Aroma: sweet spicy aroma, dark caramel sweetness, fruity esters, sharp spices, sweet licorice
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, a nice complex array of spices, dark caramel sweetness, spices add an earthy bitterness and balances out most of the sweetness

Name: Special Holiday Ale
Date: January 26, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: taco mac metro
Aroma: picking up a big dark fruit character in the aroma along with the spices
Flavor: dark caramel malt flavor melds well with the fruity esters, spices stay well in balance

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

dark brown viscous looking beer under a small creamy tan head. fruity(berries) herbal(mint, sage, caraway) aroma. flavors of berries and fresh herbal coolness. warm finish with lingering berry flavors. full bodied with a syrupy texture with the right amount of carbonation.