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Sweetwater Festive Ale

Percentile
88
overall

bottled
available

on tap
available

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
3123.52/5.03.51/5.0Winter8.6%93.2Lager glass, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
Well, the temperature is dropping and the days are getting shorter. You know what that means don’t you? It’s time for our WINTER BREW… A full-bodied, high-octane brew capped off with our use of cinnamon and mace. This beer will warm you all the way to your bones. Brewed only one day a year. We only bottle 4200 liters, 550 12 oz. cases, and a handful of kegs, so get it while you can.

Malt: 2 Row, Munich, Chocolate, Black, 30/37 Carastan, 70/80 Crystal, Spice, Cinnamon, Mace

Hops: Centennial, Golding
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Dorwart (1814), Robbinsville, New Jersey, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/102/513/20
Nov 13, 2007  
Nice and frothy light tan head that reduces quickly but a thin foam lingers. Light carbonation. Dry roasty aroma with some spices and light malts. Dark brown in color with a hint of red. Light strange flavor of sweet and sour malts. Soft flat palate. Slick and oily finish. Eh.


 craftbeerdesign (754), Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/517/20
Nov 10, 2007    Updated: Dec 23, 2008
’08 bottle. some cinnamon and dark fruits in the aroma. appearance is a dark brown. a lot of malts and spice flavors present. nice and smooth... very drinkable. this beer is not very complex... but very good for what it is.... great flavor overall. It’s a nice beer to look forward to in the fall/winter months in GA.


 ChainGangGuy (2568), Kennesaw, Georgia, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/514/20
Nov 9, 2007  
($1.99 12oz. 2007 Bottle @ Total Wine in Kennesaw, GA). Appearance: Pours a clear dark brown body with ruby-hued edges and a wispy, white head. Smell: Aroma charged with spices, mostly allspice, but there’s some mace and cinnamon in there as well. Taste: Mild roasted maltiness and burnt toast flavor with a faint hint of chocolate. A spicy-sweet fruitiness kicks in, as does the allspice zing. Finishes dry with a light lingering spiciness. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: It’s alright, but I dare say one’s enough for me per year!


 xmarcnolanx (793), Kirkwood, Missouri, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Nov 7, 2007  
Aroma is dark caramel, bready and slightly spiced. Flavor is somewhat smoked, but mostly very sweet caramel and spices. Very boring.


 zathrus13 (1298), Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/515/20
Nov 4, 2007  
2005 bottle. Dark brown, with a tan head. Aroma is chocolate, malt, and bread. Flavor is chocolate, spices, and malt.


 fro2218 (466), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/516/20
Oct 26, 2007  
Dark brown. A lot of spice coming off this beer. Some chocolate and bready malt also.


 kp (8399), Woodstock, Georgia, USA
2.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/55/103/510/20
Sep 1, 2007    Updated: Jan 17, 2009

Date: December 10, 1998
Mode: Draft
Source: Wild Wing Cafe, Marietta
Vintage: 1998
Appearance: dark brown
Aroma: slighty spicy malt aroma
Flavor: light spiced malt flavor

Date: December 04, 2003
Source: Ale Atlanta
Vintage: 1998
spice still in the foreground with the malt taking the backseat, everything is mellowed nicely

Date: December 11, 2003
Source: Wild Wing, Marietta
Vintage: 1998
thin and still spicy, low carbonation, very little wax left on the seal

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4

Date: November 14, 2000
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Sandy Springs
Vintage: 2000
Appearance: dark
Aroma: slight raspberry aroma, whispy head
Flavor: spicy malt flavor, hjnt of spice based bitterness

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4

Date: November 22, 2001
Mode: Bottle
Source: Sherlocks, GA
Vintage: 2001
Appearance: dark ruby, thin tan head
Aroma: christmas spice aroma
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of spice character through a long finish

Date: December 11, 2003
Source: Wild Wing, Marietta
Vintage: 2001
thin body with very subdued spices to the point of a spicy/bitter finish

Date: May 05, 2007
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Vintage: 2001
Aroma: sweet piney and spruce aroma with a chocolate background<


 ElJefe (553), Rochester, New York, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Aug 23, 2007  
2006 12 oz bottle. Chestnut brown with a thick, creamy tan head. Aroma of caramel, toffee, nutmeg, and roasted malt. Flavor of ripe plums and raisins in the fore, while bitter chocolate, spice, earth, and a prominent roastiness emerge in the finish. I thought this was excellent.



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