Sweetwater Festive Ale

Brewed by Sweetwater Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Draught. Pours dark brown with a small head. Very spicy aroma---cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, zest, with substantial sweet malt. Flavor is along the same lines, a heart winter warmer with a bit of a twist given by some hops and maybe anise? Surprisingly complex and well-balanced. Alcohol is unnoticeable except for providing a bit of warmth in the finish, and despite all the spice notes it doesn’t seem over-spiced---the whole thing holds together very well. It’s really unlike any other spiced beer I’ve had. Highly recommended.

Dark brown with a thin tan head. Aroma is spicey, gingersnaps, toasted bread, cinamon, and carmel. Flavor is sweet with the gingersnap taste prominent. Some carmel notes in the finish. Good malt body with a slightly dry finish.

Bottle courtesy of goldtwins in the six pack trade. Muddied brown/mahogany to light with decent tan head. Appears oily in the glass. Spice dominates aroma, what I would guess is mace? (smells like nutmeg to me) cinnamon, background has sweet and roasted malt notes with some fruit I can’t pinpoint. Flavor again up front has tons of spice (almost warming in a way), with some chocolate and roasted grain through the middle. Some more fruit towards the finish, going to say orange zest, although it doesn’t seem hoppy at all. Alcohol very well hidden. Very fine "winter" brew, even with all the spice seems very well rounded. Pleasantly surprised.

Bottle. Thanks to JIMBOWOOD. Pours a deep brown color with a quick fade off white head. Aroma is very active with this one. Notes of chocolate, cinnamon, rasberries, orange zest, slight hints of raosty coffee. Flavor is strong of nutmeg, nicely spiced with a toasty warming finish. Very good trepresentation of the style. Drinkable.

12oz bottle 2005 edition via trade with kp - Thanks Keith! - Pours dark brown with a short tan head that fades pretty quick. Aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, orange, and some cloves. Flavor is a nice blend of all of those same flavors with a little vanilla thrown in as well. Nice, complex and quite tasty for a winter brew.. Nice roasty and spice aftertaste that makes you come back for more. Palate is medium bodied and smooth to drink. It seems that everyone makes a winter brew these days and most are ho hum, but this one is very nice and was a pleasure to drink..

I tried to pickpocket this beer and it assaulted me with mace. The nerve of some malt beverages. Very pleasant evening sipper, though. Plenty of chocolate, with orange peel and cloves and although slightly heavy on the spices during the swallow, the carbonation lifts the body up sufficiently not to allow it to weigh down the tongue. There are also notes of fruitcake, and plums and figs.

Wow, Jrob, nice! This poured very dark brown, cannot see thru this baby. Small tan head, very small. Nose was spices, nutmeg, and lots of dark fruits and malts. The taste was complex. Spice with licorice and malts some sour notes as well. Chocolate. smooth finish. Nice malt after taste. great brew.

Malty, a tad watered-down. Vaguely comparable to Anchor Our Special Ale with a little more alcohol. Something just isn’t right here. Spicey, but leaves a lot to be desired IMHO.