Thunder Canyon Ornament Ale

Brewed by Thunder Canyon Brewery
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Tucson, Arizona USA

Sampled on draught at the Papago Brewing Company tavern in Phoenix, AZ. Pours a semi-hazy brownish amber brew with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates to a fine film and white ring. Aroma of Christmas spice to the max! Cinnamon, nutmeg, mincemeat pie filling, raisins, grandma’s fruitcake, etc. etc. Can’t get any more Christmasy that this. Taste is medium bodied, light carbonation with flavors of dark caramel malt, some cinnamon, nutmeg, flowery hops and a touch of peppermint. Finish is slightly slick, with a decent Christmas spice aftertaste.

Draft at Papago Brewing in Scottsdale, AZ. Slightly hazy orange-brown color with a thin off white head. Smelled of allspice, cinnamon, and candy cane. Flavor was similar to the aroma; apple, cinnamon, orange, and allspice. Spicy, spicy, spicy.

Draught @ Papago - Release 2004 The beer fresh from the tap a deep amber color with a creamy head that is modest in size and light tan in color, the lace a thick and clinging sheet that weld itself to the glass. The nose is cinnamon and nutmeg, coriander and sweet malt, quite a sweet treat for the nose. Start is sweet and thick with malt, the top middling in feel. Finish is mildly acidic and the personable in their spiciness, decent dry aftertaste and a nice change of pace.

Tap at brewery. Cinnamon aroma doninates this brew. Dark amber body with tan head. Flavor is all cinnamon and maybe to much of a malt presence little heavy on the palate. In line with most holiday brews. Glad thay just tapped it at the brewery everytime I was at Papago last year this beer went fast and was out.

Sampled at the Brewpub
This beer sits in my glass a brilliantly clear, orangish tinged, amber colored brew. It is topped by a wispy pale tan colored head. The aroma is quite pronounced and redolent of baking spices. Cinnamon takes the lead role here, in fact the aroma reminds me of an atomic fireball jaw-breaker; the cinnamon pretty much drowns out any other aromatic notes.

The beer is lightly sweet, but more importantly the cinnamon is again the single largest flavor contributor. This makes this beer quite reminiscent of a cinnamon candy. Underneath are faint hints of malt (perhaps some caramel), maybe just a light dusting of herbal hops, along with a light bitterness in the finish. Despite the heavy handed cinnamon notes, I am actually enjoying this; it is an easily quaffable brew and I find that I am somewhat partial to the flavor.

On tap at TCB - Pours a clear amber color with a small off white head. Has a big cinnamon aroma. Can’t smell anything else. Flavor is also big cinnamon and spice. Light to medium body. The spices hang on the palate. A decent seasonal.

On tap at Papago. Pours a clear amber with a minimal light tan head. Nose is ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and malt. Taste is pretty much the same. Tastes like a gingerbread cookie. Medium mouth feel. Decent seasonal.

on tap @ papago. pours a rich amber hue with a fluffy tan head that fades slowly into a ring. smells like apple harvest festivals in pennsylvania...hard apple cider spiked with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, caramel/brown sugar and orange. body is medium but leaves a sticky film on my lips. carbonation is nearly nil. palate is very vinous and spicy from hops (or, possibly from all the spices!)...a robust combination of the aroma. it’s almost overwhelming with the spices but some how i can’t stop drinking it. definitely reminds me of living in apple country...