Pours a clear medium amber with a half inch cream colored head. Spotty lacing.
The aroma is a combination of sweet malt with a touch of spice and honey. Creamy, gentle, and inviting aromas.
The taste is creamy and smooth, with sweet malt creating the backbone of this beer along side a light spice. A nice level of complexity on this beer as I taste a light vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon as well as a bit of dark fruit showing itself as well.
Light body with medium carbonation. Creamy smooth mouth feel with a slightly dry finish.
Overall I really like this beer. It is very complex without being in your face with the flavors. A very nice balance of complexity and simplicity! A great winter beer that does not go over the top with excessive spices. Try this one!
Aroma: Inviting is the word that comes to mind with the first few sniffs. Beautiful sweet malt, lightly toasted.
1st Taste: No disappointment, the caramel semi-sweet malt carried through to the first few mouth-fulls. Some spice, but subtle enough and balanced by the alcohol.
Overall: I like this beer and it stands tall among it's other overwrought Holiday season ale counterparts. In my opinion it has the ingredients required of a holiday, but in balance. It really has a great personality, and I can imagine a host of pleasantly familiar flavors of the seasons (molasses, tart cherry, cinnamon, raisins, butterscotch) all peeking out of this brew. Tried this a few weeks back in a multi-brew tasting session and group consensus was mediocre. Do this brew justice and try it by itself or first in a session. Our man Adam at Star Liquors in Madison, WI is a big fan of this brew and so am I.