12 Dogs Of Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 8.3%
Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  Brown color, 2 finger off white head, nice lacing.  Smell: spices and caramel, toasted malt & honey.  Taste: honey, spice (cinnamon, ginger & nutmeg ) & caramel malt.   I would have rated this beer an "A", but it is almost too intense for me.

Goose Island Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Brown Ale
2011 Rating: A+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a nice brown color with a 1 finger creamy tan head, great lacing.  Aroma is sweet malt & yeast.  Taste is toasted biscuit malt, yeast and a slight pine hop finish. Excellent!  My favorite beer on the 2011 Christmas Beer Menu!

2011 Anchor Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: (different recipe each year)

Comments:  Pours a DARK reddish brown color with a 2 finger tan head, nice lacing. A dark, rich Belgium style spiced ale.  Aroma is sweet fruit, nutmeg and cinnamon.  Taste is spice (cinnamon & nutmeg), dark fruit and a hint of caramel.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Brown Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A
2009 Rating: A

Comments:  Copper color, small cream / tan head, cinnamon & nutmeg aroma, sweet spicy ginger & nutmeg  taste with a hint of hops at the end.  Very drinkable.

Mississippi Mud Black & Tan

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Mississippi Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Black & Tan
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Great packaging - comes in a 1 qt "moonshine" style bottle.  Pours a clear dark copper color, with a 2 finger tan head, minimal lacing.  Not much aroma.  Roasted malt & molasses taste.  Not bad.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV:
Brewery:
Country: Belgium
Beer Type:
2011 Rating: AAA
2010 Rating: N/A
2009 Rating: AAA

Comments:  Corsendonk Christmas Ale is a long time favorite of mine.  In 2010, I searched for this beer in three states and couldn't find it.  This year I found it at Jungle Jim's and immediately bought 12.                 
Dark ruby color, massive cream color head, decent lacing.  STRONG fruit aroma dried fruit, (raisins, etc.) Taste: roasted malt, dried fruit - SMOOTH & CREAMY - very Belgium.  EXCELLENT!

Bell's Special Double Cream Stout

Reviewed: December 2011ABV: 6.1%
Brewery: Bells Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Stout
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Brewed with a blend 10 malts.  Pours a black color with a 1 finger tan head.  Cocoa, chocolate & coffee aroma.  Roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate taste.  Drink this beer warm, to enjoy all the flavors.  Smooth & creamy!!!

Cains Finest Bitter

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 4%
Brewery: Robert Cain & Company Limited
Country: England
Beer Type: English Bitter
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a light caramel brown color with a creamy off white head, nice lacing.  Caramel & toasted bread malt aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma, not overly sweet.  A great example of an English Bitter style beer.  Easy to drink!

Breckenridge Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 7.4%
Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger off white head.  Caramel & spice with a nice hop / malt balance.

Snow Day Winter Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Nothing better than a Snow Day.  Pours a dark brown color with a 2 finger off white head, nice lacing.  A great hoppy aroma.  A nice hop taste with chocolate and caramel in the background.  Just the right blend.  Not your normal "winter warmer".  EXCELLENT

Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 4.9
Brewery: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Dark Lager
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: B

Comments:  Deep Amber / brown color with a 2 finger tan head.  A sweet toasted malt & nut (they say it's hazelnut) taste.  Easy to drink!

BBC Nut Brown Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Bluegrass Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: English Brown Ale
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  A brown - slightly red color.  1 finger head , no  lacing.  Sweet caramel & nut aroma. Roasted malt, nut, caramel & coffee flavor.  Tastes better than it looks. Well done!

Old Leghumper

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6.7%
Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Porter
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Dark brown / black color with 1 finger off white head.  Great roasted malt, chocolate & coffee aroma.  Tastes just like the aroma - excellent!

By the way, I was NOT drunk when I took this photo.  You can't spend a lot of time lining up the photo, when you're sitting at a crowded bar. People are thinking: "What's this dork doing? - Taking a photo of his beer."

Left Hand Milk Stout

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Stout
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: N/A
Comments:  Draft Nitro pour @ Tavern On The Bend - Guinness want to be - just order a Guinness (the original!)

Bell's Best Brown Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Bells Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: English Brown Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Definitely a notch above New Holland's Cabin Fever.  Pours a nice chocolate brown color with a 2 finger tan head.  Nice Lacing.  Malt & caramel aroma.  Malt, molasses, nut & fruit taste, smooth dry finish.  Not too sweet.  Easy to drink

Christian Moerlein Christkindl

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6.95%
Brewery: Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: A

Comments:  Amber color, 2 finger off white head, Caramel & spice aroma.  Taste is  sweet toasted malt, caramel, fruit & spice with a slight hop finish.  Excellent.

Cabin Fever Brown Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6%
Brewery: New Holland Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Brown Ale
2011 Rating: B & I
2010 Rating: B & I

Comments:  I agree with last year's rating - a good beer, but unique & interesting.  Dark brown color, small tan head that disappears quickly. You smell roasted malts, brown sugar & "rye"???   A sweet roasted malt & rye??? Taste - a little weird, unique.  Drink it warm - better taste, as it warms up.

Old Man Winter Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 7.7%
Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Old Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  "A Liquid Winter Wonderland"  Pours a dark amber color with a 1 finger white head, nice lacing.  Hop and caramel aroma.  Nice pine hop taste with some sweet caramel malt in the background.  I could drink this winter seasonal all year!

Christmasbier (Weihnachts)

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Hofbräuhaus
Country: Germany & Newport, KY
Beer Type: Amber Lager
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  Amber color, nice two finger head, no lacing. Malt & hop aroma. Basically a more malty version of the Hofbräu lager.  Average.