Saturday, June 15, 2013

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Christmas Ale


Better late than never. A Christmas Ale review in June. I can truthfully say that this bottle has been cared for and stored in the refrigerator since December and is to the utmost quality. So jack this, brother!

So this is Great Lakes Christmas Ale. It gets released in November and will be off the shelves before you have time to unwrap your coal. This beer has a few good things going for it. First of all, my buddy bought this for me so it was free (score!) and second of all, it's 7.5% ABV, so if your sucking these back at a family holiday gathering you be night and blitzed fast so you don't have to listen to your Uncle Harold rattle on about gun laws because you'll be blind, stinking drunk about about 6 of these. Actually, a 6-pack of these is a good thing to bring anywhere where you don't wanna be sober for long. Whether it be a family get-together or a midnight mass; it works.

It's a clear, crisp beer with a lot of flavor. It's got a sweet, honey bouquet with strong hints of ginger and cinnamon. For as clear and crisp as it is, it certainly is heavy.  I would suggest not chugging the crap out of these and I find work great as something to sip on to avoid talking to people. That way you can drink 'em real fast AND it's functional.

It's got a strong, sweet scent and malty flavoring making for a pretty tasty treat. It might be difficult to slam these all night, so they are better to share (in the Christmas spirit) but for as special as these are, I'd trade em for something good. If someone tries to trade a Bud Light for one you can respectfully tell them to go to hell. It runs about $11 for a 12 pack, so at that alcohol level it makes it pretty affordable. I wouldn't get a similar tasting beer any time during the year but it makes for a nice yuletide treat.

Other Great Lakes Beer Reviews
Alchemy Double IPA
Lake Erie Monster IPA
Conways Irish Ale
Commodore Perry IPA
Eliot Ness Lager
Rye of the Tiger IPA

Drinkability: 5/10
Taste: 6/10
Value: 6/10
Curb Appeal: 6/10

Overall: 5.75/10

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