This Rogue beer mentions hops of the bottle and I am remind of the hop shortage. Because poor harvest, low profit, and a new trend towards growing corn for bio-fuel, there is a shortage on hops. Home brewers can't get some variety of hops, and the prices are going up. Brewery's like Anheuser Busch have purchased all of 2008 hops in advance make some variety only available to them. This might mean a lot more malty beers next year, and less IPAs on the market.
From my first whiff of this beer I got lots of hops. The smell is full of citrus and fruit aroma's that are common with American / California hops. The color is a dark red that reminds me of Santa's suit. The head is very thick and bubbly, much like an IPA.
Hops, and more hops is what is present in the beer's taste. I am only getting a hint of malt on the initial sip, but that is quickly overrun by the hops. The hops are sharp and bitter like unripe pineapple, leaving my mouth tingling and watering. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, unlike the sticky thickness of an IPA. The finish is a nice level of bitterness, giving a good taste.
This is a great beer for a hop head, but I have no idea what it has to do with Christmas, unless Santa's a hop head. I think the hops are a little over the top, and could use some balance against a bit of malt. A fine beer for someone liking hops, but stay away if you don't like bitter beer.
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