#92 Schlafly - Christmas Ale

Another busy weekend another late set of posts. This weekend was busy one with the St. Louis Brews Home Brew club Competition. I drank LOTS of different beers. I stewarded the judging for category 18 Belgium beers, 10A APAs, and 23 Experimental Beers. Sitting with the judges I got to get some insight on beer judging that I hope I can add to this blog.

This beer came directly from the Schlafly taproom, I think its only on tap. On the smell I am getting sweet Cherries and some spiciness. The color is a Reddish brown with very little foam. It was served in a smaller snifter glass which help in the aroma.

The smell of the Cherries carried to the taste. It wasn't an artificial cherry taste or a citrus hop taste that some IPAs have, it was a nice sweet fruit taste. There is also a good amount of spice flavor to the beer from a combination of hops and spices.

I've had plenty of Christmas beer where I think a brewery took a normal batch of Ale and cranked up the malt, or adjusted the mashing temp some and called it a Christmas beer so they can say they have a Christmas beer. This is a beer that can no be mistaken for anything but a Christmas beer.

#91 Abita - Chistmas Ale

Abita brewery is from 30 miles north of New Orleans Louisiana. They started as a brew pub seating only 100 and has grown to a large 62,000 barrel brewery. I've heard a lot of good things about the brewery and will look for other beer from them.

This beer has malt and caramel aroma, with a little hop and alcohol smell. The color is a clear brown, almost the color of the bottle the beer came in. This beer has a thick head of foam, that risked over flowing the glass when I poured it, and the foam has a good staying power.

This beer has a harsh tannin taste, that is a lot like the beer from yesterday. The taste is grainy, biscuit like, with hints of coffee. The finish is very dry, leaving a harsh taste at the back of my mouth. The mouthfeel is foamy and smooth, maybe the best part of the beer.

I am not too crazy about this beer. It is a lot like yesterday's beer, too much malt, and dry with tannins.

# 90 Breckenridge - Christmas Ale

On their web site Breckenridge brewery has a recipe for pork chops made with this beer. I always love food cooked with beer. Maybe next year I'll do a "year of food cooked in beer", it would be hard on the days when I'm not home.

This beer has an earthy smell, like dust or dirt. There is a hint of malt to smell, but mainly I am getting the earthiness. The color is a dark brown or amber, and clear enough to read through for such a dark color. There is only a hint of foam to the beer, and there was no foam up while pouring.

The earthiness lightens in the taste, but is still present. The beer has a biscuit or toasted taste to it. I can taste the dark malt tannins and a hint of coffee. The mouthfeel is crisp, with plenty of bubbles on my tongue, a surprise of the amount of head. I am getting some hop spice, but not much, and there is some bitterness in the finish. The beer is 7% alcohol and I can't really taste it.

Overall this is an ok beer. I think the tannin taste is a bit too harsh, and not desirable. I think it is a good choice for a winter beer. This isn't a beer I would get a 6 pack of, but it's a fine seasonal sample.

#89 Seriously Bad Elf

This is my last elf beer. I've got plenty of more seasonal / Christmas beers to drink. I heard that this beer's label got the beer banned in a state (forgot which Maine?) because it showed an elf with a sling shot. The interview with the Dan Shelton of the Shelton Brothers was on Craft Brew Radio coved the story, and gave a back ground into the last few beers.

This beer has some orange peel aroma, that reminds me of Belgium beer. There is a some smell to the beer maybe clove, or coriander, and there is a yeast smell too. The color is a dark yellow almost straw color, and very clear. The head is nice and thick.

The taste is very full of flavors, some fruit and spicy flavors. I am getting some strong banana flavors, nice and sweet. The spices in the beer make is a good example of a Christmas beer. The mouthfeel could be a little heavier and I don't really taste any hops. The finish carries the strong spice and fruit through the beer, making this beer very enjoyable.

I am really enjoying the fruit and spice in this beer. As the elves got worst the beers got better. I know there is also a criminally bad elf on the market but I don't know where I can get it. If it contiunes like the other 3 I would love to try some. THis beer is great.

#88 Very Bad Elf

Today's beer is the very bad elf. I just love the art work on these bottles. I heard an interview with from the Shelton Brothers that import the Elf beers. They get beer made at brewery and relabel to be imported to America.

This beer has fruity aroma, with some hops aroma, and some strong ale alcohol smells. The color is reddish brown, and very clear. There are lots of bubbles coming from the bottom of the glass, and slight ring of foam, just thick enough to block the view.

The beer has a rich taste with only a bit of hop flavor, but plenty of hop bitterness. There is a little lemon taste to the beer, making me pucker a bit. Also some alcohol wamness to the beer which is appropriate for a winter beer. The mouthfeel is thick, and reminds me a little like a Belgium beer. The finish bitter and sour and dry.

I like this beer it is tasty, and a lot better than the Bad Elf. Maybe a little more holiday spices would be be appreciated, but I think this beer is a good example of a Christmas \ Winter beer.

#87 Bad Elf

This is beer part of a trio of beers imported from the Shelton Brothers with a holiday elf theme. I've included a closeup shot of the label because I really like the label.

This beer's smell reminds me or lager beer more than the Ale that it is. There is a sweet aroma, but with a hint of a spice. The color is a hazy dark yellow, I am almost see through the beer, but not fully. There is bit of foam ringing the glass and just covering the top.

The taste is slightly sour taste, with some yeasts. I think there is a high amount of hops in this beer but mainly bittering hops. The beer has a thick mouthfeel that reminds me of a Belgium beer. On the finish of the beer I am getting a light sweet fruit taste, and some bitterness.

I am not a big fan of this beer, I think it is too bitter. I am sure hope my this trend of not liking Christmas beers, it might be a long month of beer.

#86 Samuel Adams - Winter Lager

For the month of December I plan to drink all Christmas and winter beers.

This smells like a lager, but a bit stronger. There is some spice aroma to this beer. The color is a brownish red, and clear. There is only a bit of foam surrounding the top, and a few bubbles coming up from the bottom.

This beer has a strong barley wine, bourbon aged, strong beer start but it doesn't seem to really have the follow through. I can't distinguish any spices but there is a spicy taste. There is a little hops to the beer, which might be giving the spice the taste. This beer is like many Sam Adams beers, just doesn't go all the way of making a great beer.

This beer has plenty of taste, but it's not that great. I am hoping for a better holiday beer tomorrow.