Abita Christmas Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

2014 Pours thick and dark. Foamy head. Smells hoppy. Good mouthfeel. Thick. Taste is pure, unadulterated cat piss. Maybe a little grain. If you're a cat lover, this is your beer.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Carefully cellared, but definitely an older bottle. Murky ruddy brown on the pour with just a little lace around the edges. Sugary raisin aroma with tart lemon or strawberry and a little brown bread. Not quite so sweet in flavor, though: it's doughy with a faint trace of wood and citrus bitter. Nothing extreme or distinctive, but really quite pleasant as a casual drink. Fresh and clean, and for a winter ale it's wet and thin. Barely carbonated-- either some of the fizz has been lost (probable) or they've captured a nice tingly moment here. I'm surprised I like it as much as I do, but maybe I shouldn't be. I do like Abita.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Abita Christmas Ale 2013 version has a fairly thick, cream-colored crown of foam, a standard brown appearance, and a small amount of lacing left behind. The aroma is of of piney hops, grapefruit, and brown bread. Taste is also of those things, with a rather hearty bitterness coming in. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and it finishes semi-dry, refreshing, and easy going. This year's edition is IPA oriented. It's unexpected and pretty good.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with a nice sized white head that takes it time. Aroma is very hoppy that it reminds me of an IPA. Absolutely no carbonation what so ever. Taste is very bland and non existent. Detect hints of hops and a smidge of spice. Extremely boring brew, but not a drain pour.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours a nice opaque dark-chocolate brown with a fine-bubbled light tan head that leaves some good lacing. Aroma is not strong, but does invite a taste with malty, woody, and subtle cinnamon and cloves notes. Flavor has a malty core with spice (cinnamon and cloves) hints and a woody, slightly bitter hops undertone. Texture has average body but a fair amount of tingle, leaving a fizzy, woody finish.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I think this beer is a little underated here. Not the biggest fan of Abita, but the last two I sampled are all right. If the balance was slightly better, the flavor would be an 8. Decent amount of hops here. This is actually more like an IPA IMO vs. an XMAS/brown ale. Got on clearance for 1/2 off, so definitely not fresh, but curious to try some fresh stuff this upcoming season.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

This poured a brown color with a beige head. The aroma contains some nutmeg and caramel. The flavor is rather malty with some caramel and nutty flavors. Some toffee is also in there. Some bitterness in the finish. Overall a pretty good straight up brown ale.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Dark red/amber/copper color with a nice thick off white head. Hung around for a few minutes to leave a small film across the top. The beer is mostly clear with burnt orange highlights at the bottom. Some lacing left on the glass. Some floral and citrus hops strike me first in the nose. Picking up some peach and what smells like cinnamon and ginger bread. A bit of orange in there also. The malt is of a darker tone. Some of the citrus hops at first with the flavor followed by the cinnamon. The ginger bread melds nicely with another sort of spice that I can't identify right off. Seemingly well balanced and enjoyable. Medium bodied mouthfeel. A tad bit watery. Was smooth and relatively crisp. Left a little to be desired on the palate. This is an easily drinkable beer. Worth a try if you get the chance. I did like the taste very well and it seemed to hit the spot, as far as for Christmas spirit. This would be nice with sugar cookies I think. Glad I got to sample it.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

A nice little Abita brew courtesy of Blue Lou, thanks buddy! Pours an orange brown colour with a decent white head. Aroma has some light brown sugar, cinnamon nutty notes. Taste is full, well carbonated and mildly sweet. Otherwise pleasent, easily drinking brew.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

2010 version. After reading past reviews I was ready for a less than stellar brew. Surprise! This year's batch is quite tasty. Pours a nice deep clear amber with a thin fluffy cream head and some sporadic lacing. Some carbonation. Roasted malts and nuts dominate the aromas with a slight coffee nose - fairly rich and nutty, then some nice earthy hops. Taste is much the same with a very warming toasty nuttiness with a pinch of roasted coffee beans followed by a decent earthy hops bitter and a bit of metallic linger. Nice find, good surprise - like finding extra candy in your stocking - unexpectedly decent.