Scrooge and Marley Hazelnut Christmas Ale

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

YO HO HO! No Bah Humbug here! This is beer number 2 from the Scrooge and Marley Gift Pack, compliments of the Joe Huber Brewery of Monroe, WI. Reviews of the New London Lager and The Red Ale are pending, so stand by! One word can describe this Hazelnut Xmas Ale. Smooth! A dark orange to amber hue and an off white foam that melts into a good lace retention grabs your attention from the get go. On the schnoz, aromas of metal are detected. I didn't like that. It smelled like a beer can, even though it came from a bottle. But on the palate, Hazelnut has it's smoothness. Roasted malts, mild hop character, and faint flavors of almonds, corriander, allspice, and of course hazelnuts are detectable. There may even be a hint of vanilla flavor on the buds as well. The finish is clean and has a nice clean bite to it. If I didn't know any better, I would have guessed I was drinking a Maerzen, but this ale may be a little to heavy to fit that category! Enjoy this one this Christmas with cheese and crackers, or other festive appetizers! God I love the H-Days!