Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale (2007 - present)

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

Pours a clear copper colour with an average sized fluffy white head. The head retains well and leaves a good amount of lacing. Mild aroma of spice and fruit. Caramel malt flavour with some spice and fruits (mainly orange). Has a little bitterness and metallic finish. Medium mouthfeel and well carbonated. Ok beer.

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

Pours an average size frothy head and has a clean amber appearance with a light reddish hue. Fairly thick lacing. Light malty and hoppy aromas, with mild toffee. Nice fruity and lightly spiced flavours with some faint hints of cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg. Slight drying and warming sensation. Nice little tingling on the palate as well. Really warm and inviting ale to enjoy by the fireplace on a cold winter's eve. Doesn't get better than that!

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

500 ml capped bottle, as a Strong Kent Ale. Poured in a shaker pint glass a clear dark amber-chesnut coloured ESB with a one finger light beige dense and creamy foamy head that had a very long retention and tons of micro bubbles. Active carbonation. Some lacing. The aroma is caramel and toasted malts, red fruits , berries, dried fruits, raisins, dates, faint grassy hops and a well hidden but present alcoholic feeling. The flavour is toasted malts, caramel, dried fruits, walnuts and spicy, orange peels. The moutfeel is fizzy, sparkling, light syrupy and sticky and smooth. This light to medium bodied ESB has a dry malty and syrupy finish. The aftertaste is light-light warming. An easy drinkable, ( too ) soft and smooth Xmas-Ale.

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

500ml bottle
7.0% ABV
Atrium on Bay LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
November 29, 2012
The beer pours a translucent candy cane red colour with a thin white head. The aroma is caramel, grains, and spices. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Flavour is sweet caramel malt, dry spicy bitter finish. A decent Christmas Ale.

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

Single brown bottle from the LCBO. Pours a clean rich deep amber colour with an off-white, almost creamy, head that goes down until it forms a thick coating on the brew. Thick and creamy lace sticks to the sides. Spicy nose, but not from what is expected of one called "Christmas Ale". Nope, not cinnamon, but spicy hops. Alcohol and grainy malts are also part of the mix. Flavours of apples, cereal malts, light alcohol and hops. Nice soft bitterness creating a mild dry mouthfeel. Though, sad to not have an English strong ale with cinnamon, this is a pretty good winter warmer that goes down nicely.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

500 ml clear bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 7.0%. Beautiful clear amber colour, big head, slightly off-white. Aroma of light-struck hops and toffee, with hints of Christmas spices. The flavour is initially fruity and spicy with noticeable alcohol, but is not as sweet as expected, and ends in a rather sharp and peppery hoppy bitterness. Dry and "dusty" bitter aftertaste, nearly metallic. Not as "rich and smooth" as promised on the label, and not very well balanced. Must be better cask conditioned?