I'll Have a Beer » Michigan hops http://haveabeer.couchand.com For all who appreciate the fermented majesty. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:22:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 12 Beers of X-Mas: Bell's Christmas Ale http://haveabeer.couchand.com/2008/12/17/12-beers-of-x-mas-bells-christmas-ale/ http://haveabeer.couchand.com/2008/12/17/12-beers-of-x-mas-bells-christmas-ale/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:43:57 +0000 couch http://haveabeer.couchand.com/?p=352 On the fourth day of Christmas my beer fridge gave to me a Bell’s Christmas Ale. This offering from Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Michigan uses all Michigan-grown barley and lots of Michigan-grown hops. It’s said to be brewed as a scotch ale, an amber-colored malty and earthy style.

The Christmas Ale is an opal persimmon. The head, the color of wheat, is pillowy and lingering. The aroma is lightly fruity and cidery. I barely notice a bit of dark malt as well. A small but persistent sharpness indicates alcohol.

The flavor is prominently bitter. Though overall it is not more bitter than many regular pale ales, the bitterness is earthy and flat and almost numbs the tip of my tongue. The palate starts out intense as well, and it is cloyingly sweet. On the middle of the tongue i note a spiced flavor: a combination of ginger and pepper. The earthy hops contribute, and some caramel and brown malt flavor as well. A decent Christmas beer, though I’m not sure it’s very Scottish.

+/-Bell’s Christmas Ale

3.2 (4-7-6-2-13)

]]> http://haveabeer.couchand.com/2008/12/17/12-beers-of-x-mas-bells-christmas-ale/feed/ 0