In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into the latest version of Goose Island Christmas Ale. This year the brewery has rename the brew to Festivity Ale. They felt calling it Christmas Ale that after the holiday, people stop drinking and buying it. They are correct. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Goose Island Brewery. Let us get into this winter ale.
This brown ale has a nice bronze to brown color with an off white to light tan color head. The smell has a caramel with a slight floral notes. The taste has a creamy caramel with a dry nutty aftertaste. It is a nice sipping beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Brown Ale
Caramel and dark fruit malt flavors swirl inside a creamy toasty brown ale.
Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):
Festivity Ale
Brewer’s Notes
Every year we brew a brown ale to celebrate the holidays. To make each year’s special, we alter the recipe. This year we wrapped caramel and dark fruit malt flavors inside a creamy toasty brown ale. May your holidays be filled with Festivity.
Recipe Information
- Style: Classic Ales – Seasonal
- Alcohol by Volume: 7.7%
- International Bitterness Units: 50
- Color: Ruby Brown
- Hops: Pilgrim, English Golding
- Malts: Special Pale, Bon Munich, Caramel-60, Caramel-120, Rice Hulls, ECJ Sugar
Availability
Seasonal (November – December)
Available
Bottles: 6 PackHere is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.gooseisland.com
Twitter: @gooseisland
Ending, every year, I get excited for Fall and Winter seasonals. This beer is normally at the top of my list. I will say the last few years. I have been pretty disappointed with this American Brown Ale. This year has been promising for the future years. Goose Island is known to change the recipe slightly every year. I love this year’s ale. They did a great job. It is so much better than last year. This beer will have the malt head of the world wishing for more of this ale. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser16@gmail.com
Twitter: @djweiser
Instagram: @djweiser13
New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2012
In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out this years Christmas Ale from Goose Island Brewery. If you read my earlier blog on one their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the beer.
Goose Island Christmas Ale has a nice amber color without a head on it. The smell is a caramel to malty to it. The taste of this ale is a hazel to almond with a slight dash of caramel for the aftertaste. It is not that drinkable but the beer drinker could have a few of these beers.
Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):
Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.
Recipe Information:
Style: Brown Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 7.3
International Bitterness Units: Change year to year
Color: Chocolate
Hops: Change year to year
Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel
Serving Suggestions:
Preferred Glass: Nonic
Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb
Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack
Cellaring Notes: 180 days
Availability:
Seasonal (November – December)
Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks
Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.gooseisland.com
Twitter: @gooseisland
Closing, this is the first of Goose Island Christmas Ale where the beer will not change over the years or can not be aged like Christmas Ales from the past. It is pretty disappointing because a ton of us craft beer drinkers love to age beer to see what is like next year. I was pretty disappointing with this beer. It is kind of drinkable beer. I just feel this beer is missing something like other years. I do not know what it is and I am not a brewer to make to explain my thought pattern. I can see most people liking this beer and I want you to try it. This beer does pair really well with food. I just do not like this year’s Christmas Ale from Goose Island and that does not mean you will not like this beer. Let me hear your thoughts. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
New Beer Blog Goose Island Christmas Ale 2011
In this winter beer, we are going to take a look at a beer from my vintage beer closet and the beer is from Goose Island. It is their Christmas Ale 2011. If you read my earlier blog on one of their beers, you know the history of this brewery. If you live in Chicago or the Midwest, you know this brewery and some of their beers. If you do not, please, read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.
This Christmas beer has a light brown with a semi head on the beer. The smell has a strong caramel with a fade hazel nut to it. The taste has a little caramel with a sweeten carbonation malty to the beer. The aftertaste is a slight malty to it but it is very fade. It is pretty drinkable beer and it aged very well.
Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):
Brewer’s Notes:Every year to celebrate the holiday season, we brew up our Christmas Ale, and with each year we change the recipe slightly so that you have something special to look forward to.
Recipe Information:
Style: Brown Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 7.3
International Bitterness Units: Change year to year
Color: Chocolate Hops: Change year to year
Malt: Pale, Munich, Caramel
Serving Suggestions:
Preferred Glass: Nonic
Food Pairings: Ham, Turkey, Lamb
Cheese Pairings: Aged Gouda, Dry Jack
Cellaring Notes: 5 years
Availability:
Seasonal (November – December)
Bottles: 6, 12 & 24pks
Draft: 1/6 & 1/2bbl
Here is their website and twitter addresses:
Website: www.goooseisland.com
Twitter: @gooseisland
In closing, the 2011 Goose Island Christmas Ale was the last to be able to age but I am not going to push it over two years. Over the years, I had to pour out a ton of Christmas Ale because they did not age good. This 2011 age very well and it is better than 2012. When this beer was young in 2011, I really did not like it so I am happy that it aged very well. It is complex with a ton of flavor. It is true that they change this American Brown Ale every year. If you see this on the shelf, I would grab and you will not be disappointed. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser
DJ Weiser 