Beer of the Week (CLXVI)

Another holiday season edition of Beer of the Week sponsored as always by the festive folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help find the wine, whiskey, and beer you need to warm up any holiday gathering.

We continue our focus on Christmas beers with a seasonal selection from a well known craft brewer from Ohio. Our beer of the week is Great Lakes Christmas Ale.

Six-pack of 12oz bottles sells for $11.99. Black label with train car bearing a load of Christmas ornaments.

STYLE: Winter Warmer

ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 7.5%

COLOR (0-2): Copper brown. 2

AROMA (0-2): Smell is a little light, but you can pick up the cinnamon and ginger. 2

HEAD (0-2): White color, not much volume or lacing. 1

TASTE (0-5): The cinnamon and ginger are very pronounced along with sweet caramel malts and bread. Hops are pretty light and you can pick up some honey in the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and a bit oily. It has a medium body and with the heat mostly diffused, it’s more drinkable than you would expect. 4

AFTERTASTE (0-2): Spicy and sweet flavors carry through. 2

OVERALL (0-6): Great Lakes Christmas Ale lives up to the name with a delicious mix of flavors that invoke the spirit of the season. With the strong doses of cinnamon and ginger, it tastes like Christmas. With the alcohol not readily apparent and a medium body, it’s not going to fill you up or slow you down. However, as tasty as sweet and spicy combo is, it’s one that I prefer to enjoy in moderation. One or two at a crack is plenty to savor. 5

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 16