About Blue Mountain Lights Out Holiday Ale: Our holiday Old Ale features a deep malt flavor and earthy hop spiciness given by whole-flower Willamette hops. A range of English crystal malts come forward and, combined with rolled oats, finish with a medium-bodied texture. Available October-December. Brewed in Afton, VA.
Beer Advocate Score: 82 points
IBUs: 60
Plato: 18°
Alcohol by Volume: 7.0%
Case Cost: $39
*website: http://www.bluemountainbrewery.com/our-beer/
Been dealing with a screaming baby all morning so I cracked this open early. If you hated the Fireside Chat yesterday you'll probably hate this one too. It's hard to go wrong with a dark beer for me and Blue Mountain didn't here. To me this one had more roasted flavor, a little less spice, and almost no bitterness compared to yesterday. All around a solid Winter Ale, and much better than their lager on day 1. B+
ReplyDeleteSkipped the beer last night in favor of champagne and tree trimming. Now enjoying both beers as a head to head taste test prior to hitting the holiday party where we don't know many people. A sound plan, no doubt you are thinking. Anywhoo, both of these beers are great. Yesterday's 21st Amendment Ale was not too spiced, but fully flavored, no cloying sweetness. My favorite Amendment has now become a beer I will put into the regular rotation on a cold winter night. Tonight's Holiday Ale I think slightly edges it out, with, as has been said, a little darker flavor but less spice. Very smooth and definitely something I could continue to drink (another night. Tonight I have to make small talk over canapés, and one beer is definitely the sweet spot going in.). Have a great Saturday night all!
ReplyDeleteMuch better than the earlier Blue Mountain offering. It was a nice medium body beer with the perfect amount of spices (not sure if it was cinamon or nutmeg). I could easily sit around a drink a sixer or more of these. A-
ReplyDeleteI think I like this one even better than last night. The color is awesome and the bitterness is not as pronounced. I chilled it briefly and drank it at just below room temperature. This goes on my "keeper" list.
ReplyDeleteDelicious. Loved the big malty flavor. It was really sweet compared to last night's. For that reason, I'd have a hard time drinking more than one. (Don't know why I feel that way about beer and not about chocolate.)
ReplyDeleteMy comments are getting too boring because I like everything. I'm looking forward to reading comments from the people who hated it - those are way more entertaining :-)
This was a dark beer that worked for me. A nice nutty flavor with a touch of sweetness and a nice malt backbone. B+
ReplyDeleteHaed last night's beer, but LOVE tonight's! Maybe because it's more sweet than spice... Delicious.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping I'd like this one because I really like the label but it didn't go down too well. The aftertaste is too bitter for me.
ReplyDeleteYep I'm a fan of this one. I'm a little surprised. I did not have high hopes for this beer since I didn't think the Blue Mountain Lager was that great. However this is delicious. Solid holiday beer here. 8 out of 10, B+
ReplyDeleteThis was what I like in a winter ale. I mean, I'll always take the hoppiest IPA possible when given the choice, but when I need a dark, malty beer to accompany my trip to the grocery store to buy toilet paper for the impending ice storm or to drink after I nearly leave a Christmas tree lying in the middle of Connecticut Avenue (perhaps two pieces of twine are not adequate to secure a tree to a Corolla), this would be the beer I would choose. So much better than last night's which was too spicy for me and as Ro said, "too medicinal." The spice here was pretty subtle and that's the one I want my beer spices. Solid B in my book and my faith in Afton is restored.
ReplyDeleteReally liked this beer. Great balance and I appreciated the additional hop compliment that you dont always see in winter brews. Glad to know that they make some good beer down in Afton!
ReplyDeleteI'd pick up a 6 pack if I ever saw it in a store. Happy we got to taste this one
Wow! Va beer that has flavor??? Rich, full and love the color with a faint bitter after taste. Loved it and need another! This was a little better than yesterday b/c of less bitterness. The beers keep getting better each day!! Awesome selection this year!
ReplyDeleteRating: 8.0
I like this one - I think it's a really solid winter ale. Similar to Fireside Chat, but this one's components work well together, and that's a winner.
ReplyDeleteNot bad. I feel like the brewer was working hard on this and just ran out of time to make it awesome. Did nothing wrong, but kind of forgettable. B-.
ReplyDeleteAfter drinking this I think that 'holiday ale' fits it well. I would drink this at a holiday party, or in December, but not really any other time.
ReplyDeleteSolid B
ReplyDeleteLoved this one. Had to save it for football on Sunday, and it was worth the wait. Much better than the other Blue Mountain beer. Right up there with the best of them if not the best so far.
ReplyDeleteI want to wait till I have the Devil's Backbone here in an hour or so, but I am (cue Phil from Duck Dynasty) rapidly losing faith in VA breweries/craft beer. I have given the Starr Hill lineup several chances and this is my second with Blue Mountain and to my dismay I am not a fan. All are either way too bitter or weak, and this is no exception. Granted, this was much better than the BM lager, but for an ale I expected better flavor. Average - gets a 5 out of 10.
ReplyDeleteCatching up: A very solid holiday beer. Holiday spice but not overly so with a dry finish. I could have another.
ReplyDeleteBoo this beer. Would rather have a miller
ReplyDelete