Why we picked it: Bell's brewery has become a staple in our 24 DoB. It's one of my top 5 breweries. We had this 2 years ago and it was time to bring it back. We'll compare this on back to back days to Schlafly's Christmas offering. Plus it has a nice tree on the label. It's Christmas time, get in the spirit!
About Bell's Christmas Ale: The basic inspiration for Bell's Christmas Ale was to create a sessionable holiday beer, using locally grown malt, which would stand apart from the array of spiced winter warmers that are typically introduced this time of year. In contrast to many other seasonals, Christmas Ale doesn't contain any spices: all of the dry, toasted notes & subtle toffee flavors come from the 100% Michigan-grown barley, custom malted by Briess Malting, while a blend of hops from Michigan & the Pacific Northwest lend earthy, herbal aromas. At 5.5% ABV, it stands as a smooth, highly drinkable beer intended to complement holiday menus, not overshadow them.
Beer Advocate Score: 82
Alcohol by Volume: 5.5%
Original Gravity: 1.058
Shelf Life: 6 months
Dates Available: Winter seasonal
Case Cost: $43
*website: http://bellsbeer.com/brands/27-Christmas%20Ale
Pullin' one of my DB moves and posting about multiple beers (4) in one section. Sorry, but once again got behind in the beer count, and just simply lack the discipline or common courtesy to go back and post separately under four pages. It's happening. Deal with it.
ReplyDeleteBut I'll tell you this much my 24dob brethren, this has been the best four days of beer I've experienced lo these many days of December. The first three in particular! Those beers-- Hardwood Single, Boulevard Tank, and Highland Gaelic--were all wieners in my book. And I think they progressively got better!
Now you may question "Todd, perhaps they got progressively better because you've progressively gotten more intoxicated", (yes, once again I'm catching up all at once, this time while watching Seth Rogan and James Franko do a Naked and Afraid parody [what's up with that by the way? It's hilarious! Search for it and DVR that shiz]), and that's a fair point. But I honesty think they were three great beers and that each out-shined the one before.
The first one was light and refreshing and flavorful, and I could drink a twelve pack of them without getting tired of it (which is ironic considering it's called "Single"). The second was such a complex blend of wonderfully complementary flavors that my mouth felt as if there were a party to which everyone had been invited. And the third...well it was as earthy, peaty, and undergarmentless as the Scotsmen for whom the beer is named. Well done for setting up these three beers all in a row. Well done!
Then there was the fourth beer. Bell's Christmas.
It was a fine enough beer. And I'm a Bell's fan usually. But it was bland for a seasonal. Yes-yes, before someone points it out, I see above that they pretentiously brag about producing a Christmas beer that doesn't taste like a Christmas beer. Um...why is that a good thing? You know how pissed I'd be if someone handed me a steak that didn't taste like a steak!? Don't call a beer what it isn't. When I drink a "Christmas beer", I want it to taste like a mouthful of the detritus that accumulates at the bottom of a spice rack (in a good way).
It's an ok beer.
....But it's a liar.
So if a beer is a wiener, is that good or bad?
DeleteStill going strong and enjoying each one of these 24 Days of beer. I have had other Bells but not this one. Another solid beer. I wonder out of the 72 participants...how many have had their beer every day?
ReplyDeleteI am still one for one and it does take discipline and luck to do 24 beers in 24 nights
DeleteI also am still on track..but that ends next week....I'll be in Ypsilanti for a couple days....of all places I get stuck in during the 24DOB!!
DeleteWTF people?!! Is it so hard to have 1 drink a day?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteI question your commitment to your alcoholism...shame on you!
You ever have one of those nights where you had a one night stand with a beautiful women and it seemed really good? And then you never see her again and you wonder if you ever will? Of course you build her up to be better as time passes by. Then a year later you get to experience her again and start getting really excited especially seeing the awesome caramel skin color and sweet smell of her. Then when you taste her you remember she was good but not great. But she becomes tradition and you look forward to her every year. This is that beer. A really good women only to be experienced during xmas to make it very special and delightful.
ReplyDeleteKinda wish I had a tradition like that.....
DeleteI am a teacher and I try to get my students to fall into avg, above avg and exceptional (mastered) which closely relates to a C, B and A. I can't give D or F's anymore so I arrange it so that I have 3 categories
ReplyDeleteI don't know how this relates to walking down different streets to experience some wonderful things out there!
You say you can't give D or F....is that a choice or a directive from up on high in your place of employment? Simply curious, don't care either way, just curious.
DeleteYes, I'm also curious. I just read an article tonight about a 21 year old girl who successfully sued her parents because they wouldn't pay for her college. The reason they didn't pay is because she got kicked out of her summer intership at Disney for underage drinking, came home and refused to follow her parents rules. She moved out, got enrolled into Temple, cut off communications with her parents and still expected them to pay her way. The parents provided a payment plan for her to attend an in-state school to the judge and the 21 year old's response was "I just want them to pay". The judge ruled in the 21 year old brats favor and the parent now have to pay for their daughters tuition. Between stories like this, Joe's inability to give D's or F's (only if its a directive from above and not a personal choice), and sports leagues where they don't keep score, I feel like our country is raising a nation of spoiled pussies that expect everything to be handed to them. Sorry off my soap box now.
DeleteThe entitlement generation
DeleteBeen at 3 different schools and all of them have different rules. All of them want to be informed with any student below a C. All them wanted us to do something to bring the grade up (no child left behind BS) either thru retaking the test/Quiz/HW, extra credit, helping them prepare for future Test/Quiz/HW to bring their grade up. One allowed me to give a D after I proved I did everything to bring their grades up and they just didn't know the material.
So yes it is not my doing
Most fascinating non-beer discussion on 24 DoB so far
DeleteBeer was good, I'd buy it today. But as Joe has mentioned so eloquently above, I'm already curious about next year....how will it REALLY taste? Maybe it takes more than a single bottle to truly determine one's feelings about a beer. I abide by that rule when it comes to wiskey....never trust just 1 bottle, especially if it's single barrel...try numerous barrels!
ReplyDeleteThirded. I like it, am already looking for ward to the next. Cautiously opptimistic
DeleteBS
I had really high hopes for this. Usually love Bell's offerings. Probably should have looked back at my comment from last time. I pretty much agree with what Todd and Joe said above. At least what I think what Joe said. Hard to make sense with that analogy. Anyway, I expected to like it, but it just tasted like a really standard light amber. As you will probably discover when I comment on later Christmas beers (Anchor Steam, I'm looking at you), I'm not a fan of the overseasoned seasonals. I like my pine on the tree, not in my beer. But I expect at least some sort of spice in a beer labeled Christmas. Nothing. Not even a dash of nutmeg or a grain of cinnamon or a sliver of coriander. I drank it down and it was fine but it tasted way too close to the Abita Amber that I had at my holiday party this afternoon to rise to any level at all. Seems to be Bell's is guilty of false advertising. And probably is involved in the War on Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHa!
DeleteBell's is involved in the war on Christmas.
Classic.
Bill...one of my beer reps stopped in insisting that I taste the Anchor Steam Xmas. Yup, I cheated and tasted this years offering before the day prescribed in my 24DOB...you will not be disappointed. I am looking forward to having a full 12oz all to myself
DeleteI had this and Schlafly Christmas since I was a day behind. I enjoyed Bell’s – Schlafly was too spiced and sweet. #WarOnChristmas
DeleteThe label made me really excited. At first it tasted good but it kinda fizzled out. It was just decent.
ReplyDeleteThis is merely an average Bell's brew. But being Bell's its better than about 75% of other crap on the market. With that being said, it's not bad I but I expect better from them. B
ReplyDeleteAs other have mentioned, Bell's makes some good beers and this Christmas Ale is another good one.
ReplyDeleteGoing forward on this blog.. I will use C 4 Average!
Horray for April! Using old school scoring system and giving a C when it is truly just avg. Welcome to the 80's
DeleteBell's has built a reputation for making very good stuff, so we can be excused for having high expectations. Their Two Hearted Ale is an absolute go-to selection, always on tap at the bar closest to my office where we have all our happy hour gatherings and going-away lunches. And ever since the University of Michigan nicely asked me to go to school somewhere else and sent me back to Chicago, I've had a love-hate relationship with that state - I really like Megan Boone and my old roomie Roman Kell, but I hate the Lions and pretty much everything else there.
ReplyDeleteSo while I really like Two Hearted, I only mostly like Bell's Christmas Ale. It looked beautiful pouring out of the bottle, and the smell was so promising. That first taste was satisfyingly malty, and I was excited for what followed...which turned out to be an above average and pleasant but not sensational or exciting beer. I respect that they tried to approach a seasonal beer from a different direction, and I'd say they did an above average job. I enjoyed the whole bottle and wouldn't turn down a couple more, so they also succeeded in making a sessional seasonal ale. But I'd expect Bell's to make this just a little more interesting, a little more distinctive, a little more than just above average.
I hated last night's beer but after a day like today, I'm glad I got two 24 DoB's. 1st off, the Highlands beer which was a good, enjoyable beer from Ashville, NC (another congregation of hipsters like Richmond, VA). It didn't blow me away, but I enjoyed it and would drink more if it was offered to me. I'm not sure I would go out of my way to seek this one out. B
ReplyDeleteNext up, Belle's Christmas Ale. It's a nice Red Ale that's not to heavy or nor to light. I would probably enjoy a sixer of this given the chance. Lucky me, the wife fell asleep watching Bill Murray's Scrooged, so I get two. I went back to 2011 to see what I thought of it then and it was a success then too. Good selection; A
****meant to say I hated missing last nights beer****
DeleteWhile this is a very good beer...it is not terribly exciting. Bell's is a quality brewery and almost everything they do is good (Venus a notable exclusion). This Xmas ale is just a bit boring for my taste...
ReplyDeleteNot worth the price of admission...when picking and Christmas beer I wil go with something that stands out.
What happened to Katy, Tony and Mark? The police patrol that calls people out for not blogging?
ReplyDeleteMan, the posts bare all over the place tonight, but entertaining as always. I looked this one a bit more than most. Not exciting, but well balanced and with some good flavors.I could drink 2-3 of these. It could definitely use a bit more of wow, but still one of the better ones so far. Grade: 7/10
ReplyDeleteI liked this one - and I normally like Bells offerings. Only issue was.....this was a Christmas beer? I think this tasted like a solid year round ale, not overpowering, good flavor......nothing with this screams 'Christmas' flavor to me. That said - kind of average but not bad
ReplyDeleteBell's Christmas Ale is a beer in search of a style. It is technically a Scottish ale but it lands somewhere between that and an amber ale. Not to mention, other than the image of the tree on the label there really is nothing Xmas or even wintery about it. I knew I had had this beer before in the 24DoB-2011 edition, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember what it tasted like. Now I see why. Extremely forgettable and it has a very dry finish that I didn't care much for. Generally speaking, I really like Bell's Brewery which made this one a little disappointing. Their stouts, Expedition and Kalamazoo, are two of my favorites and their Third Coast Old Ale is amazing. Maybe they should just make that their Xmas ale. This one gets a C.
ReplyDeleteYou want this beer to taste great? Have a few Sam Adams winter lagers first at a holiday party like I did. This was a huge improvement.
ReplyDeleteHilarious
DeleteI've had Bells beers numerous times and have rarely been disappointed. This selection was no exception. I am not confident that I would call this a winter or Christmas beer, but still enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIf someone had not told me that this was a Christmas ale, I would have pegged it as one of the nicest amber ales I had had in a long time. Just a really solid beer. Nice color. Good carbonation. Really nice flavor. I'm sorry that this is a seasonal beer otherwise it would likely find its way into my fridge on a regular basis.
ReplyDeletePoured this into a glass, nice color, not much head. There's a little bit on the nose, but not much. I like Bell's beers. Two hearted ale is one of my favorites. I'm a couple sips in and I am enjoying this beer. I took a quick look back at my review from 2011. I think I liked it more then than I do tonight. It's good, and getting better as I go. I'm drinking this a day late, so I am going to be able to try this and the Schlafly's back to back. Grade 8.5 of 10, B+
ReplyDeleteI think of Bell's like I think of Ommegang - you can pretty much bet that anything with their name on it is going to be really good. I like everything about this beer, the label, the color, the balance, the way they tricked me into believing that this was a Christmas beer - it's all good. This is a winner for me.
ReplyDeleteA really good Christmas beer. I like the label too. I am late blogging because I fell asleep last night with my beer glass in my hand. Oops.
ReplyDeleteNot crazy about this one. I liked it enough, but was expecting more. I thought it laid kind of flat on the tongue. Maybe it was just because I was expecting more of a spiced, Christmassy brew. Overall, I'd give it a solid B.
ReplyDeleteFavorite so far. A-
ReplyDelete