Bell's Brewery, Inc. - Bell's Christmas Ale
Beer Type: Scottish Ale
Appearance: 12 oz brown bottle featuring a lone christmas tree in a yellow field of grain. The beer poured a nice amber color complete with a big off-white head that left plenty of lacing.
Smell: Sweet and sour first, then followed by some citrus hops and a bit of malt.
First Drink: Some strong alcohol flavors come at you in the front, quickly followed by some bready flavors sprinkled with hops and a bit of bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Pretty smooth for the amount of carbonation in the bottle. The overall body was somewhere in the "medium" range.
Last Drink: A lot more of the bitter comes through as the beer warms and sits on your tongue. It isn't bad but it sort of overwhelms and nuances the beer might otherwise have.
Drinkability: Nothing too crazy, pretty easy going down, and it is fairly affordable when in season. I liked it a bit better on tap but the bottle is a decent drink.
Notes: Hometown (Kalamazoo) brew for the holidays? Reminds me more of an IPA than a christmas ale (or scottish ale).
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5. A splash of the season but not the best of seasonal local brews.
Links: Beer Advocate and Bell's Brewery, Inc.
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