Goose Island Christmas Ale
Specialty Belgian malts create a deep garnet color and a truly rich old European flavor in our classic Christmas Ale. And the generous amount of crystal hops adds that extra spicy aroma to your pint, perfect for a wintry night. Our Christmas Ale brings good tidings and joy to each Holiday Season. A two-time Gold Medal Winner in the World Beer Championships.
The original Goose Island Christmas Ale clocked in at 5.7% ABV. There was no 2010 vintage. The 2011 vintage saw a bump to 6.2% ABV but no new entry. The 2012 vintage was bumped up further to 7.5% ABV.
The original Goose Island Christmas Ale clocked in at 5.7% ABV. There was no 2010 vintage. The 2011 vintage saw a bump to 6.2% ABV but no new entry. The 2012 vintage was bumped up further to 7.5% ABV.
3.5
882 reviews
Chicago, United States
Community reviews
Pours a brown amber with a soft head. Aroma of spice and malt. Taste is warming with winter spices and malt. Even though this was the 2012 vintage it still tasted fresh.
2011. Layer of sediment in the bottle. 09/26/11 1642. Pours a murky brown with a finger of khaki foam. Nose is baked bread, toffee, yeast and Christmas spices. Touch of earthy hops. Taste is caramel, bread, standard pie spices and a touch of oxidation. Medium bodied and a little thin. Not a bad vintage at all but certainly on the way down the hill.
2011 bottle found in the rot closet. Pours an opaque dark reddish color with small tan head. Big sweet malt aroma, caramel, spices, belgiany character. Sweet, watery, oaky (?), some chocolate and spice notes. Overall, just a weird mess. Too much going on and not in a good way.
2012 vintage. pours hazy almost cloudy light brown-reddish a creamy light beige-orange head, some retention and lacing. fruity belgian malts - figs and spices, dense and complex caramel, nutty and tobacco-plenty, yeasty, moderate sweetness - brown sugar, demerara, woodsy notes. moderate carbonation, light to medium body - oily, woodsy-astringent-grassy-spicy finish. belgian more than a brown ale. spicy. figgy. belgian. nice.
Bottle at home, 2011 Christmas. Pours a murky chestnut brown with a pale yellow / off white head. Subtle aroma of caramel, dried fruit, little spice. Flavour caramel malts, some hops, not huge on Christmas cheer but an ok beer.
2012 vintage. 7,3%. Unclead brown. Little head. Aroma of dates and other dried fruits. Similar taste and aftertaste with orange marlelade, pale toffee and sweet vanilla.
Flaske (11.05.12), 7,3%: hm, litt svak aroma sier Sigmund og vi nikker alle bekreftende. Uklar og lite skum. Smak av litt sure plommer kombinert med maltsødme. Ikke god, ikke dårlig, bare litt kjedelig.
Shared bottle at local tasting. Pours hazy brown with a small white head. Weak aroma of caramel and toffee, spices. Taste is light sweet, malts and red ripe fruits, Fresh mouthfeel.
Shared bottle at local tasting, from Voldby Købmandsgaard. 2012 vintage, 7.3% ABV. Weak aroma, brown malts and bread, hints of stale jam. The flavour is better than the aroma, malty with a slightly warming mouthfeel. Hints of spices. Okay, but not really impressive.
355 ml bottle kindly shared by Sigmund. 2012 vintage ABV 7,3%. Muddy nut orange body, no head. Dried dates and figs on the nose. Sweet and papery. Full bodied and flat. Alco warmth.
Reviewed from notes.
The appearance had a dark brown colored body yielding a big foamy two finger white head that appears and settles to a half finger giving way to some nice lacing left behind in rings. No carbonation is seen rising due to the dark body.
The smell was based around some caramel, bread, and malts.
The taste takes those previously mentioned aromas to make it exceptionally sweet. There’s a slight toastiness coming out as well.
On the palate, she sat about at a medium with a dry finish and a sticky aftertaste.
Overall, not bad for a American Brown Ale that’s a seasonal. I’d probably get it again, but not necessarily need it for the Christmas season.
bottle. 2011 vintage. rich brown ale with caramel malt. mild hops and substantial holiday spice.
Bottle gift from SJ. Goose Island is becoming one of my top 10 breweries. Nice blend of roast, spice, fruit and caramel. Finish was mild hoop and some medium spice. It was good for this time of year.
12oz bottle (2012 vintage) shared by Phil at Crossroad Spirits. Thanks Phil. Pours a nice amber/brown color with a finger of frothy tan head. Aroma of rich caramel, light spices, and lots of malt. Taste is also very malty, sweet chewy caramel, and light spices. Good stuff
There aren’t many winter beers that can match the appeal of Christmas ale. The rich dark brown color is beautiful. The aroma is fruity, spicy, and just a bit boozy. That taste? It’s got lots of toasted malt, sugar, dark fruit, and spice. A brilliant medley of flavor for a fireside nightcap.
Ruby red. Nuts and sweet caramel. Spice in there. Flavour is big Nutty sweetness with cinnamon on finish. It’s too sweet for my taste. Low carbonation which takes away from it and it has a lot of water in it.
Tasted 2011 version in december 2012. A nice floral aroma. Flavor is floral bitter with a well rounded aftertaste. Color is red amber with a white head.
Bottle (2011 vintage, 11/11/11 #1240). Pours a murky brown. Lots of particles floating around in there. Tan head with brown specs that look like dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Aroma is dark fruit. Flavor is combination of nuts, some dark fruit, and just a bit of roast. Texture is very creamy. Rarely does something exceed my expectations like this did. Definitely one the most satisfying beers I’ve had in a while. Almost drank it for Christmas 2012, but put it back in cellar to develop like the label said. Very very nice.
Bottle. Nutty brown with a thin tan head. Aroma is light malt. Flavor is malt, nut, all a bit watery.
(bottle - 2012) dark with malt aroma. Flavor is malt, some spice, alcohol, some hops.
The spice is far too overpowering. The smell is fantastic, and if it had about 1/2 the spice i would really enjoy this brew. Unfortunately, as is it’s like pumpkin pie with too much clove.
Bottled at Monk’s Café Sveavägen, on December 9, 2013.
Marked 2011, bottled 11/11/11.
Cloudy brown color, tan head. Sweet, malty, Madeira scent. Sweet, malty, bitter taste. Medium mouthfeel, medium bitterness.
2008 12oz bottle pours ahazy brown with a small off white head. caramel and malt aroma taste is the same
2011 Vintage. I remember trying this back in 2011 and not liking it, so I forgot about the other 3 bottles in my basement for a while. Light brown / dark amber pour with a slight head. Kind of a fruit cake nose, malty with some belgian stuff going on in there. Mouthfeel is nice. Nice spices, some odd metallic bitterness in the finish. Maybe I got a bad batch? Maybe this needs to sit a few more years?
Super malty on the nose. Like walking into a mash room. Dark and opaque, with bits floating around. Lightly carbonated, malt character continues on the palate. Finished smooth without much to suggest its ABV. Great by fireside. Paired with a lentil/squash/carrot soup.
Nice and smooth. Taste of sugared plums? and other fruits. Hops, malts, fruits, and spices make this a delightful Christmas ale to drink. If I can find it, I’ll buy it again.
Bottle from Voldby. (2012 vintage). Dark reddish/amber colour with a good beige head. Malty spicy aroma. Taste is malt, hops, spice and fruits. Moderate nice bitter finish. Nice Christmas ale.
12 ounce bottle. Says 8.3% ABV. Pours a dark, murky brown with a half inch tan head that lasts. Taste is of malt, brown sugar, hops, citrus, spice and pine. Similar aroma. Has a nice full body with a clean, warming finish. Enjoyable and a good beer to have during the colder months.
12oz bottle. Pours a dark amber color with a thick whitish head. Aroma of malts, citrus and some spices. Taste has roasted malts, mild hops and a some citrus and fruit are noted up front, with some cloves, banana and spices in the end, with the hops dominating. Medium to full bodied, moderate carbonation.
Dark caramel color, medium to heavy mouthfeel. Little to no head. Low carbonation. Malty with a spiced nose and flavor. Lighter in taste, color and mouth, plus more drinkable than Bourbon County Stout. Sipping beer quality.