Christmas Ale - Breckenridge Brewery, Breckenridge

Breckenridge's Christmas Ale has been one of my favorites for the past couple of years. There is plenty to love about this beer, the packaging has a great retro style, it smells and tastes like roasted nuts and caramel, and at 7.4% ABV it'll keep you warmer than most of the winter seasonals on the market. This beer pours a gorgeous rich copper color and develops a a head that is prone to lacing. Breckenridge's Christmas Ale has a mild aroma that is rather complex given it's subdued fragrance. You'll notice this beer smells a bit like a pack of roasted nuts, the kind with a thin layer of caramelized sugar on them. The flavor follows the aroma quite closely, but ends up being sweeter... which just seems fitting for a Christmas ale.

The flavor of Breckenridge's Christmas Ale is fantastic, it tastes like a Märzen or Maibock that has been sweetened up a bit to bring down the spiciness and dry edge. It's a great flavor that tastes like caramel and starchy peanuts. If I had to say something negative about this beer it would have to be about the sweetness that comes to drown out the bready flavors as this beer warms up. Considering this is a Christmastime seasonal and you'll probably be enjoying it with sweet potatoes, turkey and gravy... it's a fault that I'm willing to forgive.

I'd recommend this beer to anyone who is looking for a strong Winter Warmer that is easy to drink and doesn't skimp on great holiday flavors.