Hoppin' Frog - Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Let me start right off by saying that I know nothing about this beer.  No preconceived notions.  No press.  Nothin'.  All I do know about is that my introduction to this beer was their seasonal pumpkin ale this past fall and I immediately felt bad for neglecting their wide availability in my area.  I picked up a few more bottles right away and this was one of them.  Today's review of Hoppin' Frog's Frost Frog Christmas Ale is rarin' to go!  Let's pour!

Aroma 9/12
Ahhh!  Finally a Christmas Ale that utilizes the "traditional" mix of spices.  I love a beer that breaks from the norm, but thus far it seems like all I had been drinking were those beers that dared to tread off the beaten path. This beer is a refreshing return to conformity.  Right off the bat, it's a mellow mix of sweeter Belgian yeasts and spicy cinnamon that has me thoroughly convinced this could be served for dessert.  I'd swear that molasses is present because of the color and dark sweetness, but the strong cinnamon makes it difficult to tell.  The ginger (which is almost citrus-like) and nutmeg hang back a bit, but are also present.  I also have a sneaking suspicion that a nice warmth is mingling in with those spices.

Appearance 2/3
The color on this beer alone could have earned it a three if the head were not so dismal.  The color is gorgeous and spans everything from tea browns to bright coppers, and shows tons of scarlets and magentas!  The high clarity lets the light play in the glass and the results are smile-evoking.  The head on the other hand is difficult to coax out, small when produced, and hisses as it quickly settles into a ring.  It didn't even give me time for two quick snapshots!

Neat magenta color and extremely high clarity!

Flavor 12/20
The caramel is given a brief show before the spices take over.  They are rampant!  Cinnamon is almost bitter with its strong presence and the nutmeg is extremely earthy.  The caramel malt is the only sweetness and seems to serve less of a purpose of flavor than simply balancing out the heaps of spice.  The ginger is all but covered up, but the alcohol is anything but shy.  A slurp brings out more of the Belgian yeast flavor and reinforces the warmth.  That warmth carries this beer into the finish where it becomes a bit medicinal and combines with an oriental trading route full of spices.  The Belgian yeasts are all but swallowed up by spices and can only be perceived by paying attention to the inhale while drinking.  The aftertaste is... oh who cares.  This is the hydrogen bomb of spice and hides almost any notion of a beer behind it.

Mouthfeel 5/5
It starts as a mouth-filling, über-smooth, full bodied beer.  I really enjoyed the way this beer filled the mouth and seemed to take charge.  In fact, it was the first thing I noticed about this beer, even before the spices, so it definitely attracted my attention in a good way.  The warmth is not camouflaged in this beer, but in a winter warmer I'm quite happy with that.  The carbonation is lively and sharp (though mellows nicely at the end of the bottle), and helps detract from the fact that you're drinking a bit of a heavier beer containing no less than one metric ton of spices.

Overall Impression 4/10
In case I made it vague, I was not pleased by this beer.  The spices were simply too much for my taste and did not let any of the other ingredients come to play (with the exception occurring in the aroma).  The color is fantastic, the aroma is pleasing, and even the mouthfeel is highly desirable... but those SPICES!  They make drinking the entire bomber seem more of a challenge (A cinnamon challenge?) than an enjoyable experiment in craft beer.

Total 32/50
I feel that this score is appropriate with the given system.  While there are no flaws that would earn it a score below a 30, the flavor is so out of line with my personal preferences that I cannot score it any higher.  If you love a super spiced winter warmer that has a nice alcohol presence, then this bottle is for you.  I actually mean that when I say a "nice" alcohol presence; I enjoyed the stronger tones in this winter warmer.  Upon finishing the bottle, I discovered that there is still a thin layer of residual spices covering the bottom of this bottle.  holy crap!  How much spice does a beer need?!?!

Hoppin' Frog... c'mon.  I know you can make great beer.  I've tasted it!  There's no reason to hide behind all this spice and such.  I actually want to taste your beer.  I do!  I understand the desire to make a strong flavored beer and I of all people can appreciate that.  I love a big, bold, flavorful beer.  However, it has to have more than one flavor.  "Big" and "nuanced" are not concepts that are mutually exclusive.  This simple beer seems to hide behind an intimidating veil of spice in the hopes that no one will notice that the behind said veil isn't actually the Wizard of Oz it claims to be.  I'm disappointed.  Although with such beers as Hoppin' Frog's B.O.R.I.S. and D.O.R.I.S. remaining unsampled (one of which is in my cellar), I hold out great faith that this brewery will more than redeem itself.

"Mama Mia!  Thatsa spicy craft-a bierra!"

Ridgeway - Bad Elf vs. Very Bad Elf

I see these beers nearly everywhere I go and could only go so long without trying them out.  Instead of drinking them one-by-one, I figure why not put them head to head and see how different they really are.  Bad Elf takes on Very Bad Elf in a slugfest of miniature proportions (they are Elves after all).  Let's pour!

First up Bad Elf

Aroma 9/12
My first sensation was that of tart apples and white grapes - the type of grapes one finds in a bottle of sparkling grape juice.  Citrus hops are not far behind and provide a hint of herbs and a stronger, syrupy apricot scent.  The alcohol warmth can be detected on the back of the throat with a deep inhale and the malts finally show up toward the end.  There is a little hay aroma and a molasses sweetness that blends with the other scents so well it's hard to detect.  This is fairly perfume-like, for better or worse, and the ingredients all come together very well.  If you like esters, you're in luck, especially since as the beer warms it takes on more honey and floral characteristics from the hops.

Appearance 2/3
The head was stark white and fairly small considering that I all but threw the beer into the tulip.  It lasts a while and does leave some nice lacing.  It's an extremely high clarity golden shade that includes some amber tones as well.  There are no bubbles rising to the surface, which is surprising considering how aromatic this beer is.

Flavor 17/20
I'm not sure why this is called a "Winter's Ale" as there are no discernible characteristics that would make it so.  The initial flavors are a rather plain crystal malt, honey, and a very nice apricot note from the aroma.  The backbone is eased into and provides a steady continuation of the apricot, but adds grapefruit, more honey, a "just right" bitter that doesn't detract from the sweetness, and a sweet cream.  The finish is crisp apples, a hint of the white grapes, more of the cream, and a bitter note that comes from nothing, but grows to a more than moderate strength.  This seems less like a winter seasonal and more like a floral, dry-hopped IPA.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Nothing wrong here.  Seems a bit more full-bodied than one would expect given the body and lighter flavors. Its body is medium, and the carbonation seems low for its lighter hue and flavors.  A slightly more aggressive carbonation would compliment these refreshing fruits and floral tones quite nicely.  It's going for a big beer feel with its lower carbonation, higher ABV, and medium body, but the ingredients all seem a little too delicate for such an undertaking.

Overall Impression 7/10
Not a bad beer by any means.  It definitely will appeal to drinkers of Heineken and those who are teetering on drinking something a little closer to the craft beer world.  It smells great, has some sweeter flavors, and a very nice bitter.  I'm not sure what this sold for originally, but I picked it up on clearance for $3.00 and I think that price is about right.  It attempts to bridge the worlds of a big beer with one that is sweet and drinkable.

Total 39/50
Upon some investigating, the "propaganda" section on the bottle declares this a Golden Ale.  While I can definitely say that it misses the mark on that style, Golden ales being one of my favorite styles, it is far from a bad beer or a run-of-the-mill winter/Christmas seasonal.  It seems to me more like a very floral IPA.  The apple flesh flavor, variety of aromas, and very nice bitter are all evident of the "three pounds of fresh hops" that allegedly "goes into every barrel."  If you haven't tried this, it's worth a shot.  It's definitely worth gifting to that friend who is trying to get into craft beers... if he/she can handle the bitter aftertaste, that is.

and now for... Very Bad Elf

Aroma 11/12
Ooo... lots of rich molasses and roasted malts right out of the gate.  Then the same apple and white grapes peek their way in, while showing a more present alcohol warmth than in Bad Elf.  This is a very similar tone to the first beer, but with more sugary molasses goodness and definitely more roast that balances out a diminished floral character.

Appearance 1/3
There is no head at all.  I even dumped this beer in the glass knowing that the first one also didn't have the strongest propensity for foaming.  Nada.  No head also equals no lacing.  The color is what one should expect from a good amber malt: deep copper tones, siennas, and hints of ruby.  Very nice color, but that's about it.

Flavor 17/20
This beer also starts with crystal malts, but this is much more creamy and savory.  The backbone keeps this creaminess and throws on top of it a rich, roasted amber malt, a mellow bitter, and a sweetness that I can only associate with the sweetness of a good brandy - without the warmth of course.  Not to say this is completely without warmth.  Slurping brings that warmth to the forefront and really helps accentuate the sweet apples notes.  The finish is a crisp, citrusy bitter and when combined with the higer ABV (7.5%) leaves the mouth a bit drier than Bad Elf.  The molasses and the apple's starring roles paint a very "caramel apple" theme to this beer.  A nice bitter aftertaste seems to evolve from the molasses sweetness and is a great memento.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Oddly the carbonation is greater here than in the lower ABV beer, both in amount and its presence.  Nothing distracting, mind you, but it seems much more appropriate than the Bad Elf.  It keeps the beer refreshing, compliments the beers "heavier" elements (ABV, molasses driven body) while respecting the "lighter" aspects (hue, citrus notes).  Warmth is difficult to detect, but is best seen after the beer is first swallowed.

Overall Impression 7/10
Despite it being the more "serious" or "hardcore" of the two offerings, this beer might actually appeal more to non craft beer drinkers than the first.  It's sweeter, smoother, and relaxes the bitter aftertaste.  The smell won't entice them as much, but its caramel apple nature and higher ABV should definitely make it a hit any holiday gathering.

Total 40/50
This rating feels a tad generous, but that doesn't make it a bad beer.  It's sweet, takes a chance on a flavor profile, and gives me a nice ABV with which to get warm.  I'd say it's a sweet beer with a lighter bitter that is tasty, but probably not worth the $5-7 it cost to originally procure it.  Wait til it goes on sale or give it to anyone trying to get into craft beer.  You won't have to worry about the bitter nature like in Bad Elf and I guarantee it'll be appreciated.

P.S.  Love the contrasting bottle caps.

and the winner is......
Very Bad Elf by a nose!  Yes, I know the pictures depict them with very large noses, but the race was close none-the-less.  It's less "in your face" than the Bad Elf and provides a greater harmony of ingredients instead of contrasting them.  In case, you didn't notice I spent most of the beers' summaries recommending them as "gateway beers" for non-craft beer drinkers.  I stand by this.  Most non-craft beer drinkers will enjoy this.  Heck, even seasoned craft beer drinkers will not be taken aback by drinking this beer, but for their price a veteran craft beer drinker will probably be better off spending the money on something a bit more substantial. They're tasty, sure and they're mostly well made.  But for the price it seems like more of a marketing gimmick than anything else, especially since the beers don't seem to evoke a winter/Christmas seasonal in any way other then their labeling.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a seasonal that attempts a new variation on the theme, but to just make a beer and declare it a "winter ale," smacks a bit too close to the marketing gimmicks of a macrobrewery to me.  That aside, either one is worth a try if you see it in a pub this time of year and you're feeling festive.  If you insist on bottles, I would wait on them to come down in price.

Mikkeller - Santa's Little Helper (2011)

The weather in IL is a bit odd for this time of year.  Granted, the weather in the midwest is always odd, giving rise to the expression, "You don't like midwest weather?  Wait 5 minutes," but we generally have an expected pattern.  This pattern is being mocked by Mother Nature and she has been giving us 50-degree days throughout January.  However, tonight is supposed to give rise to a less-than-punctual Old Man Winter and we might even get some snow.  It's just the type of thing to put me in the mood for more winter/Christmas seasonal beers.  Today's review will be Mikkeller's Santa's Little Helper.  It's a Belgian ale whose 10.9% ABV should help me land on the naughty list next year.  Let's pour!

How amazing does this look?

Aroma 12/12
At first it smells as a mild Belgian yeast strain should smell, but even that is behind a lemon citrus.  As it sits in the glass, all sort of interesting flavors rise to the surface.  Before I describe those any further, let me say that this beer surprised the hell out of me by pouring like a stout!  I was expecting some lighter, maybe amber, frou-frou holiday ale that has all the usual starring roles filled by cinnamon, nutmeg, etc, etc.  This beer flowed dark from the bottle and even evoked a "What the..?!" from this reviewer.  It was not at all what I was expecting, but I digress... back to the aroma.  While starting off with the lemon zest and Belgian yeast, two things I definitely didn't expect to smell in a beer this dark, it quickly turns to its dark roast for the majority of the aroma.  The roast is rich and dark, but has an aroma that accompanies it so closely I can't be sure if it's part of the roast or not.  There is a sweetness to the roast like a rye, but it sometimes mingles with the lemony notes that I can't put my finger on it whether it IS a rye or just the dark roast mixing with the lemon and perhaps grassy & piney hop characteristics.  There is only a hint of alcohol warmth and it is found only during the deepest of inhales.  In case you couldn't tell by the length of this paragraph, this smell's complexity is only eclipsed by its unique nature.  Full marks.  I've never smelled anything like it.

Appearance 3/3
OK, seriously.  How come nobody ever mentioned that this beer is this dark?  It genuinely surprised me!  This is darker than most recent stouts I've had.  It's black to its core and shows only bits a pieces of a coffee brown at the very top of the class.  The brown head is giant, light as if it has been whipped, and very creamy.  It left tons of ornate lacing.  This beer looks dark and amazing.

Behold its monsterous head!

Flavor 20/20
Oh. My. Dad.  It starts a little creamy from some body-enhancing malts and allows one to still catch a glimmer of the Belgian yeast, but crescendos perfectly into an absolute mountain of chocolate malt (the beer ingredient, not the frozen treat).  The chocolate isn't 100% cacao dark -it still allows a creamier milk chocolate texture- but it blends marvelously with the roasted notes and the present-but-not-subtle warmth.  The finish is more "roasted chocolate" (roast + chocolate), but with a new, distinct, resinous hop bitter and a brief wash of dark fruit.  The mouth is initially left a bit sticky, but as the alcohol and hops have their way, the tongue is left rather dry in the aftertaste and with a slight tingle of warmth.  Oh so good!

Mouthfeel 5/5
This beer is ridiculously creamy, but without weighing down the drinker with a huge, thick, heavy body.  The carbonation doesn't foam a lot, just enough to lend a more silky texture to the beer.  I should also mention that the carbonation is plentiful, but doesn't effect the over all composition of the beer.  Normally, stouts or other dark beers shy away from higher levels of carbonation to achieve a better beer as a whole.  This beer doesn't shy away from carbonation.  It instead embraces it and uses it as a tool to make the beer better.  The warmth is used in much the same way and adds a dimension to this beer instead of distracting from it.

Overall Impression 10/10
This beer is right up my alley.  Unique taste, aroma is interesting, body and mouthfeel are perfect, and it breaks convention with the norm.  This is not your average Belgian Strong Dark Ale!  It keeps all the things you love and brings even more to the table.  Even more, I love how far it strays from the typical Christmas/winter offerings available from most brewers.  It shows creativity, independence, and some damn high quality brewing.

Total 50/50
In case I didn't gush enough praise earlier, here's my chance to really heap it on.  However, I will do so with one caveat.  I checked BeerAdvocate after I finished my review to see if others thought this beer as excellent as I do.  They don't.  Thus the subjectivity of taste comes into play.  For me this beer has everything I want, roast, chocolate, smokey, sweet, warmth, Belgian hints, dark fruit, great carbonation, and the list goes on....  To be honest, I'm not sure how folks have ranked it so lowly on BeerAdvocate.

I've gone through my scores and tried to see if there is a portion where I could remove some points.  Perhaps I missed something where this beer could have done better, right?  Not for me and my palate.  This beer is complex, well-made, tasty as can be, boozy, and with a great mouthfeel.  I couldn't ask for anything more.  Now I know what I need to ask for for next Christmas!