Yule Grog 2015 Part 4: Samuel Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout.

My fourth and final beer of the 2015 Yule Grog is the Samuel Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout. I've looked forward to drinking this beer for quite a while. Typically, I'm quite happy with other Samuel Adams brews, especially their Cherry Wheat Ale. In fact, the first beer I ever purchased when I turned 21 years old was a Samuel Adams Boston Lager. Needless to say, my expectations are high when it comes to the Merry Maker. Let's hope this stout succeeds.

As with all of my Yule Grog reviews, I will actively be taking notes as I drink the beer for the first time. My notes will be divided into two sections -- cold out of the fridge and at room temperature. No matter what I experience, I will notate and share it in my review. I have not been coerced or influenced by the brewer in any way. My review will be honest and straightforward.

Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout is ready for purchase annually in November. It is 9.0% Alc. by volume and available nationwide in limited release 22 ounce bottles. The Merry Maker is brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. And now... it's time to drink!

Cold out of the fridge:

• It's very dark and quite syrupy in consistency.
• Has a foamy, creamy head.
• Smells faintly peppery.
• The initial swallow is rich in roasted malt flavor.
• The bitterness is light, but especially noticeable on the sides of my tongue.
• Roasted flavor is quite strong and overpowering.
• I am unable to taste the spices at all.
• Tastes pretty much like any run-of-the-mill stout beer, like a Guinness.
• It doesn't taste bad, but it's definitely nothing special.
• I might as well be drinking the average stout beer.

At room temperature:

• I thought I could taste the cloves for a sheer moment... maybe?
• The smell of the spices has risen only ever slightly.
• Unfortunately, I still can't actually taste any of the spices whatsoever.
• The flavor profile has not changed at all.

Well... at least I didn't pour this beer out. Honestly, the Merry Maker was unimpressive and boring. The label might claim to have seasonal spices involved in the brewing process, but I couldn't taste them at all. I spent eight dollars on this 22 ounce beer, with nothing to show for it. For much less, I could have bought a standard Guinness and had the exact same experience. Never again would I buy the Merry Maker because the price doesn't warrant the lacking flavor. I expect better from Samuel Adams. Unfortunately, the Merry Maker fails to deliver on the promise of robust, spicy holiday flavor. Ordinary, drab and lackluster, the Merry Maker does not receive my approval.

Well, this wraps up the 2015 Yule Grog. Sadly, only one of the four beers I reviewed was approved. Perhaps I'll have better luck next year!

Yule Grog 2015:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Yule Grog 2015 Part 3: Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale.

After two straight weeks of terrible beers, let's hope the third time is the charm!

My next reviewed beer of the 2015 Yule Grog is the Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale. Based in Boonville, California, Anderson Valley Brewing has been in operation since December 26, 1987. At the time, they were one of only twenty known craft breweries in the United States. They've expanded from a meager ten barrel brew house to a state of the art three-story Bavarian style brewery. Over the years, they've been awarded time and time again for various beers, ranging from their Boont Amber Ale to their Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale (which I reviewed as well).

With each Yule Grog review, I'll be taking notes actively as I drink the beer for the first time. The notes I write will be divided into two sections -- drinking it cold and at room temperature. My comments will be genuine and on the spot. I'll highlight what I like and dislike about the beer. Whether I end up liking the beer or not, it'll be a 100% honest to goodness review.

Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is ready for consumption every year between September and January. It is 6.9% Alc. by volume and available nationwide through most major specialty adult beverage retailers.

Time to drink!

Cold out of the fridge:

• Possesses a beautiful honey color.
• Has a thin head with a light amount of carbonation.
• The aroma is only faintly sweet and hard to detect.
• Not overly sweet upon taking my first swallow.
• First gulp highlighted with hints of caramel and nuts.
• Somewhat creamy in nature.
• Only the slightest amount of bitterness, but not so much that it is unpleasant.
• Not particularly spicy, unable to detect any certain spices used.
• Clearly a case of the sum being greater than the individual parts.
• Simple, smooth and refreshing.
• Very easy and pleasant to drink.

At room temperature:

• Became creamier and denser.
• Has a toffee flavor I couldn't detect when colder.
• The small amount of bitterness has disappeared.
• The creaminess really is quite delightful.
• Provides an excellent mouth-feel.
• Light in flavor, but hearty in stature.
• Overall, the change in temperature hasn't really altered the beer's flavor profile dramatically.

I was quite happy with the Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale. It wasn't complex, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I believe the smooth, simple nature of the Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is what makes it so damn tasty and drinkable. I could have easily downed two or three more of these... though I'm not sure how well I'd be able to write this review if that were the case! Rest assured, the Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale from Anderson Valley is a mighty fine beverage that you should absolutely purchase.

Yule Grog 2015:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 4

Yule Grog 2015 Part 2: Shipyard Brewing GingerBreadHead Ale.

My second brew of the 2015 Yule Grog is the GingerBreadHead Ale by Shipyard Brewing of Portlane, Maine. Created in 2014, this is the second year GingerBreadHead Ale has been in production. It is 4.6% Alc. by volume and available annually between November and February. With each review of the Yule Grog, I'll be taking notes live as I drink the beer for the first time. The notes I write will be divided into two sections -- drinking it cold and at room temperature. My comments will be genuine. I'll highlight what I like and dislike about the beer. No matter what, I'll explain to you my final verdict with honesty.

Shipyard Brewing was founded in 1994 and was the fastest growing craft brewery in the United States by 1996. Currently, they are ranked as the 25th largest craft brewery in America. Their line of beers has won numerous national and international awards in their twenty year history. Other beers they produce include the Shipyard Blue Fin Stout and the Shipyard Export Ale, with a nearly nationwide distribution. You can probably find one of Shipyard's finely crafted beers with your local grocer or specialty beverage retailer.

I'm a big fan of all things ginger, so I pray this doesn't disappoint me. Let's get to drinking!

Cold out of the fridge:

• Has a dark mahogany color.
• Possesses a sweet aroma with faint notes of ginger.
• Tastes like an unsweetened, bland soda.
• Extremely carbonated.
• No real taste of any kind.
• Way more tasteless than I expected.
• It's like an alcoholic soda pop, but without any flavor.
• Not unpleasant to drink, just sort of pointless.
• All fizz, no flavor.

At room temperature:

• Still no ginger flavor.
• The aroma of ginger has stayed roughly the same.
• Almost all of the carbonation has disappeared.
• Now feels and tastes like a flat soda pop.
• Very watery and runny.
• Somewhat bitter.
• Might as well have been drinking an out-of-date, lifeless cola.

What an utter disappointment. This ale had close to no flavor at all throughout the entire experience. If there was ginger in this (and I suspect there was because I could faintly smell it), then Shipyard certainly didn't add enough to the brew for anyone to actually taste it. I might as well have been drinking an expired Pepsi cola. Bland, lifeless and altogether pointless, I can't recommend GingerBreadHead Ale.

Yule Grog 2015:

Part 1
Part 3
Part 4

Yule Grog 2015 Part 1: Great Divide Hibernation Ale.

Each Friday throughout the month of December, I shall review a seasonal beer. Much like the Brew Spew I completed in October, I'll taste test and thoroughly analyze one beer each week. That's four weeks of hard-nosed adult beverage journalism for you to enjoy! Each beer will be completely new to me; these are brews that I've never tasted before. The only difference this go round? Instead of Fall seasonal beers, these are all Winter seasonal beers! So sit back, down a mug of spiked egg nog, call up your old pal St. Nick and enjoy...

JARED UNZIPPED'S 2015 YULE GROG!

With each review, I'll be taking notes live as I drink the beer for the first time. The notes I write will be divided into two sections -- drinking it cold and at room temperature. My comments will be genuine. I'll highlight what I like and dislike about the beer. Honesty is important here! Let's get started.

My inaugural brew of the 2015 Yule Grog will be the Hibernation Ale by Great Divide Brewing of Denver, Colorado. Brewed seasonally since 1995, the Hibernation Ale is an English-style old ale. It is 8.7% Alc. by volume and available annually during the months of October, November and December. Here we go!

Cold out of the fridge:

• Hardly any head or foam to speak of.
• Has a nutty, dark brown ale fragrance.
• As soon as I took the first gulp, an explosion of bitterness splashed all over the full length of my tongue.
• Not much actual flavor or taste to speak of.
• Has somewhat of a hoppy nature.
• For a darker ale, it doesn't have the thick body I'd hoped for.
• Presents as a watered-down and runny stout.

At room temperature:

• Became even more terribly bitter.
• The nutty fragrance became much more bold.
• The taste is wholly unpleasant and extremely astringent.
• I'm amazed at how pungent the beer has become, making it a chore to drink.
• I can't even finish this beer because it tastes so horrible.
• Poured it down my kitchen sink in disgust.

Wow, what can I say? I wasn't expecting a complete dud for my first winter seasonal beer. What started out as a flavorless, bitter ale morphed into something completely undrinkable. I can't recommend Hibernation Ale in any capacity, whether cold or at room temperature. It's not enjoyable in the slightest. How in the world this has been brewed since 1995, I have no idea. Let's hope the next three beers of the Yule Grog will be much more flavorful. We can only go up from here!

Yule Grog 2015:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4