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Christmas Ale

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Caramel, honey and raisin lead, while a dash of spice conjures almond and gingerbread aromas. At 6.1% ABV, this seasonal ale from Atwater, the Detroit brewery, runs from October through December in cans and on draft. The brewery pitches it as a holiday tradition: leave it out for Santa in place of the cookies.

ABV
6.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter28 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
honeycaramelspicy
honey
caramel
spicy
dark fruit
nutty
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced honey and caramel notes, layered with dried dark fruit character—raisin and plum dominate.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Christmas Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head. The beer displays good Schaumhaftung, with lacing that clings to the glass throughout the drinking experience. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a refined visual presentation.

deep amberclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced honey and caramel notes, layered with dried dark fruit character—raisin and plum dominate. Warming spice emerges on the mid-palate: ginger, nutmeg, and a subtle almond nod, with hints of gingerbread complexity that build with aeration.

honey-forwardcaramel sweetnesswarming spicedried fruit

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with honey and caramel establishing the flavor foundation. The mid-palate unfolds into darker fruit depth—raisin and molasses—balanced by restrained spice and a subtle nuttiness that recalls toasted almond. Bitterness remains understated at 28 IBU, allowing residual sweetness to linger without cloying.

malt-drivenhoney and carameldark fruitbalanced spice

◑ Finish

Warm, lingering finish with gentle spice notes trailing into sweetness. The aftertaste is clean and slightly dry, with traces of nutty and raisin character persisting moderately.

warmlingering sweetnessclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
74
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Christmas Ale

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About Winter Warmer

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Winter Warmer?

Winter Warmer is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Winter Warmer

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same honey, caramel, spicy character as Christmas Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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