Schieve X-Mas

◎ Appearance

Copper body with red highlights catches the light, presenting a warm and inviting hue. A dense beige foam crowns the glass, building substantial head retention and leaving a fine lacework of foam clinging to the walls with each sip. The beer displays excellent clarity, allowing the copper tones to shine through without haze or sediment.

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a striking balance between noble hop character and rounded malt sweetness. Candied fruit, mandarin peel, and bitter orange notes emerge alongside suggestions of licorice and black tea, creating a sophisticated and layered impression. A subtle biscuit-like maltiness grounds the composition, with no added spices or fruit adjuncts—everything arises naturally from malt and hops alone.

◐ Taste

The palate opens with caramel sweetness and bready malt richness, immediately joined by a firm, clean bitterness that anchors the mid-palate without overwhelming it. Dried citrus—orange and mandarin—weaves through the finish alongside subtle licorice undertones, creating a dry, austere conclusion that never tips into harshness. The beer drinks lighter and crisper than many Christmas ales, with hop bitterness taking priority over cloying spice or residual sugar.

◑ Finish

A lingering, persistent bitterness carries through to the aftertaste, fading gradually into dryness rather than sweetness. The finish is clean and light, warming without alcohol heat, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for another sip.