Try?
Guest Video Review by Dave Coulter
Say, you’ve seen the classic holiday film A Christmas Story, right? Sure, everybody has. It’s the story of a young boy named Ralphie who desperately wants a BB gun for Christmas, but keep getting told he can’t have it because-you guessed it-he’ll shoot his eye out. Now you may be wondering what that has to with beer, and the answer is a lot really. That’s because of the famous “leg lamp” that was featured in the film and, thanks to Cleveland’s Black Box Brewery, is also featured on the label of Cleveland’s Own Christmas Ale.
Cleveland’s Own Christmas Ale was introduced in 2011 to great aplomb, and as soon as I heard about it, I knew I wanted to try it. The beer has an alcohol content of 9% by volume so is on the strong side for Christmas Ales. The label calls it a “full-bodied malt beverage brewed with spices”.
Cleveland’s Own Christmas Ale is not distributed here in Georgia, but I was lucky enough to receive a bottle from premier youtube beer reviewer Dave Coulter. Thanks Dave!
Interestingly enough, Karbach Brewing of Texas now also offers up a beer featuring the leg lamp on its label, Yule Shoot Your Eye Out Seasonal Ale. A very different beer indeed, though also very wonderful, which I also got to try this year. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
Black Box Cleveland’s Own Christmas Ale pours to a bright ruby red color with a medium sized creamy head formation and a truly spicy nose of robust cinnamon. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body and packed with spice: cinnamon and nutmeg, ginger perhaps, and ripe luscious pears. Mostly, though, this one is about the cinnamon, it’s like a big slice of French Toast made with cinnamon hot balls, with extra cinnamon hot balls on top. In some ways, this reminds me of Harpoon Winter Warmer, if Harpoon Winter Warmer were brewed with a generous dose of steroids. Is this 9% by volume? It doesn’t seem it, though there is a little warmth at the last. The spices really dry this one out, I could drink it all night. Or not, at 9% ABV. But I would sure have fun trying……
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
