Here’s a beer that I’ve wanted to try, but never did because of the way it was sold. I’m talking about Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale, a seasonal specialty that I have only seen sold in Blue Moon’s winter beers 12-pack, called the Brewmaster’s Sampler Pack. If memory serves, the rest of the sampler did not excite me, so I didn’t buy it.
As fate would have it, though, Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale showed up on tap at Taco Mac not long ago, so I got my chance to try the beer after all. I just love winter seasonal and Christmas beers, and gingerbread beers are fast rising to the fore of them. Generally based on a brown ale or a porter or stout, the dark, cookie like malts serve as the ”bread” while the ginger and other spices complete the impression of fresh baked gingerbread.
Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale was the first beer that I ordered as soon as I arrived at my local Canton Taco Mac. I had walked here today, enjoying the cold low 40s temperatures and listening to Christmas music as I got my exercise in. It’s always nice when you’ve already burnt off the first beer when you arrive after all. Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale was just the thing to keep my festive holiday spirits raised.
Here is what Blue Moon says about the beer on their website:
Not too long ago, we asked fans to suggest ingredients for a new limited winter release that would best fit the season. After lots of great suggestions and tastings with fans, Gingerbread Spiced Ale came out on top. With tastes of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, it’s clear why they chose this wintery brew.
Ingredients:
Malts: Pale, Munich, Caramel, Wheat
Hops: Hallertau
Our Twist: Ginger, Molasses, Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg
Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale has an alcohol content of 5.9% by volume with 16 IBUs. I paid just $5 for a full 20-ounce mug.
My mug of Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale arrived a light brown color with a fluffy head of loosely packed bubbles and a soft inviting nose of toasted nuts, ginger, and fresh baked cookies. Taking a sip, I immediately decide that the beer could use a little more body, but there is definitely a nice light cookie malt character with generous hints of molasses, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. Indeed, I expect that the lighter body allows the spice to come out more fully here, and those same spices come out again and dry the beer in the finish.
Most likely, this won’t be the biggest gingerbread beer you ever try, nor was it for me my favorite. Locally, I prefer Twain’s Gingerbread Brown Ale as a similar strength example, and for a bigger, bolder example you just can’t beat Samuel Adams Merry Maker for flavor, price, and ready availability. That said, I would buy Blue Moon’s Gingerbread Spiced Ale again, and eagerly. I heartily enjoyed it on tap at Taco Mac, and it really is a great example of the holiday season in a glass.
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