Two Roads Holiday Ale

Review Date 2/19/2022  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Biere de Garde   Brewery: Two Roads   Country: USA   State: Connecticut   $ Per OZ: $.19 (B)   ABV: 7.3%

Last December, I did my usual holiday beer shopping both locally and at Craftshack.com. Oddly enough, Two Roads Holiday Ale never made an appearance at the latter, though beers from this brewery are often sold at Craftshack. One supposes it takes time to get the beer from Connecticut to California, completely bypassing Georgia along the way. Two Roads releases the beer in early November, and perhaps it never made it to the Craftshack bottle shop in time to sell it for Christmas.

It *did*, however, show up after Christmas, and as I have a fondness for New England breweries (and Two Roads in particular), I wanted it. It appeared for sale in early February, and while I was not actively beer shopping at the time (I am overloaded with beer right now), I had received an email alert from Craftshack that they had just received Alaskan 35^th Anniversary Ale. I had to have that, and while shopping that I noticed the Two Roads Holiday Ale.

Did I mention that it was reduced in price? It was. There are few things in life as satisfying as finding a beer you have been wanting to try for some time, and then finding it on clearance. I bought two cans for $5.08 for the pair. One I am telling you about now, the other I am saving for Christmas in July. The price is only a few cents more per ounce than the Total Wine price of $13.99 a six-pack-though they do not sell it here in Georgia. The beer has an alcohol content of  7.3% by volume. My can says BBE 05APR22. I will let you know in July if that is true or not.

Two Roads says:

Two Roads Holiday Ale is inspired by the little known Biere de Noel style, a subset of Biere de Garde, both of which originated on small farmhouse breweries in the north of France. Biere de Noel, which translates as “Christmas Beer,” tends to exhibit a more malty profile than a typical Biere de Garde.

In its native France this special type of ale is brewed by just a handful of small breweries and is only available for the few weeks leading up to Christmas.

And I say:

Two Roads Holiday Ale pours to a brilliant amber color with a moderate head of fluffy white foam and a delicate nose of berry and soft spice. Taking a sip, the beer has a delightful toasty maltiness up front with caramel followed by fruity cherry-berry notes and in the finish drying spice and warming alcohol.

This is delightful, gently roasty and toasty but bright and fruity then spicy. It’s a holiday fruitcake in a glass, and a beer I am looking forward to drinking again in July. And, if I’m really lucky, once again next year.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??