A Holiday Brew Review - Twelve Days

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, the holiday lights bring cheer to the neighborhood, and there's a wonderful winter wonderland across the country. Maybe it's wonderful because while much of the country is getting pelted with cold rain, ice, and snow we're sitting in front of the warm glow of the television while drinking our latest find - Hook Norton Brewery's Twelve Days English Christmas Ale.

This ale comes from our brothers across the pond in the UK (Oxfordshire, to be exact) in a tall and unique 1 pint .9 fluid ounce dark bottle. It pours into the pint glass quite smooth and results in a rich, thick head that's somewhere between egg shell white and beige in color. It's a clear, dark brown ale that begs to be enjoyed. And as it's enjoyed the brew leaves a beautiful lacing on the glass (always a sign of good beer). The back label on the bottle accurately describes Twelve Days as malty above all else with some hints of nutty and chocolate flavors. It goes down smooth, a bit sweet, and is not too carbonated. It's not a complicated flavor so probably easily enjoyed by most at your holiday party. If the merry gatherers don't like it just feed them something with "drinkability" so you can enjoy the real beer.

Nothing overtly negative about this ale but nothing that makes it overtly memorable either. It's the kind of beer you will enjoy this year and next year wonder what that beer was from the UK that you really liked but don't remember the name and wish you could because you really liked it. If you're lucky you will accidentally pick it up again next year.