Jolly Roger Christmas Ale, an English Strong Ale by Maritime Pacific Brewing Company12 ounce bottle. Shiver me timbers, but this is a good hearty holiday brew. It pours the color of a newly minted penny, clear and sparkling, with soft carbonation. The head is a light tan, although it mostly dissipates, leaving just a small remnant and some light lacing behind.
The smell is like that of a small cabin in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, stumbled upon after a walk in the rain, the fireplace heating the room and the logs—light grains, caramel, light dough of baking bread, the scented woodiness of cedar. The flavor follows suit, with a strong woody cedar flavor wrapped around a nutty, caramel base. There is the flavor of lightly baked bread thrown in for good measure, which balances nicely against the malt and hops.
I had this with dark chocolate after dinner and the slight smoky flavor of the chocolate helped to draw out the cedar of Jolly Roger, for a great pairing of dessert and ale. This could be a new Christmas tradition in the making.
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