![\"Two-Roads-Holiday-Ale-label\"](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Two-Roads-Holiday-Ale-label.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTwo Roads Holiday Ale<\/strong><\/p>\n Blogger:<\/strong> Brandon Carder Beer<\/strong>: Holiday Ale Commercial Description:<\/strong> Two Roads Holiday Ale is inspired by the little known Biere de Noel style, on subset of Biere de Garde, both of which originated on small farmhouse breweries in the north of France. Biere de Noel, which translates as \u201cChristmas Beer\u201d, 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.<\/p>\n Beer Details:<\/strong> What would you pair this beer with?<\/strong> Cheese, maybe Italian Food. I would even pair this with a steak.<\/p>\n Why I selected the Two Roads Holiday Ale:<\/strong><\/p>\n This year (my third year in a row doing a review for Sean & crew), I decided to review a beer that I had once before, but couldn\u2019t remember much about it last year. It may have been more memorable if I hadn\u2019t had other beers that day that simply wiped away any memory.<\/p>\n I picked up Two Roads Holiday Ale at Austin Liquors in Worcester, MA, knowing I wanted to drink an actual beer brewed for holiday consumption. Also, because the style of this beer is Biere de Noel (basically, a Biere de Garde), which is a style I am very fond of. I reviewed a Biere de Garde last year as well, Smuttynose Smistletoe. Could this Holiday Ale live up to the greatness that was Smistletoe? Well, let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n The beer pours a clear, amber\/red with hints of ruby. A very thin, \u00bd finger egg-white shell head tops the glass. Faint lacing lines the glass. It\u2019s an appealing looking beer, reminds me of a Christmas ornament hanging on a fresh pine tree.<\/p>\n The aroma is faint and thin. Not much going on at all here. Slight malt, slight spice. I do get some nutmeg and cinnamon, possibly. Hints of caramel..<\/p>\n Now, onto the flavor. I don\u2019t remember this beer much from last year, but I do notice I must\u2019ve enjoyed it at the very least (as my Untappd checkin states from 2014). However, this year seems very thin. There\u2019s some nice bready malts upfront, with the spices kicking in after the swallow. The taste dissipates quickly, leaving a slight hop bitterness at the very end. Each sip yields some more spices perhaps, but probably because the beer is making me yearn for something else. I\u2019m just not getting it.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know what to make of this one. It surely doesn\u2019t live up to other Two Roads beers I have had in the past. It\u2019s a decent beer to have during a cheese tasting, or maybe an Italian dish, but is not a beer I would pick up again, especially at the price point (if I recall, about $8 for a 22 oz bomber).<\/p>\n Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n About New England Craft Beer<\/strong>
\nWebsite:<\/strong> New England Craft Beer Group<\/a>
\nTwitter \/ Instagram<\/strong>: T: @bcbrewandcue IG: bcbrewandcue
\nAbout Brandon<\/strong>: IT Admin at a bank. Ex-Buffalonian and HUGE Sabres and Bills fan. Craft beer drinker. Homebrewer. BBQ’er. Dedicated Dad & Husband.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBrewery<\/strong>: Two Roads Brewing, Stratford, CT.
\nWebsite<\/strong>: http:\/\/tworoadsbrewing.com<\/a>
\nTwitter<\/strong>: @Laurelwood1<\/p>\n
\n-Style: Biere De Garde
\n-ABV: 7.3%
\n– Awards: 2015 GIBF silver medal- Biere de Garde<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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