Happy Holiday Brew

A pretty easy kit to brew that make a very tasty beer. I found that the flavor improved with time until perhaps 6 months had passed and at that point it seemed like the spices began to diminish. After 16 months I cannot really taste the spices but the beer is really smooth. To get the most out of the flavor I like to chill it for at least a couple of days to the the CO2 dissolved into the beer and then let it sit on the kitchen counter for 45 minutes to an hour to warm up which causes the flavors to really come out.

(Posted on 1/11/12)

This was the second batch I have made and it turned out Great. Fermented 1st stage for 2 weeks in-which I left the cinnimon stick in the batch to enhance the flavor than 1 month in the secondary followed by another month in the bottles. This beer needs some time to develop the tastes so don't rush it.

(Posted on 12/29/11)

Brewed this a few months ago, just popped a top tonight after sitting in bottles for six weeks. Very good beer, and some of the best head retention I have had so far on an extract kit.

(Posted on 11/2/11)

I brewed this back in 9/09 for Christmas and the family gave nice reviews then. So I hoarded the leftovers for myself and saved some until 12/10. The flavor just continued to improve with age. I'm ordering another kit tonight and planning ahead for this year's Christmas. My notes weren't too good back then, but I'm sure I used a dry yeast packet...

(Posted on 2/9/11)

I chose to make this my "holiday beer" for this winter. Good choice! I should have brewed it a little sooner to be ready for Christmas, but I can't complain. At 3 1/2 months after brewing, this beer has turned out wonderful. I used the dry yeast option and am impressed with the results. I pulled the beer a bit too soon from my primary fermenter (7 days), so I was a couple gravity points off the target. I aged it in a secondary for 3 weeks, and then bottled. At 2 months after brewing, it was not the best. At 3 months, it was so much better.
The beer's taste grows on you. It starts out a bit too heavy, but the feeling quickly changes as you get into a glass. This is a beer to be sipped with a dessert. This is a great kit to be brewed yearly.

(Posted on 1/2/11)

I brewed this beer at the end of September and opened one in mid November and it was fairly good. Now, a month later, in the middle of December I opened them and they are great! I'm hiding a six pack to try again in February or march because I'm already almost out of this tasty brew and it just keeps getting better with every week that passes. Next year I'll brew in July and let it sit longer, also I'll make a double batch so I don't run out so fast. I think I'll make this beer a yearly tradition!

(Posted on 12/21/10)

I brewed this in August and let it sit in the bottles until mid-November, and it turned out great! I invited some friends over for a drink and half my batch disappeared that night. If you like the cinnamon let the cinnamon stick sit in the first fermenter and it comes out with a crisp cinnamon flavor or take it out after the boil for a lighter cinnamon taste.
Great kit, I'll brew it again!

(Posted on 12/2/10)

As with all of the Midwest kits, the quality is excellent. I can count on the beer to come out the way that I expect. This beer is a great tasting brew right after carbonation is complete. However, let the beer sit in the bottles for a few months and the complexities of the recipe really stand out. I would brew this again without question.

(Posted on 9/18/10)

This was a pretty tasty brew. It took a lot longer than I planned to come together. I was drinking them after 3 months and decided to let them sit a little longer due to the sweet after taste. After 5 months, they were fine. Not the best flavor, but packs the biggest punch of any homebrew I've brewed. I won't be brewing this again, but it was enjoyable.

(Posted on 5/6/10)

Thought this recipe was great. No changes from the original. Turned out a little less spicy than I would have hoped but no worries. Friends enjoyed it greatly. I can't even get to the tap when people visit.

(Posted on 2/25/10)