Goose Island 2012 Christmas Ale

Like last year, Goose Island's 2012 Christmas Ale is an American Brown Ale. Pours a hazy brown with a fast disappearing tan head, sweet malts march out in front, reminiscent of a lower ABV (7.3%) barleywine in some respects. I'm catching some brown sugar, maple along with some black cherry balancing the citrus and pine from the hops. Lighter than I expected, a perfect complement to a Christmas Eve celebration.

Here's the 2011 review for comparison: http://ill-gottenbooty.blogspot.com/2011/12/goose-island-christmas-ale-2011.html