85 Rating: Holidation by Garage Brewing Co.

Holidation, from Garage Brewing Company, is being evaluated as a Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer (Category 30A) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.

This beer hits you quickly with the aroma of peach cobbler, with nutmeg being the primary character.  A hint of cinnamon emerges behind, with a light bready, crusty maltiness growing as it warms. Light spicy alcohol and light black pepper phenols also make an appearance as the beer continues to vent.  The flavor is quite similar with peaches and nutmeg stealing the show.  Moderate bready base malt and a light spicy hop flavor fight through, with a moderately high hop bitterness that lingers through a medium dry finish into the aftertaste.  Light black pepper is noticeable in the aftertaste. Moderate astringency is drying and likely derived from the spice additions. A light and smooth alcohol warming rounds out this beer.

An enjoyable beer, but the peach cobbler character is too much in the forefront and tends to dominate the beer rather than complimenting the base Belgian style strong ale. The Belgian yeast characteristics are present but pushed well into the backgroud. A reduction in spices would allow the base beer to shine through and create a more pintable ale.