Saint Arnolds Christmas Ale and Brown Ale:
Greetings one and all and welcome to a beer review directly from the brewery and, really, what better place to sample brews, am I right?  So after much peer pressure, I took advantage of free admission (10 six packs carriers gets you that privilage) and I took my spot in the beer hall at a nicely built picnic table and rolled through some familiar beers as well as some new ones and here is what I found. 

Saint Arnolds Christmas Ale:
Ah, Christmas. It starts earlier and earlier every year.  My theory, by 2020, we’ll be seeing Christmas trees in stores by June (it’s already was August and I saw them, at least in Big Lots).   Well I guess it doesn’t help that Christmas beers start coming out in October but I’ll take it when they are this good.  Saint Arnolds’ Christmas beer is one of those special brews that is only found here in Texas and, damn, we are lucky and for the rest of you, email me, we’ll work out a deal.  Much like a dark English bitter beer, this ale has a nice sweet back bone that is cut by a spicy hop under layer that isn’t much but, damn, it adds something that most X-mas ales don’t have which is the hops.  Again this was poured for a tap with minimal head on the beer with a nose of bready malts and a touch of sour hops.  This is probably my second favorite holiday brew and I will remain steadfast in those top two but those two will always be constants in my beer fridge and my heart. 

Saint Arnolds Brown Ale:
Poured from a tap, minimal head on this one but a nice nose of caramel, malts and a hint of hops. The beers initial taste is very malt driven with a nice balance of caramel and semi-sweet coca that moves to a hop undertaste on the back-end and a very smooth aftertaste that is non-offensive and makes of a good pairing with any food that has a meat on the plate.  I was really surprised by this beer, not knowing much about it going into it but the nice girl pouring my beer told me to expect a Newcastle like brew but with a better hop back bone. Now, it you want me to get excited about a brown or black beer, “better hop backbone” might as well be my fetish spot.  I nearly climbed over the counter to pour it myself, and after sampling, I’m glad I made that choice (it was originally between this and the Amber).  This will be a staple in the future in the beer fridge.