Steve’s Ninth Beer of Christmas is Howe Sound Brewing of Squamish’s Father John’s Winter Ale.

Let’s get this part out of the way now: I love this beer. OK on to the review.

Starting on a great brown colour with red highlight with a reddish brown head. The beer is slightly cloudy and fairly opaque.

The nose has mellow cedar with tropical fruit underneath (maybe papaya?). A bit of faint cinnamon or nutmeg floats underneath everything and just a hint of candy sweetness but not too much and a malty roundness finishes the aromas.

The flavours start bold and almost rough with brown ale and rough acid fade quickly to papaya with an almost sake-like rice flavour. A cedar aftertaste is very nice and I wait very long between sips to enjoy it. The mouthfeel is full and rich with a buttery feel.

Yup, love this beer