The holiday ale that tastes the most like eating a Christmas tree is undoubtedly Royal Docks' Yuletide, available at the brewery's new Tied House taproom on Detroit Avenue in Ohio City.
Zoom in: The spiced holiday Scotch ale is infused with the cinnamon and nutmeg you'd expect from a beer of this style. But the floral undertones and novel presentation make it a bestseller.
Each goblet is served with a cinnamon sugar rim and a sprig of rosemary and cranberries across the top.
By the numbers: Even for a Christmas ale, it's boozy, weighing in at 8.5% ABV.
And with a price tag of $9, it's at the high end of the draft offerings ($7-$9).
The big picture: Royal Docks opened in Canton in 2015 and now has four locations, including Tied House in Hingetown, its first outpost in Cuyahoga County.
💭 Sam's thought bubble: I enjoyed both the Yuletide and the "Deathly Mallows" marshmallow milk stout, plus a smattering of starters. Don't sleep on the french fries!
It was a nice change of pace from my usual near west side haunts, but it might take a happy hour deal or special promotion to lure me back.
