Ho ho ho! I hope your day's been great and that Santa was good to you. We're winding down after our seasonal festivities. The kids are playing with their new toys and, when I have time for them, there are a few video games calling my name. Before then, though, let's have some beer.

After my December went completely sideways, I found I only had time for one Christmas beer post. That's what we're up to this evening: Sun King's Electric Reindeer.

Sun King's headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Though it officially began production in 2009 (after acquiring some gently-used brewing equipment from a defunct Maine brewery), coconspirators Dave Colt and Clay Robinson had long dreamed of heading out and brewing on their own. Since the brewery's opening, Sun King's taken home numerous medals from brewing competitions. You can find their beer in a handful of states. Read more about them over on "The Sun King Story" page.

Electric Reindeer isn't just a Christmas beer, it's a beer that celebrates an Indy tradition, specifically Newfields' Winterlights. This 5.5% ABV brown ale is brewed with adjuncts of molasses and ginger, which should give it a timely holiday vibe.

The nose here is holiday aplenty. Sure I find the ginger and molasses here (more of the former than the latter), but these are packed beneath a hefty malty sweetness. Digging deeper, I'm also dredging up bits of clove, honey, and nutmeg, which could all just be my brain filling in what I expect from a Christmas ale. Regardless, this bouquet is perfect for the season. Melba gave the stuff six whiffs, so she seems to agree!

What's not so perfect is the palate. Those spicy notes aren't present here. It's really just a brown ale with a touch of ginger and a slighter touch of molasses. The more I drink, the more I find some pine and mint in the mixture, which could be a combination of the adjuncts and hops. Regardless, this helps to elevate the beer above what you'd find in a bog-standard brown ale.

I'm inclined to call Electric Reindeer's mouthfeel flat. There's no real bite to it--it's more bland that what I want from a brown ale.

Have you ever gone Christmas shopping after work in late-December? It's a mess, right? You park far from the store's entrance because the lot is packed and everyone inside is single-mindedly looking for what they need, no paying any attention to anything else. Yet, there's something magical about it. You're shopping with everyone else, looking for that specific gift to bring happiness to someone you love. That's what this evening's beer is like.

Sun King's Electric Reindeer is a Christmas ale that succeeds in being Christmassy. It's not, however, my favorite Christmas ale. Blame it on the mouthfeel or the disconnect between the bouquet and the palate, but I likely won't reach for it again. I'm giving my can a 7.5/10. It's fine if it's what you have, but there are better options out there.