This is definitely different. Says "is a Biere de Noel an offshoot of the Biere de Garde style" that is a French style This is not your normal holiday style beer. My take is I do get some toasted caramel (very light tho) as advertised. I mainly get some fruit that is fruitcake like but leans a little to dark fruits like plum, fig, dark cherry. Somewhat candy like hence the fruitcake reference. Overall this is not your normal tasting holiday ale. A little sweet but has a different taste. Couldn't drink many but was enjoyable. 3.75 adding in an extra .25 for its uniqueness.