The holidays are here, which mean winter season beers are back! And due to our merry spirit we have decided to give you the 12 days of brews. Warm your bellies up this winter with these tasty brews. Here are some of our favorites:
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. California, United States
6.80% ABV
First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada. SOURCE: Sierra Nevada
21st Amendment Brewery Fireside Chat
21st Amendment Brewery, California, United States
7.9% ABV
This beer, first released in 2010, was its first seasonal release in a can. The appearance is ruby dark brown with a tan head, and its toasty, demonstrative, bold malt flavor is tempered with a blend of spices and cocoa nibs that doesn’t overpower. The 7.9 percent ABV also provides warmth to your palate, allowing this winter warmer to live up to the style’s name. SOURCE: Fox News
Winter Ale
Smuttynose Brewing Co., Hampton, N.H.
ABV: 5.0%
If you like enjoy yourself a nice hot chocolate, you’ll certainly enjoy this. Despite the name and the snowy New England tableau on its label, Smuttynose’s fruity, 5.6% ABV Belgian-style ale has a lot of cross-calendar appeal. It’s flavor and feel are much lighter than its amber coloring lets on. It doesn’t load up on the malt and doesn’t put you down for a long winter’s nap. It’s just pleasantly sweet, which is worth savoring for more than one season. SOURCE: Thrillist
2XMAS “Double Spiced Ale”
Southern Tier Brewing Company Lakewood, NY
8% ABV
Ever the innovators when it comes to seasonal offerings, the team at Southern Tier based 2XMAS off of a traditional glögg recipe, which is a warm, boozy Swedish holiday beverage (think mulled wine mixed with a bunch of booze). They’ve brewed this one up with cardamom, figs, orange peels, cloves, and ginger root, all refreshingly balanced with a subtle spice that carries through nicely on the dry finish. It’s cozier than a cashmere Snuggie! SOURCE: Thrillist
Winter White Ale
Bell’s Brewery Inc., Kalamazoo, MI
5.00% ABV
If you need a break from the glut of dark seasonal beers, Bell’s has a solid answer with their Winter White Ale. The subtle clove, orange peel, and banana notes from the Belgian yeast and its dry finish make it familiar but refreshing in a dark sea of winter warmers. The seasonally low 5% ABV makes it a more sessionable option for holiday parties. SOURCE: Thrillist
Tröegs Mad Elf Ale
Tröegs Brewing Company, Pennsylvania, United States
11.0% ABV
The Mad Elf is a cheerful creation to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. The combination of cherries, honey, and chocolate malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious Ale. The Mad Elf is a jolly and delicious beer for the holidays. SOURCE: Troegs
Ginger Barrel-Aged Brrrbon ‘13
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, Oregon, United States
9.40% ABV
Widmer Brothers brewers added fresh chopped ginger to a few select barrels of our barrel aged brrrbon ’13, an imperial version of our brrr seaonsal ale aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels, for this limited edition brew. The addition of ginger compliments the oak, vanilla, and caramel flavors of the beer and results in a unique, smooth winter warmer perfect for the season. SOURCE: Widmer Brother
Barrel Aged 12 Dogs Of Christmas
Thirsty Dog Brewing Company, Ohio, United States
10% ABV
Smells of cinnamon, slight bourbon, and spices, who wouldn’t want a taste. 12 Dogs of Christmas pours a light Plum/Ruby with crimson tones, very creamy, warm and satisfying. Taste is the straight kill. SOURCE: Beer Advocate
Pretty Things Babayaga
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, Somerville, MA
7.00% ABV
At first blush, it may seem like Massachusetts’ best gypsy brewers are just putting out a par-for-the-course winter stout, but they really aren’t messing around here: they smoked the malt with rosemary to highlight the dark espresso flavors and used a blend of Belgian and English yeast strains. The velvety mouthfeel and smoky finish make it a knockout comfort beer that pairs equally well with burgers as it does chocolate desserts. SOURCE: Thrillist
Wintervention
Peticolas Brewing Company, Texas, United States
10.00% ABV
This dark strong winter ale is spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. A full bodied ale meant to be enjoyed during the cold winter months with family and friends. English hops and high quality malts give this beer its backbone. The spices in the Wintervention compliment the spices in many holiday treats, while the hops provide the perfect contrast. Enjoy this beer with holiday foods or simply have it on its own! SOURCE: Peticolas
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver, Colorado
8.70% ABV
This beer has a clear hop profile, but it’s matched by a burst of caramel, dark fruit and roasted malt flavors. Falling somewhere between an imperial brown and a Scotch ale, this flavorful, well-balanced creation is something. SOURCE: Paste Magazine
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Founders Brewing Company, Michigan, United States
10.2% ABV
This brew tastes like the result of root beer and moonshine dusted with spice and aged in a charred oak bourbon barrel. It’s potent in both flavor and alcohol, so feel free to split it with a friend (or in my case, my Michigander hubby!)
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