In writing our regular series on seasonal beers, we’re required to don a “national craft beer” hat, which as writers of humble earnings can be a difficult task. So we try our best to find info on those beers we’d most like to try and make the best educated choices we can (not quite bullshitting our way through things…). But not this collection of craft gold; It’s full of not to be missed Northwest crafted beers based on first-hand tastings.

Some you’ll find in bottles, some only on tap locally, all of them should be indulged in, if you can, before the season ends. While 15 seems like a lot (Part II will be up next Monday), the NW is so chockfull of amazing winter beers that if we needed to add another 15 it’d be a breeze. Feel free to hit us up on twitter or facebook to let us know what we missed.

Alaskan Brewing, Winter (Juneau, AK) – It only seems appropriate to start with one of the most unique winter offerings available. The style itself, an English Olde Ale, is a common winter style, yet their addition of spruce tips adds a one-of-a-kind spice that we can’t get enough of. While not especially light, it is lighter than most of the others in the style and thus a great idea for parties or family gatherings. 6.4% ABV.

Cascade Brewing, Gingersnaps and Manhattan NW (Portland, OR) – Portland’s king of sours rarely disappoints and two of the best they make are available right now. Gingersnaps is a sour blend of red and quad ales aged up to 2 yrs in bourbon and rum barrels with various spices. It weighs in at 11.7% and is only available on tap at their Barrel House in Portland. The Manhattan NW is another sour spiced quad bourbon barrel aged 12 months on sour cherries and apricot noyaux. It too comes in over 11% ABV, yet is also available by the bottle in the Portland area. We could go into more detail, but we’d prefer you didn’t short out your keyboard with drool…

The Commons Brewery, Bourbon Little Brother (Portland, OR) – It’s not often you come across bottle conditioned, bourbon barrel aged Belgian Strong Dark ales, so this is certainly not one to be missed.  While it comes in at a hefty 10% ABV, it has a relatively light mouthfeel with all the emphasis on the complex flavors of dark fruit, spices, banana, chocolate, plus bourbon, oak and vanilla. This little brother is a dangerously smooth option and a great one to share with the beer nerd(s) in your life.

Ecliptic Brewing, Filament Winter IPA (Portland, OR) – The legacy of well-balanced beers that John Harris created at Deschutes Brewery continues with this delicious Winter IPA. Coming to us on the bigger side of the IPA spectrum (7.2% ABV 70 IBU), Filament features caramel and honey sweetness balanced with a citric and slight resin finish. Another great break and hoppy departure from traditionally darker offerings like stouts and porters.

Fremont Brewing, Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star and Bourbon Barrel Abominable (Seattle, WA) – Yes, it’s pretty clear that these are two big bourbon barrel aged versions of their popular seasonal releases by the same name. What you may not know is that they release multiple versions of each, much like the Goose Island Bourbon County styles, though not all at once (Dark Star Spice Wars and the Abominable Coffee and Cinnamon are the secondary releases). Both weight in at 11% ABV, yet the Dark Star is an Oatmeal Stout expressly aged in 15 yr old, single use Kentucky Bourbon barrels and the Abominable (or B-Bomb) is a bourbon barrel aged Winter Ale. If you find these rare beauties, don’t pass them up!

Redhook Brewery, Winterhook (Seattle, WA) – As far as winter ales go, this one is an institution, celebrating it’s 30^th year of existence. Not only has Winterhook been keeping the Northwest warm for decades, they’ve also been brewing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire since 1996, so it’s one of the few Winter ales brewed on both coasts. While the recipe varies each year, it tends to favor the English Strong Ale style and this year’s 30^th edition is “aggressively dry-hopped” balancing out that archetypical malty, caramel body. 6% ABV

Our previous features on Winter Warmers, plus twoposts on various Winter Ales may explain why you don’t see certain NW beers here. More to come next week!