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With many holiday celebrations having already begun and more coming next week, you’ll be needing just the right holiday brews for all those parties that you’ll be attending…And we’ve a number of “naughty and nice” seasonal classics suggestions (most of them widely available) that are guaranteed to keep things festive!
Anchor Christmas Ale – Anchor Brewing (San Francisco, CA)
Considered by many to be the “Mother of all Winter Holiday Beers” and the one beer most responsible for the whole holiday ale trend, Anchor’s Christmas Ale embodies the word, “classic.” Brewed annually since 1975, this deliciously smooth winter warmer annual winter is crafted with a complex mixture of seasonal spices that changes from year to year – as does their beautifully rendered label artwork (and you van view all their Christmas Ale labels here).
Mad Elf – Tröegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA)
A beer collector favorite that’s renowned throughout the mid-Atlantic, as much for its distinctive flavor, as for its ENORMOUS 11% ABV heft, Tröegs Mad Elf is an award-winning ruby red Belgian-style Ale brewed with select spices massive amounts of cherries and honey.
Celebration Ale – Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico, CA)
New Belgium’s Kim Jordon, has claimed on many occasions that this late fall/early-winter seasonal is her “go-to” holiday beer – and we couldn’t agree with her more. First brewed in 1981, Sierra Nevada’s 6.8% ABV Celebration is one of a VERY FEW, holiday beers that’s actually an IPA – and because it’s a “fresh hop” – it drinks a bit differently every year!
Great Lakes Christmas Ale – Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland, OH)
A heritage brewery that is sometimes unfairly overlooked by a craft beer audience increasing captivated by the latest and the new, Great Lakes brews a spectacularly dependable holiday seasonal that happily is widely distributed. Great Lakes Christmas Ale is a 7.5% award-winning Winter Warmer that’s brewed with an abundance of fresh regional honey and a complex mix of cinnamon, and ginger flavors
Sleigh’r Winter Ale – Ninkasi Brewing (Eugene, OR)
The Pacific Northwest is home to many impressive breweries and Oregon-based Ninkasi Brewing is clearly among that region’s best. And there annual winter release is one reason this brewery is so esteemed. Stylistically one of a kind, Ninkasi’s Sleigh’r Winter Ale is a malt-forward and rich 7.2% ABV Doüble Alt Ale (!), brewed to keep winter’s winds at bay.
