Why does the Northwest excel in the seasonal winter beers style?  Is it the seemly incessant rain, a history of highlighting dark roasted malt ales, or maybe it’s the proximity to freshly harvested ingredients? We’re pretty sure it’s all of the above, though one thing is for certain, it’s hard to find a better place to start when it comes to reveling in the warming craft beer styles of the winter months.

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 I was posted last 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.

Deschutes Brewery, The Abyss and The Dissident (Bend, OR) – Two of the most in demand brews now available in the NW, they couldn’t be more different or complex in what they bring to the conversation. The Abyss (11% ABV, 86 IBU) is arguably the best made Imperial Stout in the NW (if not the county) featuring black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark and vanilla beans aged in three types of barrels (Bourbon, new oak and Pinot). One prominent beer writer has gone as far as calling it “the best liquid – of any kind” he’s ever tasted. While Abyss is released annually, The Dissident is only released once every two years. This Oud Bruin (Flanders-style sour brown ale) weighing in at 10.7% ABV features the funk of Brettanomyces and sour of local cherries aged in pinot and cabernet barrels for 18 months. Also among the best of the style brewed in America today. If you can find ’em, buy ’em now!

Elysian Brewing, Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout (Seattle, WA) – Fusing two NW specialties, craft beer and locally roasted coffee, Elysian has created the ultimate balance of flavors. Sweet milk sugar and dark, lusciously roasted malts play off the bittering touch of magnum hops and Stumptown coffee. Smooth and rich with a satisfying mouthfeel, you may want to share this one with the coffee lover in your life. Originally released as a Spring seasonal, it’s available now in bottles and on tap. 5.6% ABV 28 IBU.

Hale’s Ales, Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (Seattle, WA) –  For a bigger shot in the arm, you’ll never go wrong with Hale’s big barrel aged beers. This one, aged in rye whiskey barrels for 16 months, features seven different malts including crystal, roasted and chocolate, plus wheat, rye and oats for heft. Clocking in at 9.9% ABV this is a beast you’ll want to with, not to mention all the chocolate, vanilla and whiskey flavor that comes along for the ride.

No-Li Brewhouse, Winter Warmer Ale (Spokane, WA) – If you’re not already hitting their Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout, a great place to start is their unique NW style winter warmer. A big, red IPA-esque ale, it starts with a sweet base of caramel and toffee sweetness from a mad amount of crystal malt. Dry-hopped with Northern Brewer and Chinook brings piney and grassy flavor for a huge NW style winter ale with some seriously big balance. 7.5% ABV 72 IBU. A wide variety of their beers is available all over the NW and worth seeking out ASAP.

Pelican Pub and Brewery, Mother of All Storms (Pacific City, OR) – You’re wont to find a more impressively huge winter beer than Pelican’s NW inspired English Barley Wine. After months of aging in Kentucky Bourbon barrels, this Mother will break even the strongest of palates. Crashing into your taste buds with a wealth of oaked Bourbon, toffee, raisins, caramel, vanilla, dark fruit and booziness, it’s ABV of 14% might just break your face, with an unparalleled velvet smoothness. Extremely rare, it was released November 15^th so search the forums, you might find it somewhere…

Widmer Brothers, Barrel Aged BRRRBON 2013 (Portland, OR) – A newer northwest tradition, Widmer takes their BRRR winter warmer from the previous year, ages it in Bourbon barrels which provide oak, vanilla and caramel flavors at 9.5% ABV. They’ve also created an even more limited batch of Imperial BRRRBON aged on fresh whole vanilla beans or chopped ginger (either one comes in a bit heavier at 10.7% ABV).  If you’re looking for an accessible dessert beer for your holiday bash, look no further than this well balanced line of rich delights.

Our previous features on Winter Warmers, twoposts on various Winter Ales and last week’s Part I may explain why you don’t see certain NW beers here.