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(Courtesy Anchor Brewing)
Christmas is just days away. So you’re going to need the right beer. And we’ve five widely available holiday brews guaranteed to keep things festive.
Anchor Christmas Ale
In 1975 Anchor Brewing released the first holiday beer in America since Prohibition, and it fast became a winter tradition. Now in its 47th year, Anchor’s annual holiday release always comes with a new recipe and new hand-drawn label artwork that’s as crafty as the beer.
Anchor Christmas Ale 2021 is a silky smooth 7% ABV Winter Warmer with rich notes of bittersweet chocolate with hints of raspberry and light mulling spices such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom.
This year’s unique label artwork features the iconic Western Joshua Tree, epitomizing the natural beauty of California’s high desert. A portion of sales from the 47th edition will benefit One Tree Planted, a non-profit dedicated to global reforestation planting millions of trees across 43 countries.
Boulevard Snow & Tell
Boulevard Brewing’s holiday Wee Heavy has long been one of our favorites and, to be honest, we’d favor it for its nifty name alone
Perfect for curling up by the fireplace, Boulevard Snow & Tell is a 6.3% oak-aged Scotch Ale with prominent toffee and caramel tones with just a touch of smoked malt that’s aggressively countered with bright Magnum, Chinook and Styrian Goldings hops.
Deschutes Jubelale
Every winter Bend Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery, the 11th largest US craft brewery returns seasonal classic that many consider one of the best holiday offerings in the nation.
Brewed since 1988, Deschutes Jubelale is a 6.7% ABV Winter Warmer with a strong malt backbone that balances chicory and various sweet fruits with a bigger hop finish than normally found in the style.
Traditionally Jubelale packaging features original artwork from a different Oregon artist. This year the brewery partnered with Stephanie Littlebird Fogel, a Contemporary Indigenous Artist and member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes.
Sierra Nevada Visions of Sugar Plums
Sierra Nevada is renowned for its annual holiday offering, Celebration Fresh Hop IPA, but they’ve also a Trip in the Woods Barrel-aged Series release that’s even more festive and complex.
Rich and boozy, with a subtle kiss of spice, Sierra Nevada Vision of Sugar Plums is a 9.9% ABV blend of Dubbel, Quad and Bigfoot Barleywine ales, aged in spent red wine, brandy and bourbon casks.
A late addition of plums accents the fruity esters, while rich flavors of caramel, toasted sugar and dark fruit precede a rich finish that lingers.
Tröegs Mad Elf Ale
Tröegs Independent Brewing has returned one of the most anticipated holiday beers of the year, a beer that’s legend throughout the mid-Atlantic.
Brewed with a festive mix of Bing, Lambert, Royal Anne and Montmorency cherries, raw honey and spicy Belgian yeast, Tröegs Mad Elf is a ruby red 11% ABV Belgian-style Dark Ale with restrained notes of cinnamon, clove and allspice.
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HOLIDAY SEASONALS AND WINTER PORTERS
