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Christmas is just days away and you’re going to need the right beers. And we’ve more widely available holiday brews guaranteed to keep things festive.
Cause For Celebration (Chico, CA / Mills River, NC) – Sierra Nevada Brewing has a winter offering that New Belgium’s Kim Jordon claims is her go-to holiday beer, and we couldn’t agree with her more. First brewed in 1981, Sierra Nevada Celebration is a 6.8% ABV India Pale Ale, one of a very few hop-forward holiday beers. And because it’s a fresh-hop IPA it’s subtly different every year.
A Wintertime Summit (St Paul, MN) – Summit Brewing has returned an annual holiday release that the brewery describes as “as comforting as a down blanket, and way better tasting.” Floral, spicy, bready and sweet, Summit Winter Ale is a 6.5% ABV Winter Warmer with hints of espresso, caramel and black cherry for a velvety smooth finish.
Don’t Open Until Christmas (Cleveland, OH) – Few holiday releases are as “classic” as Great Lakes Brewing’s award-winning winter offering. Crafted with honey, and in a tradition that can be traced back to the Middle Ages, Great Lakes Christmas Ale is a 7.5% ABV award-winning Winter Warmer pumped with delicate cinnamon and ginger spicing and rich chocolate-covered cherry tones.
Isolation Nation (Fort Collins, CO) – Both approachable and at the same time complex, Odell Brewing offers one of the most interesting and sessionable holiday ales out there. Trending more towards an English Strong Ale than a spiced Winter Warmer, Odell Isolation Ale is a 6.1% ABV sweet-caramel malt ale balanced by a crisp hop finish.
Sleigh Ride (Eugene, OR) – Those of you who read us regularly (and we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t) know that we’ve long been big fans of Ninkasi Brewing. And we’re even bigger fans of their winter seasonal which takes a stylistic road less taken… Roasty, rich and primed to keep the winter’s winds at bay, Ninkasi’s Sleigh’r Winter Ale is deep, dark 7.2% ABV Doüble Alt Ale, that finishes dry, balanced and festive.
Want more holiday drinking suggestions?
HOLIDAY SEASONALS AND WINTER PORTERS
