American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
(Courtesy Tröegs Independent Brewing)
The winter holidays are nearing and American brewers are addressing things with an intriguing roster of beers that you’ll want to have on hand.
Director’s Cut (Hershey, PA) – Tröegs Mad Elf Ale is a holiday tradition on the East Coast, but the brewery also releases an uber-limited variation that takes the beloved cherry-fueled Belgian-Style Dark Ale in an even more complex direction.
Adding Balaton cherries and the tartness that comes with them to a mix that already includes Bing, Lambert, Van and Royal varieties, Tröegs Mad Elf Grand Cru is a deep burgundy 11% ABV limited release that was born to be shared as the weather grows colder.
“Putting this beer in cork and cage bottles helps give it that extra special touch,” says Tröegs co-founding brother Chris Trogner. “The corks are great at keeping pressure in and oxygen out. Since Grand Cru is a beer many people like to age, that’s a big plus.”
(Courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing)
Fresh Hop To It (Chico, CA / Mills River, NC) -One of the nation’s most accomplished craft brewers, Sierra Nevada Brewing, has a winter offering that New Belgium founder Kim Jordon claims is her go-to holiday beer, and we couldn’t agree with her more.
First brewed in 1981, Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale is a 6.8% ABV India Pale Ale, one of a very few, holiday beers that’s actually an IPA. And because it’s a fresh-hop India Pale Ale it’s subtly different every year, which keeps things interesting.
Dark Yet Mild (St Louis, MO) – Schlafly Beer has a new addition to its winter offerings that was born in the brewery’s small batch taproom and is now exclusively available as part of the Hello Darkness Variety Pack, a collection of dark niche styles.
Flavorful and malt-forward, yet amazingly light-bodied, Schlafly Dark Mild is a 3.8% ABV British-Style Brown Ale, an almost forgotten beer style here in the US that the brewery has artfully resurrected.
“We regularly have more offbeat styles on tap at our taprooms, so the Hello Darkness pack is an opportunity to bring the talents of our brewers and the taproom experience home,” explains CEO David Schlafly. “With a market crowded with stouts and porters, we invite consumers to learn about different darker beer styles this winter.“
###
Want more beer suggestions?
New Kernza Lagers And Pumpkin Brown Ales
New Beer Alert – The All Pumpkin Beers Edition
New Cranberry Sours And Pumpkin Ales
Single Hop India Pale Ales And Serious Festbiers
Imperial Milk Stouts And Fresh Hop Ales
