‘Tis the season to place your gifts under the tree carefully, shop for that stylish special someone in your life, and bundle up against a chilly winter. Winter is a time for friends, family, and spreading holiday joy… That being said, it’s also the perfect time to translate a little holiday fun to your bar cart and beer fridge. While there’s nothing wrong with reaching for your favorite IPA (or perhaps a light, crisp lager to counterbalance too many Christmas cookies), we’re big advocates for shifting your imbibing as the holiday season progresses. Specifically, there’s quite literally no better time than right now to enjoy some of the best brews you can find this holiday season.
The best way to kick off this year’s winter lineup is with a tried and true classic, The Winter Lager. For the first time in 31 years, Samuel Adams is updating their classic Winter Lager recipe to make it better and brighter. It’s the same iconic Lager you know and love, with a wintry remix. Crisp Bock with citrus and spices, lager brewed with orange peel, cinnamon, and ginger. This beer pours with excellent carbonation. It settles into a crystal clear ruby red. Toasty on the nose, then followed by fresh baked brioche. The taste is sweet malt, with slightly roasted notes, and some citrus comes through the middle with a touch of ginger/cinnamon coming through as it warms up. Last comes the sweet finish: butter and cinnamon, warm milk, and some toffee. Ginger lingers warmly on the tongue very pleasantly, inviting you for another sip.
Now, this next beer may not fit into the holiday spirit, but you’d be glad to find this bottle in your stocking. 3 Floyds Brewing brewed this bright and aromatic beer with their pals from the band Pig Destroyer. This is Permanent Funeral. Notice as you pour the phenomenal lacing around the glass. The nose is like an old-school IPA with lots of pine, before an aroma of grassy herbs, then sweet berries and floral notes fight to be heard in this kaleidoscope of scent. Upon tasting, you notice pine and deep caramelized fruits, which carry a welcomed bitterness from the hops. Warm going down with a peppery hit on the tongue, it’s mildly spicy, very malty, seriously crisp, long with a brandy-like finish. Overall, this is a finely layered Imperial IPA. Fitting of the style and well-crafted. The more I sip it, the more I find myself loving the balance of malt and hops. Perfect for the cooler weather and a great conversation starter at your next holiday party.
This last one is one cold brew. Bean’s is a collaboration with Atrium Brewing and Bean, made using Beans cold brew, “Big Dog Blend.” This is what ultimately brings in heavy notes of chocolate and vanilla with berries and a citrus peel acidity. This solid little Imperial pours almost black with a dark brown tinge and nice foam on top. The nose is as expected – a toasted coffee char, laced with dark cocoa, and vanilla. Flavors open up and express themselves nicely with semi-sweet truffles and an earthy malt. Dark mocha and creamy vanilla come together giving the essence of brulee. The mouthfeel is medium-full which lets every sip ride smoothly. It finishes moderately rich, complementing the bitter malt and strong mocha notes. So the nose is like fresh ground coffee, and the taste is like a nice cup of coffee, so it suffice to say this coffee stout will be sure to delight coffee lovers, and would make a nice gift for anyone who needs an extra kick in their cup of joe.
You can’t deny the chill in the air, Winter has come, my friends. Many people are staying inside, wrapped up in blankets like human burritos. Hot drinks are becoming more and more popular as the temperatures drop, but assuming you aren’t drinking outside, a good beer can produce a similar effect. Whether you’re into beer or are just browsing for a holiday gift for someone else, be sure to play it safe this season and maybe leave out a little something special for Santa when he comes by.
-by Maeve Black
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