What's Brewing? Beers for holiday cheers

There’s a chill in the air and the holiday season is in full swing.

Pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers have been cleared off the shelves and out of the taps to make way for the seasonal varieties and Christmas ales we enjoy each year.

Holiday brews, which are sometimes referred to as “winter warmers,” have a long history. In fact, the spices used in some of today’s holiday ales were used to flavor and bitter beer prior to the use of hops around the 13th century. The Vikings from the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden loved strong malty beers especially during their “Jul” or Yule celebration each year when they would offer beers to the Norse gods.

Just like the twinkling of bright holiday lights that grab our attention, brewers use words like “elf,” “holly,” “jolly,” “blizzard” and “Santa” to direct our attention to their holiday creations.

Some of these brews include spruce tips, gingerbread, clove, orange peel, chocolate, cinnamon and raisins. Rich, full-bodied and malty flavored beers that warm our insides pair well with the holidays.

For those who have not yet discovered the rich festive flavors that are produced in beer for the holidays, now is the time. For the rest of us, we know why this is the most wonderful time of the year. Enjoy!

Leaning Cask Brewing Co. (Springdale)

Christmas Cur Winter Ale (9.5% ABV). Pours a rich amber color. Aromas of mulled spices with flavors of orange peel, juniper and evergreen. Hopped with CTZ Mosaic.

Troegs Independent Brewing (Hershey)

Double Blizzard IPA (8.3% ABV). Pours hazy gold. Pleasant aroma of citrus and pine. Brewed with Centennial, Chinook, Galaxy and Eldorado hops. Big citrus taste with notes of pineapple and pine. Drink this one while decorating a Christmas tree.

Fat Head’s Saloon (Pittsburgh)

Holly Jolly Christmas Ale (7.4% ABV). Pours amber color with aromas of honey and ginger. Medium body with a creamy mouthfeel. Flavors of honey and ginger with finishing notes of cinnamon and caramel.

Port Brewing Co. (San Marcos, Calif.)

Santa’s Little Helper, Imperial Stout (12% ABV). Santa’s gonna need a little helper after drinking this one! Pours black with the aroma of baker’s chocolate, black licorice, and bourbon. Flavors follow the nose with chocolate, black licorice, vanilla and bourbon. Bitter bourbon finish.