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Holiday Brews
Posted 3 months ago
Harvest has many of the Top Rated Holiday Beers.
The idea of brewing beers to match the season dates back centuries. Just as seasons change so do beer tastes from light and refreshing summer brews to rich and hearty ales during the cold days of winter. Winter beers also tend to be higher in alcohol which gives them a smoother finish. Brewed especially for the holidays, these beers are perfect for festive gathering, for a quiet evening at home, or as gifts to special friends
“Joyously rich and creamy”, “layers of fruit, spice and earth tones in perfect balance”, “delicious malt flavor with great finesse”. Brewed in Yorkshire, England for over 350 years, this vintage beer was the first seasonal beer imported to the U.S. and is still the benchmark.
Indiana’s great winter beer. Strong malt character with rich fruit flavors and aromas are balanced by a pleasant bitter taste that makes the drinker want another…that, and the 9% ABV. A cozy fire, a special friend, some Holiday music and Upland’s Winter Warmer. Get the picture?
The long, cold nights of winter are a little brighter with Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale. “Wonderfully robust and rich”, “dry-hopped for a lively, intense aroma”. Brewed in Colorado, this Gold Medal Winner at the United States Beer Tasting Championships and First Place winner from the Chicago Beer Society is consistently ranked as a top holiday beer.
When it’s cold outside and you are trying to warm your spirit, try Breckenridge’s hearty and strong Christmas Ale. The spiceness of the hops is apparent in the aroma and the flavor soon mellows into a warming malty connococton with some raisin and pear sweetness. At 7.4% ABV, the sturdy texture and rich flavors are the fermented equivalent of a good fire.
For five generations, the Leinenkugel family has been brewing their Fireside Nut Brown as their seasonal special. Roasted pale and red wheat malts impart a maple aroma that combines with natural hazelnut flavor and hints of chocolate and caramel to produce a distinctive nut brown dark lager. Enjoy with glazed ham or roast turkey dinner or just enjoy a bottle (or two) around the fireplace. Leinenkugel, a legend in brewing.
In contrast to many other seasonal beers, Bell’s Christmas Ale does not contain any spices. The clean, dry, toasted notes and subtle toffee flavors come from Michigan barley that is custom malted and then blended with natural hops for an earthy, herbal aroma. At 5.5% ABV, Bell’s Christmas Ale stands as a refreshingly smooth, highly drinkable beer that will compliment, rather than overshadow, your holiday menus.
Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with Belgium ale yeast, this blend of barley and wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, without the use of spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.
“Bold and rich, with a touch of holiday spice”. The first thing one notices about Samuel Adams Winter Lager is the deep ruby color. Then comes the magical aroma which promises something special. The cinnamon, ginger and hint of orange, blended with the roasty sweetness of the malts, deliver a full-bodied, robust and warming lager that offers a wonderful way to enjoy a cold evening.
Blue Moon’s Belgian style Winter Abbey Ale is crafted from a select mix of imported and domestic malts, a touch of wheat and a special blend of hops. A bit of delicious dark Belgian sugar gives it a smooth hint of sweetness. The rich caramel and toffee notes pair well with hearty stews and chocolate desserts.
Pleasantly hoppy, New Belgium’s Snow Day Winter Ale uses a new malt known as Midnight Wheat that presents subtle chocolate and carmel flavors. Add three types of hops and the result is a hoppy bitterness that compliments the undertones of roasted walnuts. Snow Day is bold and hoppy, drinkable and strong.
This year, in addition to its classic Boston Lager and the robust, full-bodied Winter Lager, Samuel Adams has paired Black & Brew coffee stout, Chocolate Bock, the bold and spicy Old Fezziwig and Holiday Porter, a traditional British style porter in its 12 bottle variety pack. Something for everyone.
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