Tis’ the season where you gather to see family to eat and drink. These holiday styled beers below will help guide you through the highs and lows of the season spent with the relatives.
Beer: Holiday Cheer
Brewery: Shiner
Type: Dunkelweizen
ABV: 5.4%
Quick Review: A mix of flavors of peaches and pecans, makes for an interesting combo, but it works.
When to drink: At the beginning. This beer can go down quick, prepping you for the festivities. Also a beer that’s great to share.
Beer: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
Brewery: North Coast Brewing Co.
Type: Imperial Stout
ABV: 9%
Quick Review: Good for dessert or as a meal on its own.
When to drink: When you are the oldest person sat at the kids table by at least 15 years.
Beer: Celebration Ale
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Type: Fresh Hop IPA
ABV: 6.80%
Quick review: Hop for holiday beers, for the bitter soul in all of us.
When to Drink: When your family asks you why you are still single.
Beer: Jubelale
Brewery: Deschutes
Type: Winter Warmer Ale
ABV: 6.70%
Quick review: All the spice and warming qualities you nee din the dark cold of winter.
When to drink: When the realization comes that winter still has 3-4 months left in it.
Beer: Rye-On-Rye
Brewery: Boulevard
Type: Specialty Grain Beer
ABV: 12%
Quick review: Aged in Templeton barrels, for the whiskey lover and for those who need an extra kick when around the family this holiday season.
When to drink: When the conversation naturally goes to politics and religion.
Beer: Isolation
Brewery: Odell
Type: Winter Warmer Ale
ABV: 6%
Quick review: Lighter beer to get you through the night or early mornings.
When to drink: While you’re outside in the cold debating if hypothermia would be a better alternative then holiday’s with the family.
Beer: Winter Lager
Brewery: Sam Adams
Type: Bock
ABV: 5.60%
Quick review: When you want something darker than a winter ale but lighter than your ex’s heart.
When to drink: As people tell embarrassing stories of you as you were growing up.
Beer: Brown Shugga’
Brewery: Lagunitas
Type: American Strong Ale
ABV: 9.99%
Quick review: Everyone needs a litte shugga’, except Def Leppard.
When to drink: When your grandparents start using questionable terminology.
Beer: Accumulation
Brewery: New Belgium
Type: White IPA
ABV: 6.20%
Quick review: Belgian crossed with IPA, easy drinker with a bit of bitterness. This beer is sour and bitter.
When to drink: While you are on your 3rd plate of turkey, sweet potatoes, and some casserole dish your aunt made that’s all covered completely in gravy.
Beer: Christmas Ale
Brewery: Anchor
Type: Winter Warmer Ale
ABV: 6.50%
Quick review: Fruitcake and fresh cut wood, who wouldn’t like it.
When to drink: When someone actually offers you fruitcake, drink this instead.
Beer: Chai High
Brewery: Avery
Type: Herb/Spice
ABV: 5.20%
Quick Review: This has the comfort of drinking chai tea while still drinking alcohol.
When to drink: After all the family has gone home and you need to relax while you reflect on how they drive you insane but you will gladly do the same again thing next year.
Hope this helps and Happy Holidays!