Magazines » November/December 2008 Issue » Holiday Beers: DRAFT Picks
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Christmas beers are like crazy aunt Mildred's presents: You never can guess what's inside. These beers don't represent specific styles, and there are no rules: A Christmas beer can be (and contain) whatever a brewer wants, as long as it's special. Below, the cream of this season's crop.
OUR SPECIAL ALE
Anchor Brewing Co., California
People have guessed that this dark ale has been spiced with everything from licorice and nutmeg to chestnut and pumpkin. The ingredients are secret, and that's part of the fun.
CELEBRATION ALE
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., California.
This extraordinarily hopped pale ale (using Cascades and Centennial flowers) is beautifully balanced and a joy to savor.
AVECLES BONS VOEUX
Brasserie Dupont, Belgium
A classic farmhouse ale, Avec was first made for the brewery's workers. The perfumelike aroma of hops is complemented by layers of spicy flavor from its special yeast strain.
SAMICHLAUS BIER
Schloss Eggenberg, Austria
Brewed on St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 7), it's known as the strongest lager (14% ABV) in the world. Drink it from a snifter to enjoy the fruity malt flavors.
WINTER WELCOME ALE
Samuel Smith Old Brewery, England
Revived by Seattle beer importer Charles Finkel, this rich, creamy, malty ale is modeled on England's old wassails.
CORSENDONK CHRISTMAS ALE
Brouwerij Corsendonk, Belgium
Named after a now-closed monastery, the Corsendonk brewery produces the prototypical strong, dark Belgian Christmas beer. Rich and dark with a spicy, chocolatey aroma, it's outstanding either from its corked bottle or on tap.
SANTA'S PRIVATE RESERVE
Rogue Ales, Oregon
The hoppy red ale is wonderfully flavorful, but it's the bottle itself -- decorated with glistening, glow-in-the-dark snowflakes -- that make this a favorite among beer fans.
SAMUEL ADAMS OLD FEZZIWIG ALE
Boston Beer Co., Massachusetts
In Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Old Fezziwig was the antithesis of Scrooge, a generous businessmen loved by his employees. The warmer is spiced with cinnamon and fresh ginger, with a honeylike malt flavor and a bit of orange in the finish.
MAD ELF ALE
Tröegs Brewing Co., Pennsylvania
This 11%-ABV Belgian strong dark ale is made with tart cherries and honey. Its dominant character is a tingling clove spiciness, the product of unique Belgian yeast strains.
CHRISTMAS BOCK
Mahr's Brau, Germany
The first time this festive beer was offered at Mahr's, locals sucked down the entire supply in two hours. These days, there's enough of this rich, malty bock for everyone.
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This article originally appeared in the November/December 2008 Issue of DRAFT Magazine
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