Almost every local brewery now has its own holiday or winter brew. Great Lakes Brewing Co. is offering Christmas Ale; Market Garden Brewery has Festivus Ale; Akron’s Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. has the spicy 12 Dogs of Christmas; Cleveland’s Indigo Imp Brewery has Winter Soul; Medina’s Lager Heads Brewing Co. has Winter Mischief; and Akron’s Ohio Brewing Co. makes Jingle Bell Ale. Pat and Dan Conway of Great Lakes Brewing Co. reported that when they started selling their Christmas Ale last month, there was a line out the door and an hour wait to get in. 38 kegs of the sudsy nectar had been sold by closing time.
The brews mentioned above are just a few of the holiday concoctions local breweries have to offer. Here are a few more must-try ales from around the country:
Hibernation Ale from Great Divide Brewing Co. in Denver. This English-style old ale contains 8.7 percent alcohol. Its sweetness is countered by big malt and hops flavors.
Winter Solstice from Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Booneville, California. For those with a sweet tooth, this seasonal ale contains 6.9 percent alcohol and has natural flavor added. This ale is super sweet, and not for those looking for a more “macho” brew.
Dundee Festival Ale from Dundee Brewing Co. in Rochester, New York. This complex yet subtle brew features heavy carbonation, which is quite unusual for holiday ales. It contains 6.2 percent alcohol and nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and orange peel spices.
Winter Warmer from The Brew Kettle in Strongsville, Ohio. This spiced Christmas ale with 8 percent alcohol is considered one of the many great local ones. Brewed with cinnamon, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and loads of honey, this brew is every bit as good as Great Lakes’ popular version.
Cheers and remember to drink responsibly!
