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With Christmas just around the corner and Hanukkah now here…we’ve been showcasing the more traditional holiday beers of season. But we’ve also a number of “not normal” drinking ideas for you. Because if you’re reading this…chances are, you’re not normal.
10 Lords-A-Leaping ( Placentia, CA ) – The 10th beer in The Bruery’s brilliant 12 Days of Christmas Series, this year’s holiday release goes leaps and bounds beyond a traditional winter warmer. Taking its lead from the exotic spiced Wassail ales of Belgium, The Bruery’s 10 Lords-A-Leaping is a deep, dark Imperial Wit Ale featuring 10 different spices – coriander, orange peel, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mace, anise, dried apples and cloves.
The Official Chosen Beer Of The Holiday Season (Clifton Park, NY) – Hanukkah is ON and there’s but one beer that brings out the Jew in all of us and of course it’s crafted (and nuanced with good humor) by Shmaltz Brewing. Brewed for 8 days (and crazy nights) of drinking and celebration. Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer is THE 8% ABV Golden Strong Ale that they’ve been brewing for more than 8 years with 8 malts and 8 hops.
Scotch This, This Christmas (Kalamazoo, MI) – A smart holiday departure from all those cloyingly sweet winter warmers that dominate at this time of year, Bell’s Brewery opts for drinkability over octane. Bell’s Christmas Ale is a 5.5% ABV Scotch Ale (they celebrate Christmas over there too!), that lets the Michigan-grown barley do all the talking and THANKFULLY forgoes the obvious seasonal spices.
Holly Dazed (Munster, IN) – We’ve come to expect the unexpected from 3 Floyds crew and even at Christmas they don’t disappoint. Brewed using rich English chocolate malt and Mexican sugar, 3 Floyds Alpha Klaus is an insanely delicious 6% ABV Christmas Porter that’s ridiculously hopped. Deep, dark and unapologetic, this is the perfect beer to enjoy after the relatives have finally headed home and you’re re-watching Bad Santa with your friends.
Naughty, Nice And Barrel-Aged To The Edge (San Marcos, CA) – Port Brewing’s beloved Holiday Imperial Stout has a naughtier sibling this Christmas…And at 12% ABV you’re almost guaranteed good time. Barrel-Aged Santa’s Little Helper is Port’s massive black ale that’s been ‘soaked and oaked’ out of its mind in specially curated bourbon barrels.
