Heading into the season of hearty beers and barrel-aged beauties

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

So begins the holiday season. Look for bars and breweries to stock up on Porters and Stouts — the hearty variety that can withstand a cold evening or a, shudder, afternoon of shoveling snow.

But if you want to warm your soul at the same time, there's Re-Porter, a collaboration between Tyler Maas at Milwaukee Record and Company Brewing. The beer — I've tried it — is Company’s Night Rye’d Porter infused with cinnamon, cocoa nibs, medium roast coffee, vanilla beans, and three types of chiles.

Here's the heartwarming part: One dollar from each pint sold will be donated to the Milwaukee Women's Center as part of the Jan. 19 Local Coverage benefit concert.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee has more beer events on the schedule:

Wednesday: DOC'S Smokehouse, 754 N. 4th St., kicks off the weekend with a bounty of beers, many of them barrel-aged including Dark Horse Scotty Karate, Stone's Arrogant Bastard and Clan MacDougal Scotch Ale from MobCraft. Tappings begin at 11 a.m.

Wednesday: The Brass Tap, 7808 W. Layton Ave., in Greenfield, offers a flight of Chimay beers including Chimay Grand Reserve Blue; Premiere Red; Cinq Cents White; and the rare Cognac Barrel-Aged Grande Reserve. Flights are $20. It starts at 5 p.m. I'll be there at 6 p.m. Say hi.

Friday: Black Friday in Milwaukee proves that beer is the new Black Friday. Here's a look at 10 Friday events and two bonus events on Saturday.

Saturday: Let the Christmas shopping begin. And the break for beer. I'll be at Draft & Vessel, 4417 N. Oakland Ave., in Shorewood, from 1 to 3 p.m. with "Beer Lover's Wisconsin."

Sunday: Lakefront Brewery celebrates 30 years of blood, sweat and beers with a party from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: Sugar Maple hosts Tighthead Brewery for the last of its 2017 brewery series. Rob Zellermayer hosts from 4 to 6 p.m. The cost is $15 and includes five samples. See the event page on Facebook. It's followed by a Bottle Share to benefit Savage Support, a support system for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Bring a bottle from the cellar to share and $20 to donate.

Monday: Cafe Bavaria, 7700 Harwood Ave., in Wauwatosa, taps a keg of Pfungstädter Brewery beer with the brewery's Sebastian Ellies doing the honors at 5 p.m. Samples will be free.

Dec. 2: It's an understatement to say that Tony Lewanovich tries to outdo each Champp's Anniversary Party. Expect that to happen again for No. 3. Doors open at 10 a.m. at 1240 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield. There is a list of 36 beers to start the daylong party including specialty releases from Toppling Goliath, Central Waters, Founders, Three Floyds — you get the idea. See the event page on Facebook.

Dec. 4: Biloba Brewing hosts a Beer & Cheese Pairing from 7 to 9 p.m. in the tasting room, 2970 N. Brookfield Road in Brookfield. Brewer Gordon Lane, a certified cheese maker, will guide the tasting that includes a 15-year Hooks Cheddar and more. It's the first of quarterly Beer & Cheese Pairings planned. Tickets for this one are $25. You must reserve a spot in person at the brewery.

Contact Kathy at kathy.flanigan@jrn.com. Create your own tour of Wisconsin breweries with Beer Near, an interactive listing of the state's beer producers.