Once the pumpkin beer craze has settled and the snow has fallen, we can’t wait to stock up on winter seasonal beers. It’s the perfect time of year for stouts, dark lagers and flavors like chocolate, coffee and spice. There are hundreds of options to choose from and we wish we could drink them all. We put together our imaginary winter beer 12-pack for you.
- Ommegang Abbey Ale: This 8.2% brew out of NY packs a serious spiced punch. This dark ale is filled with flavors of licorice, orange, coriander, raisins and star anise. It’ll cost you $8 a bottle, but the flavor is worth it.
- Widmer Brothers Ginger Barrel-Aged Brrrbon ’13: A spin on their original Brrr Seasonal Ale, this bourbon barrel-aged version is seriously delicious. Flavored with fresh ginger and aged for several months, the spiciness is oh so good. Find yourself a bottle as soon as possible.
- Deschutes The Abyss: Aged in oak bourbon barrels, The Abyss is part of Deschutes’ Special Reserve Series. The dark stout is brewed with licorice and molasses before aging to give it an extra flavor kick. You can pick one up from through the end of February.
- Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout: What a mouthful. This stout combines Denver famous Pablo’s espresso with the roasted vanilla flavor of their imperial stout to make for a rich coffee beer.
- Samuel Adams Winter Lager: If you’re looking for an easy drinking dark winter lager, go from Samuel Adams. The 5.6% dark wheat bock is spicy with hints of nutmeg and orange. You can also pick up their winter seasonal 12-pack for a variety of flavors.
- Full Sail Wassail Winter Ale: This winter seasonal has kept us coming back every year since 1988. The flavor differs slightly from year to year but is always a delicious mix of caramel, dark chocolate and plenty of hops.
- Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale: Say hello to the winter season with this nutty orange flavored ale. The sweet factor gives this dark ale a unique flavor that makes it perfect for sipping during the cold weather.
- Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper: Yeah yeah, we know Christmas is over but that doesn’t mean we stopped drinking. Santa’s Little Helper is a dark imperial stout with notes of chocolate, coffee and a hint of cherry. Pick some up this winter.
- Suede Imperial Porter: This brew is a collaboration between Stone Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing and Bluejacket Brewery. The dark porter is infused with Southern California ingredients like avocado honey and dried jasmine that give the beer an extra sweetness to balance out the dark roasted malt.
- Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee: Every year Goose Island teams up with Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea each year to create a new edition of this brew. It packs a 13.4% ABV, right up our alley. It’s limited release each year, so grab a bottle now.
- 21st Amendment Fireside Chat: Channeling Franklin Roosevelt’s famous fireside chats, this winter seasonal is a mix of dark, English-style ale with spices and cocoa. The spicy chocolate goodness is great for the winter, plus it comes in a can.
- Fat Head’s Holly Jolly: Flavored with honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and coriander, this is the ultimate spiced winter ale. It reminds us of Christmas Day and we love sipping it throughout the winter season. Grab a bottle of the 7.5% ABV beer for yourself.
Doesn’t that sound like the perfect 12-pack? What winter beers would you add in?