One of the long-lasting Yuletide traditions hearkening back to England is the practice of wassailing, more modernly known as caroling: going door-to-door singing Christmas carols and the hopes of receiving figgy pudding and “good cheer” which actually meant wassail, which (of course!) refers to the hot, mulled punch that is often made with ale, wine or cider, and spices. For me the wassail, hot spiced ale is one of the most traditional Christmas drinks (right up there with eggnog).

Accordingly, today’s Advent beer is another old favorite: Full Sail Wassail Winter Ale, a classic Winter Warmer from one of America’s oldest craft breweries that’s been brewed for the past 24 years.

A few unmistakable signs tell us when winter has arrived here in Hood River. The waterfalls in the Gorge start kicking out the jams. The snow report for the backcountry regains its hold over us. And the Wassail starts flowing once again. We’ve brewed Wassail every holiday season since 1988, and it’s now as much a part of the festivities as sharing a roaring fire with our closest family and friends.

This year’s Wassail is brewed with a range of caramel malts and dark chocolate malts giving it a deep mahogany color and a full malty body. We used a blend of Pacific Northwest hops for a pleasant hoppy aroma and finish creating a deliciously balanced beer that appeals to both hop and malt lovers alike. In other words, a Christmas miracle.

This is a delightful holiday beer to have on hand in case Christmas carolers come to your door—or even better, have a bit of warm wassail made from Wassail to serve up (a bit of Christmas inception if you will).

Untappd. Facebook. BeerAdvocate: 86/100. RateBeer: 3.47/5, 92nd percentile.