Today’s Advent beer pick comes from New York and the Southern Tier Brewing Company, who, while brewing a solid line of “regular” beers, is perhaps best known (out here on the west coast anyway) for brewing big bold extreme beers such as Creme Brulee Imperial Stout, Imperial Pumking, Imperial Cinnamon Roll Ale, and so on. Their 2XMAS Ale has quite a lot going on with it and just sounds delicious:

Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a “Glögg” party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition.

2XMAS ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. It’s a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast to the season, but unlike Glögg, we recommend serving this one chilled.

With 8% alcohol by volume it’s redolent with aromas of mulled wine and spice cake (appropriate if inspired by Glögg!) which sounds like the perfect pairing with fruitcake. Which I do actually like.

Find Southern Tier 2XMAS Ale on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• RateBeer
• Facebook