Another year has gone by, and here we are turning the calendar over to December. This of course means it’s time for the return of the annual Beer Advent Calendar! Hard to believe but this is the 18th year of this feature, and it’s just as the name suggests: like a traditional Advent calendar, each day from now until December 24 I’ll reveal a new holiday- or winter-themed beer. It’s a wide and eclectic selection of beers and it’s all for fun.

Which brings us to the first Advent beer pick for the year: Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale. This year is the 30th anniversary of Cleveland, Ohio-based Great Lakes’ annual holiday favorite, and the company is offering a special sweepstakes open to residents of the 14 states it distributes to.

Of course the spotlight is on the beer itself, a malty, spiced winter warmer brewed with fresh ginger, cinnamon, and honey. It’s a recipe that’s been a regional favorite for three decades, a Midwest classic that’s 7.5% alcohol by volume and 30 IBUs, and it’s the perfect beer to kick off this year’s Beer Advent Calendar and toast to its 30 years.

And that’s not all! This year Great Lakes released an edition of Barrel Aged Christmas Ale in cans as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations. Christmas Ale was aged in bourbon barrels for six months, which bumps the ABV up to 8%, and offers up (in the words of the brewery) the gift that keeps on giving. Cheers!

Find Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale (and Barrel Aged Christmas Ale) on:

• Great Lakes Beer Finder
• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• Facebook

Image credits: Great Lakes website