West Sixth Brewing, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was established in 2012 (celebrating ten years this year!) and offers up a wide variety of beers in its lineup—including Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter, which would be a fitting Advent beer pick today, considering that it’s National Cocoa Day. However I went in a more traditional direction with the company’s big, bold winter warmer infused with holiday spices: Christmas Ale.

It’s 9% ABV and starts with a base of bready, toasty malts, and then has candi sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and orange peel added. The description says:

Our Christmas Ale is a big and bold Winter Warmer with a dark, sweet, and complex malt character complimented by an array of spices with orange peel, nutmeg, and cinnamon coming to the forefront.

And of course, since the brewery is located in Kentucky, you’d expect bourbon to make an appearance somehow, and indeed, the company offers up a Bourbon Barrel Christmas Ale as well. Either of these beers would be a great addition to your holiday season to keep things merry and bright.

Find West Sixth Christmas Ale on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• Facebook

Image credits: West Sixth’s website, Facebook page