It’s the final day of the Advent Beer Calendar! Where did the month go already? Today’s pick comes from Italy, which is fast becoming known for their craft beer scene: Birra Baladin‘s Nöel Baladin. This 9% alcohol beer is brewed in the style of a strong Belgian ale (according to … Continue reading

It’s become my own tradition-within-a-tradition to break from the "regular" Christmas/holiday beers and pick something "for me" on my birthday (which is today!). This year that something is Roots Organic Brewing‘s Epic Ale. I just had to, after reading Jeff’s opening description: Epic starts not with the brew kettle, but … Continue reading

Today’s pick is from the Burton Bridge Brewery in Burton-Upon-Trent, England: their Festive Christmas Porter. This is an easy-drinking holiday ale at 4.5% alcohol; it’s describe by the brewery as a "Fruity beer with a distinctive bitter after palate." Personally, I hear "porter + fruit" and I can’t help thinking … Continue reading

Today’s pick comes from that other brewery in St. Louis, Missouri: Schlafly Christmas Ale. This is a spicy, strong (8% alcohol by volume) that gets high marks and is apparently very spicy. Their short description says: A full-bodied amber ale to spice up the holidays. ‘Tis the season to enjoy … Continue reading

We’re getting close to Christmas! Today’s pick comes again from France: Brasserie Thiriez‘s Bière de Noël. This is a beer brewed in the "true Christmas tradition": a special recipe brewed for the colder months that changes each year. From the label on the site, it looks like this year’s vintage … Continue reading

When thinking of Christmas or Winter-themed beers, Florida is not the first place you’d turn to. However, today’s pick comes from Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Brewery‘s Christmas Farm Ale. RateBeer is calling this year’s version a Dubbel with 8% alcohol and fermented with sour cherries. Dunedin’s own page says: A special … Continue reading

For today’s pick I’m going local and selecting Deschutes Brewery‘s Jubelale. This is Deschutes’ long-brewed seasonal Winter Warmer, and the first beer the brewery ever bottled. This is one of my favorite seasonal beers, one I look forward to every year. And I reviewed it recently: Taste: Spicy essence (nutmeg, … Continue reading

Today’s pick is from a brewery that originated in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and has since spread out to cover Georgia, Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland: RJ Rockers, and the beer is their First Snow Ale. I found this description of First Snow here: The First Snow Ale is an American-style … Continue reading

Yesterday we went with an English winter classic, and today we’re going with a Belgian one: Scaldis Noël from Brasserie Dubuission. (Known as Bush de Noël in its native country.) Scaldis is a complex Belgian dark strong ale that weighs in with a whopping 12% alcohol by volume. In short, … Continue reading

Today we’re going with a classic: Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale. A quintessential English Winter Warmer, it’s malty and hoppy with a touch of spiciness without going over the top at 6% alcohol by volume. Not much more I need to say—just look for the distinctive bottle and colorful label … Continue reading