15 of the Best Holiday Beers for Seasonal Sipping

When you think of holiday beers, you probably think of brews that include the same spices that are used in mulled wines and hot ciders (allspice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon). While the best brewers use a light hand and produce balanced and pleasing winter warmers, there are more than a few spice bombs out there. 

The best holiday beers on the market encompass a grab bag of styles ranging from pungent India Pale Ales to bold malty lagers to Belgian-inspired fruit beer. We also found a couple of righteously spicy takes that strike the right balance between beer and spice. Here are the best holiday ales out this year.

Brewer: 21st Amendment Brewing 
Style: Winter Warmer
Named after FDR’s evening radio addresses during the Depression, San Francisco’s 21st Amendment considers its beer to be similarly comforting and rousing. Fireside Chat is bigger than the traditional English winter warmers (a spiced strong ale) it’s based on, and hoppier as well. The beer is brewed with cocoa flavor-infusing dark malts along with cocoa nibs. The American hops are on par with a pale ale, and the beer is finished with a gentle — but not subtle — blend of spices.
Glazed Ham Porter

Brewer: Flat 12 Brewing
Style: American Porter
The black, smoky ale features the cloves of a classic holiday ham, but it’s light on overall spicing. This makes the chocolate brew more similar to Alaskan Smoked Porter than your typical winter seasonal that smells like a spice rack… CONTINUE READING AT YAHOO