Friday, February 7, 2025

Get in to the Holiday Spirit(s)!

You've drank Porters and Pilsners, and Pales and Belgians,
Lagers and Lambics, Ipa’s and Stouts.
But can you recall the most delicious brew of them of all?

No? That’s ok, we got you. Resident Hop-Head Brandon Doriot spoke with local craft beer experts and chugged his way to seasonal craft beer bliss. So whether you’re coping with raucous relatives, or out stumbling around in your ugliest Christmas sweater, you’ll have the wherewithal to just say “no” to Bud Light, and pick up a pint of the good stuff.

My Picks:



Thirsty Dog Brewing Co’s 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

Style: Winter Warmer
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 8.30%
Beer Advocate rating: 89/100

This spiced up cinnamon-nutmeg winter warmer is my choice for the new king of the Christmas ales. Served up in a pint with a brown sugar and cinnamon rim, this delicious brew is what I imagine Santa’s tears taste like. This choice is sure to make beer enthusiasts a little upset because there are so many great choices in this category, ie; Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Maumee Bay Brewing’s Blitzen, Revolution’s Fistmas, Hoppin’ Frog’s Frosted Frog… but you know what? It’s my list, so deal with it.

 

 

 

 

Southern Tier’s Choklat

Style: Imperial Stout
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 10%
Beer Advocate rating: 95

This beer goes beyond just being a great seasonal release, Choklat is one of my all time favorite stouts. Imagine, if you will, yourself as a child sneaking out of bed to grab one last slice of delicious double chocolate birthday cake, only to be caught by your screaming underwear-clad father, but still sneaking in one gloriously rich pallet devouring bite. Now bottle that and you’ve got Choklat. Though the oil-black color of the beer is sure to scare away casual beer drinkers, the creamy milk chocolate taste makes it a very approachable brew for anyone.

 

 

 

 

Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale

Style: IPA
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 6.8%
Beer Advocate rating: 93

The IPA is definitely one of the most beloved of all beer styles on the American beer scene, though it doesn’t exactly scream Christmas like warmers and stouts. But this beer is pure hoppy deliciousity (Copyright-ing that term) in a bottle. The pine and grapefruit hints make this a fantastic brew, with an approachable ABV so you can keep on sippin’ through those long winter nights.

 

 

 

Great Divide’s Hibernation Ale

Style: English-Style Old Ale
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 8.7%
Beer Advocate rating: 90

The old ale is not a style that I find myself commonly drinking, but every time I find myself drowning in a sea of choices in the beer aisle at Andersons this beer is my life raft. It’s got a solid ABV, a great roasted rich maltiness at the start, with a nice enough bite to finish off. It’s definitely one of the most complex beers on this list, and one you don’t want to miss.

 

 

Troeg’s Mad Elf

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 11%
Beer Advocate rating: 87


This beer is a sucker punch to the pallet. It’s what I imagine Santa’s helpers sipping on to shake off a long day of holiday driven slave labor. It’s got big malty belgium sweetness coupled with a tart cherry flavor that is a bit disarming. Touting an 11% ABV, having a few too many of these you may find yourself waking up in a random alley wondering whether or not you landed yourself on the naughty list last night. It may not be the most accessible beer on the list, but it’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone for.

 

 

Bell’s Winter White

Style: Witbier
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 5%
Beer Advocate rating: 83

This beer made the list to function as my Bud Light killer. Its beautifully cloudy golden pour and amazingly easy drinkability makes this beer my go-to for converting “Lite” beer drinkers. An easy way to draw people in is by calling this Bell’s winter answer to fill the Oberon gap, though they definitely aren’t sister styles.

 

 

 

 

Founder’s Breakfast stout

Style: Imperial Stout
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 8.3%
Beer Advocate rating: 100

If you haven’t drunk this yet, go. Now. Don’t even bother reading the rest of this write up—seriously, go. Founder’s Breakfast Stout is an institution engrained in the American Craft Brew landscape. It’s deliciously rich and roasted coffee flavor profile makes it a staple of any well rounded drinkers seasonal collection. Why are you still reading this? You should be at the bar.

 

 

 

 

Spoetzl's Shiner Cheer

Style: Dunkelweizen
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 5.4%
Beer Advocate rating: 80

This Texas born German-style brew is one of the stranger beer combos on this list. Its tart and tangy peach and pecan flavor profile makes a very unique combo for the holidays. It’s definitely a one off in my book; against an the onslaught of winter warmers this is stand out brew.

 

 

 

Don’t just take my word for it, here’s picks from some of the most knowledgable drinkers in the Toledo area:

Bobby DeSeyn of Cavalier Distributing’s List

Frosted Frog – Hoppin Frog
6 geese a laying – Bruery
Southern Tier – Krampus
Fistmas – Revolution
Great Divide – Hibernation
Fat head –  Holly Jolly
Jolly Pumpkin – Noel de Calabaza
Chneider Aventinus – Weizen-Eisbock

 

 

 

Evan Bates of Premium Beverage's  List

Avery – Old jubilation
Schaldis – Noel
St. Bernadus – Christmas ale
Southern Tier – Old man winter
Southern Tier – Krampus
Bell’s – Christmas Ale
Brassiere Dupont – Avec les enos voeux
N'Ice Chouffe – Brasserie d'Achouffe
Alesmith – Yulesmith
Troegs' – Mad Elf

 

 

 

Tom Schaffer of Black Cloister Brewing’s List

Brasserie Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux
Trappistes Rochefort 10
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
Troegs' Mad Elf
J. W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Founder’s Breakfast Stout

You've drank Porters and Pilsners, and Pales and Belgians,
Lagers and Lambics, Ipa’s and Stouts.
But can you recall the most delicious brew of them of all?

No? That’s ok, we got you. Resident Hop-Head Brandon Doriot spoke with local craft beer experts and chugged his way to seasonal craft beer bliss. So whether you’re coping with raucous relatives, or out stumbling around in your ugliest Christmas sweater, you’ll have the wherewithal to just say “no” to Bud Light, and pick up a pint of the good stuff.

My Picks:



Thirsty Dog Brewing Co’s 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

Style: Winter Warmer
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 8.30%
Beer Advocate rating: 89/100

This spiced up cinnamon-nutmeg winter warmer is my choice for the new king of the Christmas ales. Served up in a pint with a brown sugar and cinnamon rim, this delicious brew is what I imagine Santa’s tears taste like. This choice is sure to make beer enthusiasts a little upset because there are so many great choices in this category, ie; Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Maumee Bay Brewing’s Blitzen, Revolution’s Fistmas, Hoppin’ Frog’s Frosted Frog… but you know what? It’s my list, so deal with it.

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Southern Tier’s Choklat

Style: Imperial Stout
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 10%
Beer Advocate rating: 95

This beer goes beyond just being a great seasonal release, Choklat is one of my all time favorite stouts. Imagine, if you will, yourself as a child sneaking out of bed to grab one last slice of delicious double chocolate birthday cake, only to be caught by your screaming underwear-clad father, but still sneaking in one gloriously rich pallet devouring bite. Now bottle that and you’ve got Choklat. Though the oil-black color of the beer is sure to scare away casual beer drinkers, the creamy milk chocolate taste makes it a very approachable brew for anyone.

 

 

 

 

Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale

Style: IPA
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 6.8%
Beer Advocate rating: 93

The IPA is definitely one of the most beloved of all beer styles on the American beer scene, though it doesn’t exactly scream Christmas like warmers and stouts. But this beer is pure hoppy deliciousity (Copyright-ing that term) in a bottle. The pine and grapefruit hints make this a fantastic brew, with an approachable ABV so you can keep on sippin’ through those long winter nights.

 

 

 

Great Divide’s Hibernation Ale

Style: English-Style Old Ale
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 8.7%
Beer Advocate rating: 90

The old ale is not a style that I find myself commonly drinking, but every time I find myself drowning in a sea of choices in the beer aisle at Andersons this beer is my life raft. It’s got a solid ABV, a great roasted rich maltiness at the start, with a nice enough bite to finish off. It’s definitely one of the most complex beers on this list, and one you don’t want to miss.

 

 

Troeg’s Mad Elf

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 11%
Beer Advocate rating: 87


This beer is a sucker punch to the pallet. It’s what I imagine Santa’s helpers sipping on to shake off a long day of holiday driven slave labor. It’s got big malty belgium sweetness coupled with a tart cherry flavor that is a bit disarming. Touting an 11% ABV, having a few too many of these you may find yourself waking up in a random alley wondering whether or not you landed yourself on the naughty list last night. It may not be the most accessible beer on the list, but it’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone for.

 

 

Bell’s Winter White

Style: Witbier
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 5%
Beer Advocate rating: 83

This beer made the list to function as my Bud Light killer. Its beautifully cloudy golden pour and amazingly easy drinkability makes this beer my go-to for converting “Lite” beer drinkers. An easy way to draw people in is by calling this Bell’s winter answer to fill the Oberon gap, though they definitely aren’t sister styles.

 

 

 

 

Founder’s Breakfast stout

Style: Imperial Stout
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 8.3%
Beer Advocate rating: 100

If you haven’t drunk this yet, go. Now. Don’t even bother reading the rest of this write up—seriously, go. Founder’s Breakfast Stout is an institution engrained in the American Craft Brew landscape. It’s deliciously rich and roasted coffee flavor profile makes it a staple of any well rounded drinkers seasonal collection. Why are you still reading this? You should be at the bar.

 

 

 

 

Spoetzl's Shiner Cheer

Style: Dunkelweizen
ABV(Alcohol By Volume): 5.4%
Beer Advocate rating: 80

This Texas born German-style brew is one of the stranger beer combos on this list. Its tart and tangy peach and pecan flavor profile makes a very unique combo for the holidays. It’s definitely a one off in my book; against an the onslaught of winter warmers this is stand out brew.

 

 

 

Don’t just take my word for it, here’s picks from some of the most knowledgable drinkers in the Toledo area:

Bobby DeSeyn of Cavalier Distributing’s List

Frosted Frog – Hoppin Frog
6 geese a laying – Bruery
Southern Tier – Krampus
Fistmas – Revolution
Great Divide – Hibernation
Fat head –  Holly Jolly
Jolly Pumpkin – Noel de Calabaza
Chneider Aventinus – Weizen-Eisbock

 

 

 

Evan Bates of Premium Beverage's  List

Avery – Old jubilation
Schaldis – Noel
St. Bernadus – Christmas ale
Southern Tier – Old man winter
Southern Tier – Krampus
Bell’s – Christmas Ale
Brassiere Dupont – Avec les enos voeux
N'Ice Chouffe – Brasserie d'Achouffe
Alesmith – Yulesmith
Troegs' – Mad Elf

 

 

 

Tom Schaffer of Black Cloister Brewing’s List

Brasserie Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux
Trappistes Rochefort 10
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
Troegs' Mad Elf
J. W. Lees Vintage Harvest Ale
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Founder’s Breakfast Stout

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