Let’s face it, winter really blows (sometimes literally) if you live in an area that gets large amounts of snow and frigid, inhuman temperatures. How you get through the dark days of winter is up to you, but we believe that beer definitely helps. Here’s CraveOnline’s list of the best winter beers available.
The Best Winter Beers to Try This Year
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Brooklyn Winter Ale (Brooklyn Brewery)
If you are looking out your window and all you see snow drifts, the time is right for a Brooklyn Winter Ale. This Scottish Style Ale is based on the old timey ales of Scottish winters of yore. This malty, rich offering was made with floor malted Maris otter, English crystal malts, Belgian Aromatic malts, American roasted malts and American oats. It’s the perfect amount of alcohol (6.1%) to make you not notice the -12 degree wind chill outside.
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Fireside Chat (21st Amendment Brewery)
This winter warmer’s name is a reference to FDR’s depression-era radio addresses. They were well known for the comfort they gave the US people. Fireside Chat is 21st Amendment’s take on the winter beer. Ostensibly, it’s an English-style ale that has myriad spices added to it to create a winter warmer. At 7.9% ABV, this beer is like a warm embrace from FDR himself.
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Accumulation (New Belgium Brewing Company)
Nestled in Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium is in the heart of outdoors, mountain culture. This White IPA is the perfect way to end a day of mountain biking, hiking or a day spent inside hiding from a blizzard. This 6.2% IPA is big, bold and bitter. It’s not for those who don’t enjoy a heavy hop presence. Luckily, the wheat flavor smoothes out the bitterness, making for a well-rounded beer.
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Tenfidy (Oskar Blues Brewery)
Also located in Colorado, Oskar Blues is known for pushing the limit in the canned beer game. Tenfidy gets its name from the fact that it’s a highly potent 10.5% ABV. This Imperial Stout’s flavor is full of hints of chocolate, caramel and coffee due to the prevalence of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops.
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Celebration (Sierra Nevada Brewing Company)
It makes sense that this beer is released in the winter because it’s a time of great celebration. From Christmas, to New Years Eve, to Super Bowl Sunday, the winter has a lot of important festivities. And any good party needs a great beer. Celebration is a 6.8% ABV American IPA that has been brewed every year since 1981. It’s one of very few hop-centric winter brews.
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Winter White Ale (Bell’s Brewery)
Based on the white ales from Belgium, Winter White Ale is a light respite from the usually heavy, malty winter brews. This beer was even made using Belgian ale yeast along with a blend of wheat and barley malts. Like many Belgian offerings, it is brewed to remain cloudy and yeasty. At 5% ABV, you shouldn’t feel bad imbibing more than one.
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Hibernation Ale (Great Divide Brewing Company)
Brewed since 1995, this olde style beer packs a punch at 8.7% ABV. It’s dry-hopped and is a full flavored, malty, rich beer. It’s ridiculously highly rated on many beer websites and has won numerous awards including multiple medals from the Great American Beer Festival. Due to its high amount of alcohol, maybe it’s best to only drink one and than find a place to hibernate yourself.
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Winter Warmer (Harpoon Brewery)
Brewed since 1988, Winter Warmer is the first seasonal beer that Harpoon ever made. The 5.9% ABV Winter Warmer isn’t for everyone. This malty, sweet, spiced beer is dominated by cinnamon, clove and nutmeg flavors. It works best when used as the beer portion of a Snakebite. Why not grab Harpoon’s hard cider to use as the other half.
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Winter Cheers (Victory Brewing Company)
This wintery wheat ale is made up of German wheat, barley malts, oats and whole flower Tettnang and Citra hops. At 6.7% ABV, Winter Cheers has the perfect amount of alcohol to warm you up on a cold, winter night. This is another lighter winter beer full of citrus, banana, clove and hints of spice.
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Brown Shugga (Lagunitas Brewing Company)
This American Strong Ale was made completely by mistake. In 1997, the brewers at Lagunitas were attempting to make a batch of Olde GnarlyWine. Somehow, they screwed up the recipe and a completely new beer was born. This 9.99% ABV brew has strong flavors of malts and brown sugar. It should definitely be given the respect it deserves and only enjoyed in small quantities potentially with a nap in between each bottle.
