Seems like I just posted my top ten beer recommendations for autumn but it's time for winter beers. This season produces a lot of really good small production seasonals in the forms of Christmas beers and winter warmers. Christmas beers are often malty and complex. Some are made with fruit or spice and some rely on artful malt or hops combinations for wonderful complexity. The winter warmers are similar though they are rarely made with any adjuncts. Both contain higher than usual amounts of alcohol.
And so, in no particular order, here are my wintertime beer recommendations for 2006.
1. Samichlaus
The king of Christmas beers, Samichlaus is the highlight of the holiday season for many beer enthusiasts. It is a rich, aged doppelbock brewed at the Austrian brewery Schloss Eggenberg.2. Samuel Adams Winter Classics Mix Pack
This mix pack contains two bottles each of six beers. Since it only represents one purchase I'm giving it one entry on this list. It contains Boston Lager, Old Fezziwig Ale, Winter Lager, Holiday Porter, Black Lager, and Cranberry Lambic.3. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
How do you say Merry Christmas to a hop-head? With a six pack of Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada. Besides have a pretty significant bitterness at 62 IBUs, this beer is also dry hopped which raises the hops in the aroma and flavor.4. Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale
Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome is a traditional winter warmer. It is big in flavor and alcohol. Though maltiness dominates it does have a good bit of balancing hops as well as hints of apples and caramel.5. Odell Brewing Co. Isolation Ale
Odell Brewing brews Isolation Ale as their winter seasonal. This beer is packed with hops character without a lot of the bitterness. It's a bit unusual as a wintertime beer in that it does carry the huge, dark malt flavors of many of the others.6. Paulaner Salvator Double Bock
Salvator is available all year round and isn't necessarily a wintertime beer. But its rich, full flavor and deep complexity make it a perfect fireside sipper. If you want to give yourself and your guests a real treat this season, pick up a six pack of this beer.7. Avery Brewing Old Jubilation
This is one of those examples of artful, adjunct free beers. Avery brews some pretty amazing beer using only the four traditional ingredients.Old Jubilation certainly fits in the winter warmer category. With heaps of malt and 8% alcohol, this complex and tasty beer will make a welcome addition to your holiday bar.
