The weather is still dropping (well some days it’s oddly warm) and soon the snow will be on its way. So it’s time to find those beers that will help you get through another Pennsylvania winter.
Here’s our top PA Winter Holiday Beers:
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Tröegs Brewing | Mad Elf
When you live in PA the Winter holidays don’t officially start until Mad Elf hits your beer stores. This 11% cheerful ruby red creation is reminiscent of ripened cherries, raw honey and cocoa with notes of cinnamon, clove and allspice. Malted with chocolate, munich, pilsner and hopped with hallertau and saaz this beer leaves a lasting impression after the first sip.
And while Tröegs (Hershey, PA) has spun off multiple beers from this one, Mad Elf is truly the OG. If you live in Pennsylvania you know that seeing this little Elf means winter is on it’s way!
Iron Hill Brewery | Reindeers Revenge
Nothing quite says winter holidays all across Pennsylvania quite like the release of Reindeers Revenge from Iron Hill. With brewery locations all across the state and an ever-expanding distribution footprint, it is almost impossible not to be able to find this beer somewhere in the Commonwealth.
Reindeers Revenge is a hopped twist on a Belgian-style Tripel, which boasts notes of pine and grapefruit, a touch of bitterness, and a sweet, warming finish. The beer clocks in at 9% and is a staple from the brewery found all throughout the state during the winter holidays.
Church Brew Works | Christmas Ale
What better way to enjoy the holiday season than with a beer like Christmas Ale by the Church Brew Works from Pittsburgh, PA?
This Belgian-style ale is a little sweet up front with notes of toffee, a touch of caramel, a hint of raisin and a slight little touch of chocolate intertwined with that initial sweetness. The ginger should be apparent, but not overwhelming. Those initial complex flavors will fade into the slightly more pronounced flavor of cloves. The hops were kept low to allow the bitter orange peel and cloves handle the very light bitter finish. The same yeast used in our Trippel is featured in this ale to add its own light clovy essence to the party.
Columbia Kettle Works | Grinch Feet
If a beer tastes like the holiday season in a glass, it’s a no-brainer for this list, right? And with a name influenced by the Grinch, that’s just icing on the cake! So Columbia Kettle Work’s (Columbia, PA) Grinch Feet is a beer you cannot miss this holiday season.
This holiday inspired red ale is brewed with oats in the mash and blackstrap molasses in the boil. Finished with copious amounts of fresh cherries, vanilla bean, and a touch of cinnamon. This delicious holiday beer comes in at 9.5% ABV and 50 IBUs. Check out out review!
Evil Genius | Santa!! I Know Him!
The jolly big guy defines the Holiday Season, right? So what better way to celebrate than with a glass of Santa!! I Know Him!
Santa!! I Know him! is Evil Genius’ (Philadelphia, PA) holiday saison brewed with rose hips, chamomile, black currants and dark Belgian candi syrup. Deep, complex and intriguing, this bone-dry Belgian-style ale is sure to seduce you, or the one you’re with. Roses, chamomile, and currants have long been considered powerful aphrodisiacs, so they decided to combine them with mysterious and beguiling Belgian saison yeast coming in at 7.2% ABV.
The result is something very special and sure to help spice up nights spent at home during the cold winter months. Have you been Naughty or Nice this year – or both?
Free Will | Special Cookie
When it comes to the Winter Holidays a ginger snap cookie just warms the heart. If you’ve ever wanted that in liquid form you have to try Special Cookie!
Special Cookie is a 12.5% Imperial Spiced Brown Ale from Free Will Brewing (Perkasie, PA). This beer was inspired by Speculoos cookies and is brewed with cardamom, cinnamon, brown sugar, ginger, and vanilla.
Pouring to a dark brown, you’ll get a thick off white head in your glass. Aromas of caramel, cinnamon, sugar, and dough/malts are noticeable right away. Tasting Special Cookie brings a medium body with a taste that lingers. Flavors of vanilla, oatmeal, raisins, caramel malts, and cinnamon hit your tastebuds. Check out our review!
New Trail | Ugly Sweater
If you’re not slapping on your ugliest sweater and heading out for the festivities this time of year can you really even say you did winter right? And if you don’t have an ugly sweater of your own, don’t worry. New Trail has given you the option to at least carry one in your hand with you.
“Ugly Sweater” is an 11% Hazy Triple IPA, brewed with White Wheat and Oats. Hideously hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, & Mosaic. Expect lush citrus notes complemented with dank green, fleshy grape.
Sly Fox | Christmas Ale
Only available in November and December is Christmas Ale by Sly Fox Brewing out of Pottstown, PA. With one sip you’ll know the holidays are here!
Christmas Ale is a malty, full-bodied red ale made with traditional mulling spices: Ginger, Clove, All Spice, Cinammon & Nutmeg. If this one doesn’t get you into the Christmas spirit, you may be a Scrooge.
