As PA brewers push the limits and constantly craft new delicious brews, there are almost infinite choices to drink during the holidays this year.
Breweries In PA talked with 17 professional brewers and brewery owners across the great state of Pennsylvania and asked them what they’re drinking during the holidays this year. Here are their responses, which as you can see are pretty varied!
“This year, I started what I think is going to be a new Thanksgiving tradition. At 11% ABV, Mad Elf can be a little dangerous, so I typically wait until later in the day to crack one open. My wife and I always get an early start in the kitchen, and this year I decided that when the turkey goes into the oven, Mad Elf goes into my glass. We have so much to be thankful for, and that put me right in the spirit.
Also, a big part of my job is tasting recipes we’re developing. Homework, if you will. So this week I’ll be taking home crowlers of a bunch of beers we have in the works – Perpetual Darkness, Double Blizzard, Double Nugget, Perpetual Haze, and a bright new spring IPA. I’m also really excited to try a pilot batch of Troegenator we’ve been working on made with grain grown and malted right here in Pennsylvania. So yeah, the line between work and play can get a little blurry, but I’m OK with that.” – John Troegner – Co-owner/Head brewer of Troegs Independent Brewing
“I’ve been going between malty lagers and some barrel-aged beers this holiday season.” – Logan Hartpence, Head Brewer of Lavery Brewing Company
“I always age a couple of bottles of Delirium Tremens and Delirium Nocturnum for the holidays. Awesome sippers for the season.” – Dan Long, Head brewer of Broken Goblet Brewing
“Sierra Nevada Celebration is my go-to beer this time of year. It’s one of my all-time favorites beers and honestly just pairs well with any meal and any environment. It’s a bummer that it’s so seasonal, but I suppose that’s the reason it’s so wonderful. I stocked up so I have some to last me through the holidays.” – Andrew Witchey, Owner/Head Brewer of Dancing Gnome
“This holiday season, and most others in recent history, I’ve nestled into the warming comforts of bourbon drinks, Cabernet, and an incurable desire for smoked beer.” – Matt Snyder, Head Brewer of Weyerbacher Brewing Company
“Pretty much from now until the New Year Sierra Nevada Celebration or Allagash White will either be in my fridge, gullet, or glass. Two of the best beers pound for pound in the world and they go perfectly with Holidays and crap weather we are getting right now. If I am looking to switch it up I’ll be drinking Bourbon neat, either Four Roses or Basil Hayden’s.” – Andy Kwiatkowski, Head Brewer of Hitchhiker Brewing Company
‘Generally, this time of year I prefer stuff on the boozy/malty side. Anything that will warm me up. Stouts, porters, and barleywine if it is beer. Bourbon is also awesome during the cold months. Thinking about giving eggnog a try this year also.” – Matt Gilberg, Head Brewer of Levante Brewing Company
“I am drinking a whole lot more bourbon than anything else these days. But beer wise, I’m digging a lot of the beers that I’ve been trading out with other local breweries while commiserating on things. I really like the Helles from Hemauer Brewing. I definitely gravitate towards clean, well thought out lagers more than anything, personally. There’s so much good beer in PA, it’s hard not to run into a bunch of good options!” – Jason Ufema, Owner of Shy Bear Brewing
“I have been saving a couple of bottles of a brett Saison for a special occasion. I’m sure they won’t survive the holidays.” – Brooks Hemauer, Owner/Head Brewer of Hemauer Brewing
“I’m drinking plenty of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale…it’s one of my top 10 beers of all time, just perfect.” – Jason Ranck, Head brewer of Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
“I am going to be enjoying some higher ABV Belgian styles, as well as some lower ABV pilsners. I’m not a big stout guy, but I really enjoy a nice yeast driven Tripel by the fire!” – Ryan Seiz, Head brewer of Warwick Farm Brewing
“A nice Scotch is my go-to pretty much anytime I’m not drinking beer, and during the colder months, I tend to gravitate towards something with a nice peated profile that isn’t overwhelming, like GlenDronach Peated. When I do reach for a beer though, I have a few favorites. Troegs Mad Elf always kicks off the holiday season for me. Having spent the first 30 years of my life in Harrisburg and then Hershey, that beer has a special place in my heart.
I also love Bear Hug Oatmeal Stout from Vault. It really is like a warm bear hug for your insides. Bane of Existence from Hitchhiker has been well documented as one of my all-time favorite beers, regardless of the season. Want in on a secret? An Old Fashioned is my favorite fireside cocktail, except I make a simple syrup using a stout. This time of year, I use Ralphius Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from Free Will. Add sugar, simmer, boil it down to make a reduction and use in place of simple syrup in your favorite whiskey cocktail. Your tastebuds will thank you.” – Hannah Gohde, Head brewer of Naked Brewing Company
“I’ll be drinking Dioecious this holiday season, our dry-hopped kettle sour beer that is perfect for kegs and eggs! It’s tart, orangey, and moderately low ABV. I’ll also be drinking a cellar-treasure, Draai Laag (now Strange Roots) Geestlijke.” – Jared Herman, Co-Owner/Head Brewer of Levity Brewing Company
“Winter is the perfect time for dark beers! There’s nothing better on a cold night than drinking some BIG ASS STOUTS. I have a couple from Anchorage brewing that I’ve been saving for this holiday season so I’m excited for that! Plus I just picked up my Ralphius on Black Friday so I’ll have those! And Ten7’s got some barrel-aged stuff coming very soon that I’ll be drinking too! This year is going to be a little weird with COVID and all because usually, the best beers I have during the holiday season. are the ones I share with friends. But alas can’t do that this year, it’ll just make next year’s holiday that much better!” – Matt Nitchke, Head brewer of Ten7 Brewing Company
“Around this time you’ll find me with a glass of bourbon or scotch in some form or another, but I’m a bit of a fast drinker and those don’t lead to very good behavior when had in quantity. So to temper the spirits, I’ll of course, be drinking beer. There’s a bevy of seasonal beers around now, and I’ll certainly try them to experience the bold flavors and rosy cheeks of high ABV, but euro-style lager is my drink of champions. It’s where I feel at home, my comfort food – it’s the biscuits and gravy of beer for me. It ain’t all yellow either. This is a great time of year for those deliciously dark lagers too. Keep your eyes out for my Schwarzbier called Puddler that’ll be ringing in the new year with us.” – Neil Glausier, Co-owner/Head brewer of Burgh’ers Brewing
“The holidays for me usually mean barrel-aged beers and bourbon cocktails. However, the enjoyment of sharing a bottle of a barrel-aged imperial stout with friends and family may be a bit difficult this year (for obvious reasons). So to help put 2020 behind me, I may be reaching for the bourbon.” – Brian Eaton, Co-owner of Grist House Craft Brewery
“I’m really excited about our spruce tip IPA collab, Beyond The Pines. It went over so well on draft last year that we decided to can it this year. We designed this brew with our friends at Hopping Eagle Brewing Co., Log Tavern Brewing, and Sons of the Hunt. It’s a hazy IPA brewed with Columbus and Simcoe hops and infused with spruce tips harvested in our area of NEPA. It has the look and feel of your favorite hazies and tastes like a Christmas tree. It’s perfect for this time of year.” – Logan Ackerly, Head brewer of Wallenpaupack Brewing Company.
“I have been really enjoying some classics this season. Besides drinking some local offerings, my glass has been full of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, assorted Schlenkerla Rauchbiers, as well as some bottles from my “cellar.” I also have reacquainting myself with different seasonal offerings and some classic Belgian beers.” – Derek Lutz, Head brewer of Lost Tavern Brewery.
