Drink these 8 beers and kick off the holiday season this weekend
Thanksgiving is over. The turkey noodle soup leftovers are in the freezer, and I’m turning my taste buds to the wonderful world of holiday cookies and spice-forward and bold, seasonal offerings from our favorite brewhouses. Put your jingle bells on and kick off December with these tasty morsels popping up all around The Lou this weekend.
If you’re in the mood for a classic holiday seasonal, search for fresh-hopped and citrus-forward Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. or Jubelale from Deschutes Brewery, a beautiful winter warmer with notes of dried fruit and toffee. Looking for a little spice? Santa Fe Brewing Co. Adobe Igloo kicks the seasonal up a notch with the addition of cacao nibs and red chile flakes for a complex, malt-forward holiday bomb. All should be available at Craft Beer Cellar in Clayton and South City.
Brew Hub gets in the holiday spirit with several new draft beverages. You could warm up with It’s Gingerbread, Man, a double stout boasting a strong roast character and dry finish. Or opt for the innovative and uber trendy Giggle Water – fermented sugar water that clocks in at 7.8 percent ABV. Choose from one of three holiday-inspired homemade syrups to flavor your bubbly: Cranberry Spice, Ginger Snap or Sugar Plum.
Are you a Thin Mint fan? I know Santa is. Head to Third Wheel Brewing Co. and grab draft or bottles of its Goomah Lala, a chocolate milk stout aged on organic peppermint. It’s rich with an exquisite body and just a touch of silky creaminess.
Grab a Bière de Noel and chase winter blues away at Wellspent Brewing Co. This Belgian-inspired Quad is ripe with citrus zest and allspice, and offers just an underlying touch of dried cherry on the palate and rosemary on the nose.
Finally, say so long to the notorious STLHops crew this weekend with their final anniversary party Saturday night, Dec.1. As a nod to the original St. Louis beer nerds, 2nd Shift Brewing Co. has resurrected its STLHop/Troy Meier collaboration I Am Become Death. Bold and surly as STLHops, this wheat wine has an aggressive bitterness and rich malt bill. Missing the party? Grab cans and draft at 2nd Shift on Saturday.
Katie Herrera is an area sales manager at Revolution Brewing.
