Believe it or not, Christmas is only two weeks away! Every Holiday season there’s an array of special craft beer releases to celebrate with, and they run the gamut of styles from malty to hoppy to spiced and/or sour. With so many options and so little time, I’m here to post some Holiday-themed favorites to check out while the season is in full swing! Here goes the first of two lists:

Great Lakes “Christmas Ale” – This malt-forward Winter Warmer is an annual favorite. It’s at a hearty 7.5%ABV, with a sweet, amber malt bill that’s enhanced with additions of honey, ginger, and cinnamon. It’s the beer equivalent of a Christmas cookie, and I mean that in the absolute best way possible.

Sierra Nevada “Celebration” – It’s no secret that the folks at Sierra Nevada have their hop-forward beers down. So it’s no surprise that their Holiday beer is a delicious, very well balanced IPA. They use fresh hops from this year’s harvest that are bursting with aroma and flavor, and counter them with a hefty malt backbone. The result is, dare I say, their best IPA.

Evil Twin “Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room” – This is a monster of a Holiday beer. It’s a rich, velvety, 10%ABV Imperial Stout that will coat your palate with notes of bittersweet chocolate, roasty coffee, and dark fruit. Best to enjoy this one with a little help from your friends.

Check back next week for even more Holiday seasonals!