Holiday and Christmas-themed beers are in full swing, and there are plenty of delicious options to sift through. These beers cover a wide spectrum, with many involving a twist on a style such as spices or fruit infusions. The common thread is that they are brewed to be comforting, hearty, and strong enough to get you through a visit with the in-laws. Here are a few more Holiday season beer picks, because you  don’t want to fill up on a bunch of eggnog.

Olvalde Brewing”Ode to a Russian Shipwright” – Ode, as it’s commonly referred to, is labeled as an “imperial stout porter”. What’s a stout porter? It’s a stout. In fact, every stout is technically a “stout porter”, but we’ll get into that another time. This big, rich, roasty beer is brewed with spruce tips, giving it intense aromas of fresh cut wood and some pine-like flavors. It’s a complex, very unique beer that’s begging to be shared with friends.

Saint Bernardus “Christmas Ale” – Some might say this is the granddaddy of all holiday beers. It’s a spiced version of St. Bernardus Abt 12, which is one of the most beautiful Belgian beers in the world. Based on the Quad style, it pours a deep, dark amber color with aromas of dark fruit, spices, and rustic Belgian yeast. Treat yourself to a bottle of this and I guarantee you’ll be on the hunt for it every Christmas for years to come.

Indeed Brewing “Old Friend” – Packaged in a gorgeous screen-printed, wax-dipped bottle, this beer is a local favorite for the season. It’s a 7% ABV malt-forward beer that’s brewed with plenty of ginger root and honey, then fermented with a Belgian yeast strain. Being a huge ginger fan, I love this beer as an alternative to the common cinnamon/allspice/nutmeg combinations in other holiday ales. Reunite with an old friend and share a bottle.

Happy Holidays!