THE TWELVE FEATURED BEERS OF CHRISTMAS
If during this season your true love is giving you twelve days of gifts like leaping lords, swimming swans, and laying geese, we might suggest that you reconsider your relationship. It just seems like a lot.
We at Tacos & Beer have a much more manageable, much more fun, not to mention way more reasonable Twelve Days of Christmas in the works. How does a daily featured seasonal beer from December 13 all the way through Christmas Eve sound?
We’ve got quite the line up of delicious brews to inspire all the warmth and coziness of Christmastime minus the squawking birds and maids-a-milking, whatever that means. Check out our list of Christmas beers that you can buy for the family.
December 13: Anchor Brewing Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale) (2019)
Winter Ale
6.9% ABV
40 IBU
$6
Darker than Anchor Brewing’s Special Ale from last year, roasted caramel and coffee are big players in the flavor profile of this seasonal ode to the end of a decade. Pay extra close attention to the subtle taste of dark Mexican chocolate. You’d be hard-pressed to find a dish on our menu this doesn’t pair well with this beer.
December 14: Firestone Walker, Hèllûva Brûlée
Barleywine
14% ABV
24 IBU
$13
This unique barleywine is aged for two years in emptied rum barrels, imparting a rum flavor that only compliments its natural honey maltiness. If that wasn’t good enough, each sip echoes the super-yum dessert taste of creme brûlée which makes this the gift that keeps on giving.
December 15: Saugatuck Brewing Company, Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin Chai
Pumpkin/Yam Beer
9.5% ABV
~ IBU
$9
This one is aged in bourbon barrels and promises prominent pumpkin and chai tea flavors, which is great news because whoever wanted pumpkin beer season to end anyway? Saugatuck Brewing Company’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin Chai is sweet, delicate, and high enough in alcohol to make a certain dent in any and all holiday stresses.
December 16: Founders Brewing Company CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout)
Imperial Stout
11.3% ABV
45 IBU
$14
This is for the lover of all things coffee and breakfast. Coffee notes, of course, but also look out for cinnamon, oatmeal, and dark chocolate. A welcomed pick-me-up at any time of day- no judgment if it’s before noon, we totally get it.
December 17: Omnipollo, Aon Pecan Mud Cake Stout
11% ABV
60 IBU
PRICE $9
Buddy the Elf would go nuts for Omnipollo’s Aon Pecan Mud Cake Stout. Notes of pecan, coffee, chocolate, and sweet coconut lend to a decadent treat of a beer. The brewer who created it mentioned this beer was born as a creative means to bring to life his childhood dream of becoming a pastry chef.
December 18: Firestone Walker, Molé Merkin
Milk Stout
7.8% ABV
21 IBU
$13
You know we couldn’t NOT have a spicy Mexican-inspired beer on this list. Chile, cocoa, and cinnamon lend to all the best flavors of Molé, each sip feeling cozier than the last. Try this with our Enchiladas con Molé for a double whammy.
December 19: Mason Ale Works Nice, WC IPA w/Pine Needles
IPA
7% ABV
~ IBU
$6
Mason Ale Works invented a beer that actually tastes like your Christmas tree. This brew has dominant spruce and pine flavor but stays true to all things IPA at the same time. The only thing better than the smell of a fresh-cut pine tree is the taste of one.
December 20: To Øl, Mr. Brown Imperial Stout
10% ABV
96 IBU
$8
Described as a “mouthful of goodies”, this one promises a lot of alcohol while also hitting on a diverse array of sweets. Vanilla, hazelnut, salted caramel, and coffee just to name a few. Try it yourself to see which of your favorite desserts you can pick out.
December 21: Off Color, Dino S’mores Russian Imperial Stout
10.5% ABV
40 IBU
$7
Named after literal dinosaur-shaped s’mores, this beer is dark, high in alcohol, and offers all the toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker flavor you would expect from a beer named, “Dino S’mores Russian Imperial Stout”… without the dino flavor, thank goodness.
December 22: Mason Ale Works, Naughty Peppermint Porter
Milk Porter
7% ABV
~ IBU
$6
The darker of the Mason Ale Works duo (see December 19’s “Nice w/ Pine Needles”), Naughty Peppermint Porter is described as “liquid Christmas” for good reason. This bad boy is full of pepperminty freshness but balanced out by a hint of chocolate and an earthy undertone. We wouldn’t be surprised if this beer was intended to be sipped underneath a sprig of mistletoe.
December 23: Samuel Smith’s, Winter Welcome Ale Winter Ale
6% ABV
~ IBU
$7
This ale pours honey-amber and offers an undertone of “Christmas spice”. Notes of caramel, toffee, and toasted malt make this the perfect companion to a wintery day (or night), especially on the eve of Christmas Eve.
December 24: Prairie Artisan Ales, Christmas Bomb Imperial Stout
13% ABV
65 IBU
$9
You might picture Santa sipping on this one beside the fire as he checks his list just one last time before heading out for the big event. Cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg are certain to warm you from the inside out, a touch of coffee is there too- just in case you need a boost to get you through a very, very long night of work.
There you have it! Twelve days of featured, incredible, Christmassy beers just to make the season even more special than it already is. Join us at Tacos & Beer to try a beer a day or a few at a time, though we don’t recommend all twelve at once.
From all of us at Tacos & Beer, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!