The holidays are in full swing, which means a plethora of winter-themed beers. And this holiday season you’re probably going to need a few of the following brews to keep yourself sane.
MadTree recently released Pilgrim, a seasonal pale ale brewed with cranberries, walnuts and vanilla beans. It’s not yet in cans but can be purchased on draft at MadTree’s taproom. The brewery’s winter warmer Thundersnow is also back for a limited time.
Nanobrewery Mash Cult has been hard at work developing a few new beers. Brewers collaborated with Party Source’s Quaff Bros. to create Blood of the Bear, a pinot noir barrel-aged stout brewed with cherries. And soon Mash Cult will release a holiday porter called Elf on a Shelfie, brewed with local honey, toasted cocoa nibs, orange peels and cinnamon sticks. Their brews can be found on draft at Florence’s PartyTown and Covington’s Crafts & Vines.
Continuing the trend of barrel-aged and spiced beers, on Black Friday Triple Digit released Belsnickel, a 12.5 percent ABV brew named after a creepy Christmas-gift-bringer who hits naughty kids with a stick. It was brewed with chocolate, nutmeg, allspice and ginger and stored in brandy and bourbon barrels. It’s only available in bottles at the taproom.
New Beers
- Rhinegeist collaborated with Indiana’s Sun King Brewing Company on a scotch ale called Emergency Malt Kit. Visit Rhinegeist’s taproom to buy it in cans and on draft.
- Columbia Tusculum’s Streetside Brewery has only been open for a couple of months, but they’ve been releasing new and interesting beers, including a Stranger Things-themed brew called 011(EL), a pale ale featuring Belma hops with notes of stone fruit (no Eggos were used). Last week the brewery also released Café Con Leche, a stout made with Sumatran coffee beans and milk sugar.
- Rivertown has released a new beer in their sour series: Ville De Rivere Geuze. It’s a blend of two different lambics and is described as a, “musty, vinous sour ale.” It’s available at their Barrel House in hand-labeled bottles and on draft.
Events
- Bring your pooch to Listermann Brewing Company from 6-10 p.m. on Dec. 2 so you and your dog can get a snapshot with Saint Nick. The event will be sponsored by Cincinnati Pit Crew, a nonprofit that advocates for unwanted and stigmatized dogs like pit bulls and other bully breeds.
- On Dec. 3, Rhinegeist hosts the second-annual Dad Day to celebrate fathers and the brewery’s holiday ale, Dad. People are encouraged to bring their dads and dress in plaid.
- On Dec. 3, Braxton hosts the second-annual Winter Block Party. The event features the release of Dark Charge, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for an entire year. Besides Braxton beers, the event will feature guest taps of high-ABV beers, including an 18-percent Rumpkin from Avery Brewing, and live music. And then on Dec. 10, Braxton hosts Tacky for a Cause, a charitable shindig in which attendees wear ugly holiday sweaters and drink beer. A portion of the evening’s sales will benefit Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital.
- Taft’s Ale House commemorates Repeal Day with a Sunday Soirée on Dec. 4. To honor the 83rd anniversary of the end of Prohibition, Taft’s brewed a Prohibition-style lager. The party will also feature speakeasy cocktails made with Columbus’ Watershed Distillery spirits, 1920s music, light bites and costumes.
- Crafts & Vines in MainStrasse will host a growler painting party on Dec. 6. For $25 you get an empty 64-ounce growler, painting supplies, appetizers and a filled pint of beer or glass of wine. Space is limited.
- Urban Artifact is finally getting into the canned-beer game. On Dec. 9 the brewery releases Finn, a Berliner pale ale, and Sliderule, a limited-offering chocolate raspberry gose. Cans will be on sale at the taproom.
- Rivertown hosts a Santa photo day from noon-2 p.m. on Dec. 11. You must bring your own camera, though, and this isn’t for dogs (human children are fine). Rivertown will have their beers and barbecue on hand.
This article appears in Nov 23-30, 2016.
