Every season brings new brews and exciting beers to try--sometimes you even find yourself anxious to get to the next quarter of the year just to get your hands on a few of these rotating seasonals. This winter, these are the beers you should be on the lookout for--at least, I will be!

Abita Christmas Ale

A dark ale with each year recipe changes 6% ABV. 

Each year at the Abita Brewery, we craft a special dark ale for the holiday season. The recipe changes each year so that Abita Christmas Ale is always the perfect gift. Its spicy character is excellent with traditional holiday foods such as gingerbread or spiced nuts. Try some blue cheese or a creamy Camembert with a Christmas Ale. - Brewery Notes

Blue Point Winter Ale

Robust amber 5.5% ABV.

Blue Point Brewing's Winter Ale is a hearty and robust amber ale. Brewed to chase away the chill of a cool winter night. Made with Pale, Vienna, crystal and chocolate malt. This uncommon amber is only brewed during the cold months of the year. Winter Ale is an extremely popular seasonal specialty. Enjoy the tasty balance of malt and hops. Remember this special ale leaves with winter. - Brewery Notes 

Breckenridge Christmas Ale

American-style strong ale, 7.4% ABV.

The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and strength. Here it is. Breck Brew's Christmas Ale. At over 7% alcohol, with a sturdy texture and rich flavors of caramel and chocolate, our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire. The ultimate winter warmer. - Brewery Notes 

Brooklyn Winter Ale

Scottish ale, 6% ABV.

When the days grow short and the beach recedes into our dreams, we need a very nice beer to get us through the long winter. Based on the satisfying malty ales of blustery Scotland, Brooklyn Winter Ale will have you looking on the bright side of things. Rich Scottish malts bring deep bready flavors to a beer with a full copper colour, a round, smooth palate, and brisk hopping that pulls the sweet malts into balance. See--things are looking up already. - Brewery Notes

Cisco Winter Shredder

Spiced winter ale, 8.8% ABV.

Gnar-Gnar Lumpkin, the shreddingist snowman this side of Nantucket Sound, likes nothing better than catching a wave on his board...a Cisco wave that is, cold, fresh and wicked cool! Get mad shacked with the Shredder and have yourself a merry little winter. Shredder is a winter ale brewed with natural spices. - Brewery Notes

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

IPA, 6.8% ABV. 

The long, cold nights of winter are a little brighter with Celebration Ale. Wonderfully robust and rich, Celebration Ale is dry-hopped for a lively, intense aroma. Brewed especially for the holidays, it is perfect for a festive gathering or for a quiet evening at home. - Brewery Notes

Southern Tier 2XMas Ale

Double spiced ale, 8% ABV. 

Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a glogg party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition. 2XMas Ale combines traditional breweing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. It's a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast the season, but unlike glogg, we recommend serving this one chilled. - Brewery Notes

Southern Tier Krampus

Imperial helles, 9% ABV. 

St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil sidekick and enforcer of the list. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. - Brewery Notes

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Belgium strong dark ale, 10% ABV. 

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is the youngest descendant in the illustrious family of delicious abbey ales by Brewery St. Bernardus. This specialty beer of 10% ABV is characterized by its deep dark color, with a creamy, thick head and a full, almost velvety taste with a fruity nose. It's a seasonal ale, brewed annually for the holiday season. The long winter nights are perfect moments to savor this ale with or without friends and to enjoy its unique, complex taste and aftertaste. - Tasting Notes

Victory Winter Cheers Wheat Ale

Wheat ale, 6.7% ABV. 

Light in body with a soothing texture, Winter Cheers is a stark contrast from the pungent punch of DirtWolf. A wheat ale, combining German wheat and barley malts, oats, torrified wheat and whole flower Tettnang and Citra hops, this fruity and warming holiday brew delivers a refreshing finish, with spicy hints of banana, clove and citrus. At 6.7% ABV, this beer will fuel festive times and chase winter’s chill. - Brewery Notes

What are you excited for this season? Let me know on Twitter @abcbeerbretth!

Cheers!

Brett Hallenbeck, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits beer consultant - Cape Coral