With the holiday season here, we’re craving all the seasonal flavors! But in addition to filling a plate with all the holiday goodness, Virginia’s many breweries are looking to fill your glass with seasonal tastes like gingerbread, pumpkin, apples, and holiday spice. Get into the holiday spirit this year with a few of these festive craft beers!
PUMPKIN, SWEET POTATO, & SQUASH BEERS
Alewerks Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale—This nostalgically-spiced amber ale features a combination of freshly roasted ingredients and spices that will have you swear the brewery put pumpkin pie in a bottle.
Alewerks Brewing Company Pumpkin Latte—Their world-famous Pumpkin Ale brewed with locally roasted coffee. It’s an homage to the ubiquitous Pumpkin Spiced Latte that would make your local barista jealous.
Photo Credit: Consociate Media
Alewerks Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Imperial Pumpkin—A high test version of Pumpkin Ale, aged in bourbon barrels for months. Pumpkin spice and vanilla greet the nose first, quickly followed by the mild scent of whiskey. A big pumpkin pie body coats the palate. Smooth oak, bourbon, sugar and spice play on the tongue while a mild bourbon-heat warms the body for an experience worth savoring.
Alewerks Brewing Company Rum Barrel Imperial Pumpkin—Rum Barrel Imperial Pumpkin combines the pumpkiny goodness with toasted sugars and molasses that are brought to the forefront. The rum barrels lend a mild oak nuance and intertwine rum complexities with the spice profile of the pumpkin beer for the ultimate fall indulgence.
Alewerks Brewing Company Rye Whiskey Barrel Imperial Pumpkin—Charred oak barrels give Rye Whiskey Imperial Pumpkin a smooth vanilla-oak beginning but then end with an earthy zestiness that fits right at home with the season.
Ardent Craft Ales Sweet Potato & Sage Saison—Sweet Potato & Sage is a dry, farmhouse-style saison. Earthy notes from the sweet potatoes are balanced by the fragrant aroma of fresh, local sage. This fall seasonal features a continental malt backbone and subtle hop presence in a well-rounded beer.
Photo Credit: Ryan Kelly
Blind Dog Brewery Jackal Wagon Imperial Pumpkin Ale—With over ten pounds of oven roasted pumpkins per barrel, loads of rich brown sugar, and a proprietary pumpkin spice blend, this is one pumpkin ale you won’t forget.
Caboose Brewing Pumped Pumpkin Cream Ale (SOLD OUT)—The first release in the brewery’s FOR LOVERS series, meant to support local farms and businesses. 100% of the ingredients are locally sourced! This is a lightly spiced cream ale that showcases the flavors of fall.
Cedar Run Brewery Pick Me! Pumpkin Ale—Amber-Orange in hue. Spicy aroma of exotic pumpkin pie spice and citrus. Light pumpkin and cinnamon sweet flavor accompanied by a silky
mouth feel and dry finish. Brewed in the French Biere De Garde style, this farmhouse ale is a great accompaniment for Autumn.
Photo Credit: Matt Ryan
Damascus Brewery Punkin’ Stout—A lightly pumpkin spiced take on our classic smooth and creamy Irish Stout.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Pumpkin Vienna Lager—Everyone has that friend who loves all-pumpkin-everything in the fall – or maybe you are that friend? The best part about this beer is you don’t have to know a lick about baking to enjoy its pumpkin pie flavor.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Farmhouse Pumpkin—Wallonian-style farmhouse ale brewers with a classic saison yeast, Virginia-grown sugar pumpkins from Grandma’s Pumpkins (Midlothian), whole nutmeg, clove and allspice from C.F. Sauer (Richmond), and fresh ginger root from Casselmonte Farms (Powhatan). This farmhouse ale presents a soft mouthfeel with balanced, rustic fall flavors.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Rum Barrel Pumpkin—Rum Barrel-aged Belgian-style farmhouse pumpkin ale combines the nostalgic flavors and aromas of autumn with a soul warming, blackstrap molasses laced finish that can only be achieved through months of maturation in Caribbean dark rum barrels. Pleasantly mellow up front, Hardywood Rum Barrel Pumpkin offers a crescendo of pumpkin pie spices that are emboldened by the barrel aging process, and finishes with subtly sweet, lingering notes of brown sugar.
Highmark Brewery Pumpkin Gingerbread Brown Ale—Local heirloom pumpkins, with a complementary gingerbread spice builds our american brown ale to bring us into the fall season.
Old Bust Head Brewing Company Pumpkin Spice Imperial Stout—An extra special release for the fall season, Pumpkin Spice Imperial Stout is a rich stout filled with complex dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavor. We blended pumpkin pie extract into this brew for hints of cinnamon, nutmeg & graham cracker to complement the subtle notes of dark-berry sweetness akin to fine espresso.
Photo Credit: Cara O’Neal
Redbeard Brewing Company Barrel Aged Sweet Potato Pie Porter—Brewed with the filling from close to 40 sweet potato pies per batch, a dark brown Porter, sweet, yammy, with the heady aroma of pie spice. Aged for six months in select A. Smith Bowman bourbon barrels.
Photo Credit: Virginia Robinette
Stable Craft Brewing Company FUmpkin Ale—Amber Pumpkin Ale made with hundreds of pounds of pumpkin conditioned on a seasonal blend of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg.
Strangeways Brewing Gourd of Thunder—Imperial Porter with roasted pumpkins, cinnamon, and ginger.
The Virginia Beer Company Pumpkin Patches—Oatmeal Stout brewed with a house blend of spices and roasted sugar pumpkins roasted by neighboring restaurant Old City Barbecue. Smooth and creamy with warming hints of pumpkin pie, this seasonal take on our flagship Elbow Patches Oatmeal Stout is bound to make you nostalgic for Halloween haunts, and sure to remind your palate of the joys that the darker spectrum of brewing can unleash.
Photo Credit: Robby Willey
Tin Cannon Brewing Company Punk’Tin Amber Ale—Pumpkin beer brewed with five pounds of pumpkin per barrel, this malty, amber ale is all pumpkin and spice – a traditional TCBC fall treat. Punk’Tin was carefully spiced for flavor and aroma with just enough hops added for balance.
Tin Cannon Brewing Company Brutal Punk’Tin Ale—Barrel-aged Pumpkin beer. Our annual fall seasonal aged in a Brutality Dark Whiskey barrel from MurLarkey Distilled Spirits. This is a malty, amber ale with pumpkin, spice and a smooth whiskey/oak aroma and flavor.
Wharf Hill Brewing Company Pumpkin Brown—Our Holy Brale Brown Ale with a little specialty spice and pumpkin.
GINGERBREAD BEERS
Blind Dog Brewery Gingerbread Hard Seltzer—Step out of the ordinary with this alternative holiday beverage. Notes of spicy ginger, rich molasses, and complex honey will have you in the holiday spirit in no time!
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Gingerbread Stout—Imperial Milk Stout made with baby ginger from Casselmonte Farm and wildflower honey from Bearer Farms. Captures the terroir of Central Virginia in a rich, creamy libation with a velvety mouthfeel and an intriguing evolution of notes from milk chocolate and vanilla, to honeycomb and cinnamon, to a snap of ginger in the finish.
Photo Credit: Erin Domagola
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Bourbon Barrel Gingerbread Stout—Gingerbread Stout Aged in a combination of A. Smith Bowman and Heaven Hills Bourbon Barrels.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Christmas Morning—Imperial Milk Stout with spices and coffee. Hardywood Christmas Morning lends a cheerfully heightened decadence to the Gingerbread Stout through deep conditioning on locally roasted Mexican Chiapas coffee beans. Hints of sweet honey and oven baked gingerbread greet the comforting nuances of freshly brewed morning coffee in this imperial milk stout.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Kentucky Christmas Morning—The original Gingerbread Stout takes an initial transformation through months of aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels, reaching new levels of maturity with layers of vanilla, coconut, and toasted oak. Before bottling, the barrel aged stout is cold filtered through heaps of freshly cracked locally roasted coffee beans, showcasing the nostalgic joys of Christmas Morning.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Christmas Pancakes—Gingerbread Stout infused with locally sourced maple syrup.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Christmas Island—Gingerbread Stout with toasted coconut; aged 15 months in Caribbean Rum barrels. Brewery Release Only!
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Gingerbread Porter—Imperial Porter with local white ginger and local wildflower honey; lactose free.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Fluffy Gingerbread Stout—Gingerbread stout with toasted marshmallows.
James River Brewery Gingerbread Brown—Gingerbread Brown Ale that starts with notes of ginger, molasses, and cinnamon. After your first sip, you fall for a well-balanced brown with a sweet start and a mild finish.
Strangeways Brewing Gingerbread Gourd of Thunder—Imperial Porter with roasted pumpkins, cinnamon, ginger, molasses, and clove.
Tin Cannon Brewing Company Ginger Snap Amber Ale—Winter holiday ale. We combine pale and caramel malts with ginger, molasses and spices that remind us of Christmas at home. The spice is immediate in the nose, but not overpowering and the hop character is low, making this a delicious holiday treat.
Wharf Hill Brewing Company WHBC Gingerbread Stout—American Stout made with fresh ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon.
HOLIDAY SPICED & COCOA BEERS
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company Siberian Exile Imperial Stout—Black roasted coffee flavor with a creamy mouthfeel. This Russian Imperial Stout is thick and warm on a cold winter day.
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company Buxom Barrel-Aged Imperial Blonde Ale—Imperial Blonde Ale aged in Chardonnay wine barrels.
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company Siberian Surrender Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout—Smooth dark roast and deep ruby malt sweetness aged for nearly a year in A. Smith Bowman Distillery bourbon barrels.
Adventure Brewing Company Snowshoe Spiced Winter Ale—A lightly spiced winter ale with orange peel, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger.
Alewerks Brewing Company Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Christmas Ale—Savor the influence of cinnamon, clove, ginger, vanilla beans, sweet orange peel, allspice, and nutmeg in this spiced ale.
Alewerks Brewing Company Barrel-Aged Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Christmas Ale—The brewery took all of the Christmas deliciousness and aged it in bourbon barrels to create a rich and memorable holiday treat.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Joulu Baltic Porter—Meaning Christmas in Finnish, Joulu is a traditional Baltic Porter.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Holiday Treats Stout—Stout aged on Tarnished Truth Distillery Co. bourbon barrels, brewed with matcha, cacao nibs, vanilla, and caramel.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Bonfire Stout—Stout aged on Tarnished Truth Distillery Co. bourbon barrels, brewed with toasted marshmallows, toasted pecans, cacao nibs, and vanilla.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Ski Lift Nitro Imperial Milk Porter—Nitro imperial milk porter brewed with peach, cacao nibs, coconut, and rum oak.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company White Christmas Schwarzbier—Traditional Schwarzbier perfect for a cold winter night.
Ballad Brewing Snickerdoodle Doppelbock—Bold malt flavors from their classic Doppelbock Lager complement the cinnamon and vanilla for a delicious snickerdoodle cookie treat just like Grandma used to make!
Ballad Brewing Lebkuchen Doppelbock—Bold malt flavors from their classic Doppelbock Lager complement a mix of traditional German holiday cookie spices for a treat just like Oma used to make!
Photo Credit: Austin Bunn
Beale’s Brewery Barrel Aged Brunch Stout—Maple coffee oatmeal stout aged in Old Forester bourbon barrels; release date scheduled for November 27.
Big Lick Brewing Company Nippy L’il Bugger—Winter Warmer with oats, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. Aged in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. Tastes like a cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookie!
Bold Mariner Brewing Company Raised By Elves—A sour beer inspired by the classic Puerto Rican holiday drink Coquito, Raised By Elves has flaked coconut, coconut milk, vanilla bean, cinnamon, and milk sugar. Only on draft at the brewery for a limited time.
Caboose Brewing Vanilla Bean Hobo Imperial Stout—Imperial stout, chocolate caramel notes, vanilla bean infused, full bodied and smooth. Coming soon; check the brewery website for release date.
Caboose Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged Maibock—The brewery’s To Helles and Bock beer is aged in second-use bourbon barrels. Notes of oak, vanilla, and toasted coconut with a malty backbone.
Cedar Run Brewery Ragnar’s Recipe—Nordic farmhouse ale with an orange/amber hue. Citrus and spice on the nose, this Sahti-inspired Nordic Farmhouse Ale is brewed with a special Norwegian Kviek yeast strain and has a zesty citrus zip in it’s spicy herbal flavor. Light and refreshing juniper berry and rye undertones, pine and spruce earthiness in the finish. This beer was brewed with farm and forest foraged white pine, spruce, yarrow and mushrooms. Perfect for relaxing fireside or with your favorite holiday meals. Inspired by the family farm ales brewed in the Nordic region of Europe for hundreds of years.
Photo Credit: Matt Ryan
Center of the Universe Brewing Company The Jesus—Mexican Hot Chocolate Imperial Stout. Flavors of cayenne peppers, cinnamon, and a dash of vanilla blend to create a divine Mexican hot chocolate libation. Will be released on November 28th.
Center of the Universe Brewing Company SHUT UP!—Imperial Belgian Stout aged in bourbon barrels. Will be released on November 27th.
Commonwealth Brewing Company Draper—Bourbon Barrel Aged winter old-fashioned Gose made with tangerines, vanilla, cardamon, cinnamon, and anise.
Creek Bottom Brewing Mistress Claus 2020—Every year the brewery releases a slightly different version of the “Mistress Claus”. This year, the jolly imperial chocolate stout is sure to get you in the holiday spirit!
Creek Bottom Brewing Cluster Truck—A seasonal twist on one of the brewery flagships, the Trucker’s Route Stout. This time, brewed with cluster hops, they added a toasty malt flavoring in with a hint of cocoa for the season and named it “Cluster Truck”. Mostly because 2020 has been, well, a cluster.
Damascus Brewery Oktoberfest—Not the typical marzen lager style, this beer is closer to a brown ale but has been given a careful selection of spices to bring out the best of fall flavors.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Coffee Vienna Lager—This Vienna Lager infused with natural, locally sourced roasted coffee is the tastiest way to wake up your taste buds and put some pep in your step. It’s kinda like the coffeehouse experience in a bottle, but there’s no hipster barista when you order this brew.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Doppel Vienna Lager—Doppel the Vienna, doppel the fun. This brew kicks up the ABV and flavor intensity of the original Vienna Lager – what’s not to love about that?
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Pomander Winter Spiced Ale—Festive holiday spiced ale.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Plaid Tidings Imperial Brown Ale—Brown ale that is rich, malty, and warming.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company Rum Cake Imperial Porter—Imperial Porter with notes of rum, vanilla, and molasses.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company All Night Wrapping Imperial Coffee Black Lager—Black lager with notes of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla.
Dragon Run Brewing Snickerdoodle Brown Ale—The crowd-favorite Beanfield Brown is turned into a Christmas-time favorite! This English Brown has a slightly nutty taste, with well-balanced malt sweetness. Additional spices are added to create the sensation of that favorite Christmas cookie in your beer. Be sure to try it on the Nitro tap as well if you visit the brewery!
Final Gravity Brewing Company Pablo’s Stash Stout—House Stout infused with chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and habanero peppers.
Final Gravity Brewing Company Charlie-In-The-Box—House Stout with Swiss chocolate, almonds and coffee.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Bourbon Baltic Sunrise—Robust Baltic Porter with an invigorating aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Full-bodied and rich, this Baltic Porter is nuanced with hints of dark cherry that meld beautifully with a rounded chocolate malt backbone. Months of maturation in bourbon barrels lend a comforting warmth that is followed by toasted oak and a balanced touch of vanilla for a smooth finish.
Intermission Beer Company All Hallows Ale—A malt forward amber harvest ale with pure dark maple and warming cinnamon. Gluten Reduced.
Intermission Beer Company Winter Warmer—Intermission’s version of a spiced holiday ale. Inspired by their friend Kate’s Ginger Molasses Cookie, featuring vanilla, clove, and ginger. Gluten Reduced.
James River Brewery Tiramisu Stout—English-style sweet stout with low bitterness and a slight vanilla note with a sweet coffee finish. Although dark in color, the roasted malts add to its dry, drinkable nature.
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery Carrot Cake—Carrot Cake Imperial Amber Ale is made with hundreds of pounds of freshly grated carrots. Spice notes of cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, clove, and vanilla complement the fresh carrot flavor. Five specialty malts, American grown hops, and their house American Ale Yeast meld with the carrot cake flavor we all know and love.
Photo Credit: Charles A. Stephens Jr.
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery Virginia Black Bear—Russian Imperial Stout that is a two-time Gold Medal Winner at the Virginia Craft Brewers Cup. Bold and aggressive best describes this assertive ale. Ten specialty grains comprise the backbone of the beer, and high alpha American hops give the beer her teeth. Notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee abound. Used as the base beer for the Enlightened Despot, the Virginia Black Bear has escaped to wander where she wants.
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery Vanilla Black Bear—A Russian Imperial Stout with Vanilla Beans, the Vanilla Virginia Black Bear is the yang to Black Bear’s yin. Ten specialty grains comprise the backbone of the beer, and high alpha American hops give the bear his teeth. Notes of dark chocolate and coffee abound, and fresh vanilla rounds out the flavor. Used as the base beer for Illuminatos, Vanilla Virginia Black Bear has casually drifted wherever he wants…And watch out, he hugs.
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery Twelfth Night—The twelfth night of the twelve days of Christmas is the official end of the winter holiday season and in Colonial Virginia, many great raucous balls were held on this night. Twelfth Night Spiced Belgian Style Quad evokes the season with tasting notes of raisin, plum, prune & currants beautifully combined with the added spices of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, whole cloves, cardamom, star anise, and orange peel. Authentic Belgian Candi Sugar contributes to the depth and lightens the body of the unique, winter-inspired ale.
Lost Rhino Brewing Company Winter Warrior:Winter Warmer—This beer is fermented with a blend of Belgian yeasts. The flavor profile is complex and malt-forward with subtle spice notes including cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
Maker’s Craft Brewery & Wasserhund Brewing Company Beaglejuice—Pale Ale Collaboration made with Spruce and Pine tips.
Maker’s Craft Brewery Black Friday Bourbon Barrel Stout—This year’s bourbon-barrel stout will be released on November 27th.
New Realm Brewing Company Barbados Rum Barrel-Aged Oaxaca Choca Imperial Mexican Chocolate Stout—New Realm Brewing kicks off their 2020-21 Wooded Reserve Series with a barrel-aged version of fan-favorite Oaxaca Choca. The base-beer, an Imperial Stout reminiscent of Mexican-style hot chocolate, is loaded with cinnamon, vanilla, chili peppers and locally roasted cacao nibs. The standard version was just released in October for its third year – and this year New Realm wanted to do something extra special. Available starting November 10th.
New Realm Brewing Company Third Wind Tripel—This strong, Belgian-Style Tripel Ale honors both its rich, 200-year-old traditional roots and its modernity. Dry-hopped with Lemondrop Hops & citrus peel, this strong golden ale will transport you beyond yourself. Available starting November 17th.
New Realm Brewing Company Short Days Long Nights Mixed 12 Pack—Tis the season again of short days and long nights. Just as seasons rotate and bring you new surprises, so do we; within just the first two years, they have brewed over 200 unique beers. And since we’ve brewed around the block a few times, we thought we’d bring you something special to celebrate with during this cold season. For the latest release in the Variety Pack line, the brewery introduces their Winter Edition: Short Days, Long Nights. With this 12pk, you can pair your thirst with seasonal and classic flavors in four different refreshing ways. Expect classic IPA flavors plus two seasonal favorites: Tart’s Content and (a brand new favorite) and Quadruple Threat. Available starting November 24th.
New Realm Brewing Company Pastry Porter Horse—Saddle up for this rich, sweet Porter brewed with cacao nibs and toasted coconut. English chocolate and German pilsner malts provide an ent-”icing” chocolate profile while dark roasted Crystal malt adds light plum and raisin notes. Lactose sweetness jockey for position with Belgian candi syrup for added complexity. Available starting December 15th.
Old Bust Head Brewing Company Peppermint Caramel Macchiato Stout—A delicate aroma and flavor of peppermint combines with notes of dark chocolate from cocoa bean extract to cool the palate with a chocolate smooth body. Finishes with a hint of cold-brewed coffee.
Photo Credit: Cara O’Neal
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Party Dinosaur (Banana Nog Edition)—Sour Ale with banana, nutmeg, coconut, almond, vanilla, and lactose.
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Punch Yourself—Sour Ale with blood orange, pomegranate, cinnamon, rosemary, vanilla, and lactose.
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Das Yummy (Gingersnap Pear Crumble Style)—Sour Ale with pear, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and lactose.
Photo Credit: Rebekah Tinsley
Rocket Frog Brewing Company Small Business Stout—S’mores-inspired Milk Stout with chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker. Small Business Stout is a celebration of small, independent businesses and made in collaboration with numerous local retailers and restaurants in Northern Virginia. Release date of November 23.
Smartmouth Brewing Holiday Helper Red IPA—This ale boasts a crisp, sweet, spicy aroma and is sure to help get you through the holiday season. Its chocolate and caramel malts stand up to the spicy Centennial and rye flavors, making this beer dangerously clean and smooth. It finishes assertively as the high IBU’s become apparent.
Photo Credit: Chris Neikirk
Stable Craft Brewing Company Cavallo Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout—Cavallo is their American Stout aged in Rye Whiskey barrels from Catoctin Creek. An extremely complex beer with notes of vanilla, berries, and chocolates. In addition to the Imperial Stout, there are a Raspberry, Caramel Coffee, “Beesting” (a blend of Honey + Almond), and Saigon Cinnamon with Tahitian Vanilla.
Photo Credit: Nikki Nargi
Stone Brewing Xocoveza—Imperial Mocha Stout inspired by Oaxacan Hot Chocolate. Harmoniously balanced, Stone Xocoveza is brewed with all that’s good about the holiday season: chocolate, coffee, Pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cheer.
The Thin Brew Line Brewing Company Candy Cane Hard Seltzer—Hard seltzer with a peppermint twist that tastes just like a candy cane.
The Virginia Beer Company Evil Santa—Spiced Milk Stout. Evil Santa only comes ’round but once a year. And each year he brings a fleet of 16 oz. cans for all the good girls & boys to enjoy! With hearty additions of flaked oats + lactose, and dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, this warming stout is smooth with a hint of spice + everything nice on the finish. Sure to be enjoyed throughout this festive season…whether you’ve been naughty or nice!
Photo Credit: Robby Willey
The Virginia Beer Company Double Evil Santa—Since 2016, Evil Santa has been coming to town once a year to ring in the holiday season. In celebration of the annual return of this seasonal Spiced Milk Stout, we ask our jolly friend to stick around for multiple variant releases culminating in the return of DOUBLE EVIL SANTA on Black Friday. Double Evil Santa is an Imperial Spiced Milk Stout with a 11.3% ABV suited for the coldest of winter nights. A stronger version of our Evil Santa Spiced Milk Stout that has been aged in bourbon barrels for six months. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice are complemented by the caramel and vanilla notes that arise from extended barrel aging. Available in cans for the first time in 2020!
The Virginia Beer Company Vanilla Latte Evil Santa—Spiced Milk Stout with Vanilla Beans & Espresso. Even Evil Santa yearns to make the Nice List from time to time. Vanilla beans soften the spice of our smooth & creamy seasonal milk stout, and locally sourced coffee from our neighbors at Column 15 provide a pinch of perk. While this version of Evil Santa may not be spicy enough to kick you down the slide, it still has enough mischief mixed in to give Billy Bob a run for his money.
Wasserhund Brewing Company Häagen Dog Ice Cream Stout—Is it possible to make a beer taste like ice cream? The answer is YES! Häagen-Dog Ice Cream Stout tastes like vanilla and chocolate ice cream in a glass. Whether its your liquid dessert at the end of the meal, or just something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Häagen Dog Ice Cream Stout is a can’t miss specialty.
Wharf Hill Brewing Company Christmas Ale—A lightly spiced winter ale with cinnamon and ginger.
Photo Credit: Thomas Owen
Winchester Brew Works Big Schloss—Imperial Chocolate Stout with multiple variants released at the beginning of December.
Photo Credit: Bonnie Landy
Woodstock Brewhouse Krampus Holiday Celebration Ale—Spiced holiday ale made with fresh ginger and dried sweet orange peel. Pleasantly dark, medium-bodied beer with hints of caramel and a subtle heat from a generous amount of fresh ginger balanced with dried sweet orange peel. Available around December 1; check brewery Facebook for release updates.
HOLIDAY NUTS & BERRIES BEERS
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company Batten Down the Hatches Strong Scotch Ale—Complex and malty with rich dark cherry esters balanced with a touch of sweetness. This seasonal favorite is made for enjoying with friends on a cold winter’s day.
6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company Cranberry Orange Gose Fruited Sour Series—A tart, refreshing sour wheat ale with natural cranberry and orange.
Alewerks Brewing Company Cranberry Weekend Lager—Take the classic Weekend Lager recipe and add over 420 lbs of fresh cranberries. That’s how you create holiday magic. Bold, refreshing, with a touch of sweetness.
Ardent Craft Ales Spiced Cranberry Gose—Sour ale with cranberry, tangerine, and cinnamon. Will be releasing on November 24th.
Back Bay Brewing Company Nut Quacker Stout—Imperial stout brewed with almonds, cacao nibs, and vanilla.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Cranberry Blood Orange Cider—Tart and sweet, cranberry blood orange cider was created with cranberry, blood orange, and our special blend of Virginia apples. For an elevated experience, simply add champagne!
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Cherry Cordial Stout—Stout aged on cognac barrels brewed with Montmorency cherries.
Bingo Beer Co. Dottie’s Fruitcake Holiday barrel-aged Quad—13.2% Belgian Quad aged for 18 months in a combination of rye and rum casks with a little apple brandy cask in there for extra barrel complexity and then rested on dried currant, pineapple, apricot, and ginger for a big holiday fruitcake inspired ale.
Photo Credit: Jay Bayer
Commonwealth Brewing Company Clausmopolitan—Cranberry, raspberry, and tangerine Gose spiced with nutmeg cinnamon, and cardamom & lightly sweetened with milk sugar.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout—Bourbon Barrel-Aged Chocolate Raspberry Stout. Loads of chocolate malt, cacao nibs, and local, late season red raspberries from Agriberry Farm all contribute to what would best be described as a raspberry truffle in liquid form. After months of patient maturation in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, this Raspberry Stout is finished on Madagascar vanilla beans revealing a confluence of smooth, rich dark chocolate, ripe red raspberries, and real vanilla.
Maker’s Craft Brewery Oak Barrel-Aged Sour with Cherries—Sour beer brewed with cherries, aged in oak barrels.
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Don’t Be Weird (Thanksgiving Edition)—Sour Ale with black cherry, cranberry, apple, clementine, and lactose.
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Das Yummy (Mixed Fruit Almond Tart Style)—Sour Ale with blackberry, pear, lime, almond flour, pineapple, ginger, caramel, lactose, and vanilla.
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Honorable Order—Barrel-Aged Sour Ale conditioned on persimmons.
Stable Craft Brewing Company Cranberry Sour Ale—Kettle Sour Ale conditioned with cranberries, orange peel and raspberry for a holiday treat in a beer.
Photo Credit: Nikki Nargi
The Virginia Beer Company Hazelnut Truffle Evil Santa—Spiced Milk Stout with Hazelnuts & Cacao Nibs. The sweet, nutty, and chocolate flavors in this limited Spiced Milk Stout variant help to get the job done — Hazelnuts and Cacao Nibs blended together are perfectly suited to create a smooth and decadent winter warmer perfect to enjoy before settling in for a long winter’s nap.
Wharf Hill Brewing Company Winter IPA—Outage IPA with a cinnamon and fresh cranberry puree.
Winchester Brew Works #glamping Cranberry Orange Shandy—The brewery’s ale mixed with cranberry and orange juices and a touch of mulling spice for a festive favorite.
SPICED APPLE BEERS
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Pear Apple Cider—Co-fermented cider with our special blend of Virginia apples and pears.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Together Cider—Holiday cider created with our special blend of Virginia apples, pears, and cranberries.
Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Company Caramel Apple Stout—Double barrel rum bourbon stout aged on Tarnished Truth Distillery Co. barrels brewed with caramel, vanilla, and a touch of lactose.
Beale’s Brewery Spiced Apple Ale—Fermented with locally sourced apple cider, we added a hand-selected blend of seasonal spices to this English Ale. Smells like apple pie!
Photo Credit: Emily Sanfratella
Blind Dog Brewery Apple Pie Brown Ale—An apple pie version of our beloved Charlie’s Brown Ale. Hand blended spices and crackers malt flavors add op to an apple pie in a glass.
Caboose Brewing Trails End Tripel—Sweet and spicy Belgian-y goodness. Nostalgic spiced apple pie notes with a hint of banana.
Damascus Brewery Honey Apple Sour—An apple version of our award-winning Honey Mango Sour recipe, this is a great option for cider drinkers, sour lovers, and anyone looking for their new favorite beer!
Oozlefinch Craft Brewery Don’t Be Weird (Fruitcake Edition)—Sour Ale with apple, raisin, currant, cranberry, fig, candied red cherries, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, vanilla, and lactose.
Tucked Away Brewing Company, Manassas Holiday R&R—On deployment or even regular active duty, military members count the days until they are on R&R with their friends and family in familiar places. This apple pie ale is crafted to evoke memories of good times with good friends around the holidays. It has the cinnamon apple smell and taste of an apple pie, paired with the malty, grain character of pie crust. Try a pint and see what memories it brings back for you!