As the holiday season approaches, several craft breweries in British Columbia have brewed up something special.
Some create holiday-themed beers that are often a little darker and stronger, making them well suited for the colder, darker days of winter. Another popular option is a gift pack combining special beers with other items that will please any beer lover who finds them under their Christmas tree.
Here are some suggestions for holiday-themed beers that can be found on the BC Ale Trail:
Bridge Brewing prepared a special trio of Christmas-themed beers in time for the holiday season:
- Grinch Winter Ale (6.5% ABV | 26 IBU)
A tasty Christmas-style beer with vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon and clove. - Santa’s Sac (10% ABV | 30 IBU)
A big and bold Belgian Golden Ale with notes of fruit, spice and pepper. - Sleigh Booster (9% ABV | 71 IBU)
An Imperial Red Ale with a big dose of hops to round out the malt character.
Found on Vancouver’s North Shore Ale Trail.
From Backroads Brewing in Nelson come two special barrel-aged beers:
- Ambree (6.8% ABV | 20 IBU)
A Biere de Garde aged in Okanagan Valley Pinot Noir barrels with a tart, red-wine finish. - Jolene (8.9% ABV | 32 IBU)
A bourbon barrel-aged smoked baltic porter: big and malty with smoke and bourbon notes.
Also in Nelson, Torchlight Brewing presents:
- Oh Baby It’s Cold Outside Winter Ale (6.5% ABV | 20 IBU)
A rich and dark ale, spiced with coriander, cardamom, cocoa and vanilla. When you’re chilled to the bone this winter warmer ale will bring the feeling back.
Backroads Brewing and Torchlight Brewing can be found on the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail.
Staying in the Kootenays, Mt. Begbie Brewing (Revelstoke) offers up:
- Stoked Winter Ale (6% ABV | 20 IBU).
This easy drinking winter ale is brewed with rich malts and subtle spices: cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and cocoa.
Found on the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail.
Two breweries in the Fraser Valley have special beers out for the holiday season.
- “Sessionable” Russian Imperial Stout by Trading Post Brewing (Langley) (8.5% ABV | 40 IBU)
Brewed in collaboration with Full Barrel Brewing, the local Homebrew club, this “Sessionable” Imperial Stout produces big flavours while offering a low ABV for the style. The aroma of brown sugar and dried fruit combined with bourbon and oak create levels of complexity that delight the senses.
- Winter Beeracle Winter Ale by Dead Frog Brewery (Langley) (7% ABV | 24 IBU)
This winter warmer is a celebration of all the good things winter brings: complex beers, warm fires, close family, and good friends. It features flavours of dark chocolate, hazelnut and orange.
Trading Post Brewing and Dead Frog Brewery can be found on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail.
North of the Fraser River in Maple Ridge, Silver Valley Brewing has two holiday-themed beers:
- Frozen Pond English Strong Ale (7.5% ABV | 40 IBU) Rich and malty with hints of caramel, toffee, dark fruit, and treacle.
- Don’t Shoot Me Santa Chai Milk Stout (5% ABV | 25 IBU) Smooth and spicy – pairs well with brownies and ice cream!
We will be adding Maple Ridge to the BC Ale Trail in 2019.
Over on Brewers Row in Port Moody, Moody Ales had put together a gift pack featuring its Lusty Chocolate Oatmeal Stout (5.6% ABV | 23 IBU) and a branded glass that is available at select government and private liquor stores.
Found on the Port Moody Ale Trail.
From Steel & Oak Brewing in New Westminster is Nightcap (6.1% ABV | 18 IBU). Brewed with orange peel, pilsner malt, wheat, and rye, Nightcap was then conditioned on cranberries to create a beer made for sipping front of the fire. Fermented with Belgian yeast, it finishes with a touch of spice and a subtle tartness.
Found on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond Ale Trail.
Two special seasonal beers by Parallel 49 Brewing (Vancouver) that are ideal for cellaring:
- Russian Imperial Stout (10.5% ABV) This whiskey-barrel aged Imperial Stout is warm, full-bodied and fit for a Czar.
- Barley Wine (11.8% ABV) A showcase of malty richness and complex, intense aromas.
Found on the Vancouver Ale Trail.
Over on Vancouver Island, Mount Arrowsmith Brewing in Parksville has brewed up a very special beer just in time for the holiday season:
- Brix & Plato (7.2% ABV | 20 IBU)
This rich, dark amber Belgian Dubbel is brewed with additions of organic cocoa nibs and orange peels, then finally aged with Shiraz-steeped oak staves, resulting in a festive, complex beer.
Found on the Vancouver Island Ale Trail.
Vancouver Island Brewing in Victoria has two special beers out for the holidays this year:
- Champagne Powder Belgian Brut IPA (6.2% ABV | 23 IBU)
A celebration in every sip. Floral, fruity, spicy, and bone dry. - Barrel-Aged Hermannator Ice Bock (9.5% ABV | 25 IBU)
Smooth and malty with vanilla and oak – call it the Bourbonator!
Found on the Victoria Ale Trail.
A few breweries have also put together special gift packs that are ideal for beer lovers.
The 5th annual release of the advent calendar-style Alpine Adventure Pack from Red Racer (Central City Brewers & Distillers – Surrey) and Parallel 49 Brewing (Vancouver) features two dozen special beers from two of the Lower Mainland’s best breweries — one a day from December 1-24. Don’t peek!
Found on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond Ale Trail and the Vancouver Ale Trail.
Sure to be a popular item is the Ultimate Stocking Stuffer gift pack from Steel & Oak Brewing in New Westminster. This gift pack includes a toque, two dinosaur glasses, and a gift card.
Found on the New West, Delta, Surrey & Richmond Ale Trail.
And last but certainly not least is this special beer crate from LoveShack Libations in Qualicum Beach — the 12 Beers of Christmas features a dozen different LoveShack brews including two specially brewed for the holiday season:
- Vanilla Bourbon Stout (7.2% ABV)
- Winter Wonder Ale (6.2% ABV).
LoveShack is also auctioning off a holiday gift basket for charity. This includes 12 different beers, glassware, hat, shirt, food truck gift certificate and a private tasting for eight people with food pairing. Talk about the ultimate Christmas present!
Found on the Vancouver Island Ale Trail.
Take our Holiday Beers poll.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, from all of us at the BC Ale Trail.
