For the First beer of Chirstmas...

Ahhhh yes! It's that time of year again folks, time for craft breweries across the country to release their beloved Winter Seasonal beers!! I am so excited about this years selections that I am literally beaming with joy!!

I think part of the reason I get so excited about the release of winter seasonal beers is that one of the first craft beers that I remember really enjoying (and looking forward to year after year) was Great Lakes' Christmas Ale. Great Lakes is a fantastic brewing company located n Cleveland, Ohio (about 60 miles away from my Alma Mater). Although they produce many terrific year-round styles, it was their Christmas Ale that for some reason really struck a cord with me. I distinctly remember trying the beer for the first time and being blown away by how strange (and good) it tasted. It had all sorts of flavors that at the time I didn't think beers were allowed to have. It was completely unlike any of the other beers I had drank. The most intriguing thing though, was realizing how accurately, and completely Great Lakes' Christmas Ale tasted like, well, Christmas.

My young and undeveloped palate simply could not explain why sipping the strange brew instantly filled me with warm memories of bright Christmas mornings, white snow, and laughter (I mean, it's not like my mother had been putting the stuff in my juice cup throughout my childhood (at least, not that I knew of)).

Nevertheless, I liked the sensation, the flavor, and the fact that the beer was produced locally so I didn't question it too persistently (The beer also had another quality going for it--from a college student's point of view at least--and that was very high alcohol content). The alcohol level also probably played a significant part in my decision to never ponder the 'Christmas taste sensation' too long.

To celebrate the '09-10 winter seasonal beers, over the next four weeks I'll be publishing 'The 12 Brews of Christmas!' Although it won't be a comprehensive list of all the best winter warmers--Great Lakes doesn't send any Christmas Ale to Arizona--it will be a fun way to showcase the breadth and diversity of a style that I look forward to year-round. Hopefully my 12 Brews of Christmas will provide good insight and suggestions for everyone from 'seasoned' seasonal beer veterans, to curious college students trying to grasp why a beer would spontaneously remind them of the early 1990's.

Check back every couple of days as I'll be updating the 12 brews of Christmas with a new seasonal beer every 2-3 days!

-Prost!
D.Lux