Snow is on the ground, a chill is in the air and as much as we'd all like to stay inside, it's officially holiday party season.
And whether your Christmas party calls for ugly sweaters (face it, it probably does) or just a night out, you should have some beer to suit the season.
Here's a round up of what Colorado breweries have to offer in stores and on tap. As always, check on availability before you make a trip to get some.
Christmas Ale, from Breckenridge Brewery
2920 Brewery Lane, Littleton
"The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and strength. Here it is. 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." 7.1% ABV.
Christmas Ale, from Upslope
1501 Lee Hill Road, N20, Boulder
1898 S. Flatiron Court, Boulder
"Holiday spices complement the dark fruit and spicy notes from Abbey Ale Yeast. The distinctive holiday aroma, ruby red color and rich malt flavor make this ale perfect for spreading Christmas cheer." 8.2% ABV.
Codename: Holiday Fan, from Odd 13 Brewing Inc.
301 E. Simpson St., Lafayette
"Codename: Holidayfan is an amped up version of Codename: Superfan. We dialed the ABV up to 10%, hopped at a rate of 6.5lbs/barrel, and tripled the Citra in the dry hop to create a super juicy hop bomb."
Cranberry Tart, from Dry Dock Brewing Co.
15120 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora
"Bubbly, slightly tart, and exceedingly delicious, this gorgeous ruby treat boasts a clean, bright cranberry flavor from the use of high-quality cranberry puree and drinks like a sparkling cranberry Rosé." 5.2% ABV.
Eggnog Cream Ale Nitro, from Dry Dock Brewing Co.
15120 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora
"Our first nitro holiday beer ever is a traditional American Cream Ale designed to exhibit flavors of eggnog - creamy, rich, bourbon and nutmeg." 5.4% ABV.
Gingerbread Man, from Strange Craft Beer Co.
1330 Zuni St., Denver
"A big American Brown spiced with Grandma’s gingerbread cookie recipe. Think liquid gingerbread. Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves and Allspice. Perfect for a cold winter night." 6.0% ABV.
Hibernation, from Great Divide Brewing Co.
2201 Arapahoe St., Denver
"Hibernation Ale has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character." 8.7% ABV.
Krampus Ale, from Black Sky Brewery
490 Santa Fe Drive, Denver
An English Olde Ale with a hint of dark rye. 6.7% ABV.
Old Jubilation, from Avery Brewing Co.
4910 Nautilus Court, Boulder
"Our winter strong ale has a gorgeous mahogany hue, a hint of hazelnuts, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee. No spices, just a perfect blend of five specialty malts." 8.3% ABV.
Sled God, from Fort Collins Brewery
1020 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins
"Sled God is an Imperial Brown ale brewed with brown sugar, hazelnut coffee and is aged on American oak. The beer is malt driven with mild bitterness from Magnum hops and finishes with irresistible undertones of oak, vanilla and chocolate." 7.8% ABV.
