10 of the Best BC Winter Beers To Warm You Over Christmas – 2015 Edition
10 of the Best BC Winter Beers To Warm You Over Christmas – 2015 Edition
Whether you are celebrating Christmas with a blanket of snow on your front steps or listening to the steady fall of the coast’s more liquid version of snow, the warming flavours of winter beers will bring a smile to your face. British Columbia has a wealth of fantastic holiday inspired beers that will help you to get through the stress of the holidays. Here are 10 of the best BC beers that are perfect for cozying up next to the fire with, sharing with friends or even leaving out for Santa on Christmas Eve. (Santa would really appreciate that actually)
Bomber Brewing – Old Fat Heater Winter Ale
A big bodied winter ale that is all beer and no spice. The Old Fat Winter Ale is brewed to be smooth and strong with a warming sensation from its high 8.0% alcohol. Those that want a big beer without the frills of cinnamon and spice, this is the beer for you!
Longwood Brewery – Winter’s Own Weizenbock
Longwood brewery takes their winter flavour inspiration from Germany with the Winter’s Own Weizenbock. This wheat beer has notes of corriander and tropical fruit in a smooth and delicious German-styled winter beer.
Fernie Brewing – Black Mammoth Winter Ale
Fernie’s Black Mammoth is a winter ale with light spice, mild orange peal notes and a very tasty cocoa-chocolate flavour. The Black mammoth is deceptive with it’s easy drinking nature – it is easy to forget that it is an 8.0% beer.
Bridge Brewing – The Grinch Winter Ale
The Grinch may try to ruin Christmas but Bridge Brewing is more likely to save it with this tasty brew. Pouring dark brown with a hint of red this naughty but nice winter warmer is now an oaked porter. Slight vanilla, and cinnamon flavours with notes of caramel and treacle give this brew a rich and creamy profile.
Central City Brewers – Thor’s Hammer Barley Wine
Introducing a beer that needs no introduction. One of the longtime winter favourite flavours for BC craft beer fans is the Central City Barley Wine called Thor’s Hammer. This is a very big and intense Barley Wine that will drink well now or cellar for a Christmas years down the road.
Hoyne Brewing – Gratitude Winter Warmer
Hoyne Brewing doesn’t like to peg their beers down to a specific style so you will just have to be thankful (or grateful) for the Gratitude Winter Warmer. This beer is easy drinking but comes in a deceptively strong 9.0% brew. The beer has smooth vanilla notes and a very pleasant spice.
Cannery Brewing – Darkling Oatmeal Stout
A classic and traditional Oatmeal Stout can make a great beer for the holidays. Those looking to keep the alcohol content at a slightly lower level while enjoying big coffee and chocolate tones will love the Darkling, an Oatmeal Stout from Penticton’s Cannery Brewing. Great balance, great flavour and a label with a story behind it.
Driftwood Brewery – Singularity Russian Imperial Stout
Only a beer as infamous as the Singularity from Driftwood Brewery could get away with a label that you could not really read in 2014. The 2015 version has a new label though so keep an eye out for this big, strong and dark Russian Imperial Stout at your local retailer. It is bound to be another top release for the holidays.
Vancouver Island Brewery – Hermannator Ice Bock
The Hermannator has a creaminess to it that comes with a chocolate and caramel infused booziness. The Hermannator has been a favourite winter choice for many years and continues to bring in awards year after year. Available in 650ml bottles or 355ml bottles, the only choice is which size to get.
Howe Sound Brewery – Megadestroyer Imperial Licorice Stout
For those that want something completely different there is the Howe Sound Brewing Megadestroyer Imperial Licorice Stout. This beer will knock you off your feet then kick you when you are down. But somehow it will also have you coming back for more with its intense, unique and delicious licorice flavour.
Stanley Park’s Ice Breaker Winter Ale has become my fave. You’ve listed some really strong beer; is that a requirement for a winter beer?
Most of these beers would fall under winter warmers. High alcohol beers that keep you toasty in the winter. There are many low alcohol beers that are very popular for the winter like the one you mentioned. Its all preference. Personally this list speaks to me quite well.
You’re missing the Graham Cracker Ale from Hearthstone Brewery, loved that beer. Their Chocolate milk stout is solid too!
For me winter says big beers for sure. I really like Woolly Bugger from Howe Sound. But I like good barley wines in general. Parallel 49 has a great Russian Imperial Stout.
Mt Begbie Brewing, Bobs Your Dunkel 8% …coming soon for x-mas!
Four Winds Tiger Style-only at the brewery
Had Inertia Imperial Stout from Brassneck over the weekend, 9.0% gives you that winter warmth, but also tastes fantastic and very drinkable, careful now!
I I forget about that beer as it is not sold in bottles and that brewery is sooooo popular its hard to get in.