Merry, Merry, Jingle, Jingle: A bevy of Colorado craft beers to get your holidays off to a carbonated start
By Emily Kemme
’Tis the season to celebrate the reason, which as everyone knows is sampling and sipping local craft beer! While it’s true that beer releases occur year round, darkness settling in at 4:30 p.m. helps lubricate the neck nod — the one where you acquiesce into an early-ish popping of the tab to taste what local brewers are dreaming up to make the winter holidays fizz and sparkle.
We’ve put together a drinkable (or gift-able) collection that can stand on its own, but could easily be the defining liquid essence of your holiday parties. With that in mind, here are six beers worthy of your next celebration, along with food pairings for appetizers and nibbles through dessert.
Weldwerks Brewing Co. Chill X-Lite Cold Fermented India Pale Ale
Homeplate: Greeley
Characteristics: This cold fermented IPA was brewed with Citra, El Dorado and Strata hops, blending Lager, Hazy IPA and Kolsch yeasts at colder temperatures. There are two versions of this IPA: Chill, with a higher ABV (alcohol by volume) of 7%, and the one featured, Chill X-Lite, with a lower ABV.
Citrusy grapefruit notes are prominent, giving this light-bodied, easy-drinking beer a sharp, bright flavor. Clean, with zippy carbonation, this is the ideal beer to get your party off to a sparkling start.
ABV: 5.2%
Food pairings: Although this drinkable beer has staying power for an entire meal, it meets its match with rich cheeses like brie, camembert, and even a mild blue like gorgonzola or cambozola, making it the perfect appetizer beer. But if it’s just dessert you’re craving, sweet carrot cake or crème brulée will meet the mark.
Get it: Westlake Wine & Spirits; Ram Liquor
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Snow Drop Köttebusser Ale
Homeplate: Loveland
Characteristics: Part of Grimm Brothers’ Legend series, this historical ale style was declared illegal in 1516 because of Germany’s “purity law” outlawing honey, oats, wheat and molasses in beer brewing. Now resurrected, this cider-yellow version with notes of pine, juniper and resin echoes the deep, dark forests of fairytale lore. Soft and easy drinking, surprising banana notes makes us wonder if Snow Drop was dreaming of the tropics as a way to escape the evil Queen and the Big Bad Wolf.
ABV: 7.1%
Food pairings: Refreshing and grassy, Köttebusser’s herbaceous notes are the perfect match for a salad course. Keep it light and skip the bleu cheese dressing. Tossed with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and a sprinkle of sea salt, that’s a salad even the Seven Dwarves will approve.
Get it: Grimm Brothers Taproom, Westlake Wine & Spirits, Ram Liquor
New Belgium Brewing Special Release Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale Four Roses
Homeplate: Fort Collins
Characteristics: This holiday collaboration with Four Roses Distillery pulls flavor from bourbon-steeped charred oak and marries it with a malty-sweet, deep amber ale, according to the brewery’s website. Bourbon and caramel malt with clove notes are present in this low-carbonated, gentle ale.
ABV: 9%
Food Pairings: Go ahead and eat dessert first: chocolate mousse and anything with cherries, raspberries or coconut are good choices. But bourbon-forward ales can pair well with rich seafoods like oysters, mussels, lobster and calamari, too. Also good with beef stews, short ribs or even potato chowder. Whatever has a thick mouthfeel will be cleansed and accented favorably.
Get it: College Green Liquor, Highland Park Liquors, Hillcrest Liquor, Westlake Wine & Spirits, drizly.com
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company Snow Camp Robust Porter
Homeplate: Fort Collins
Characteristics: Tall, dark and handsome, this is the ski buddy you’ve been looking for. Yes, the initial aroma is bitter, but keep sipping as the beer warms, opening to you. This is the person you’ll want to linger around a campfire with, drinking coffee-forward porter into the wee hours of morning, sharing secrets, planning the next adventure. Effervescent and full-bodied, Snow Camp is the beer of your past, present and future.
ABV: 6.5%
Food Pairings: You know you want to eat Gruyere cheese when you’re sipping Snow Camp, and that’s ok, if you and a warm fire define the evening. But take it a step further and offer this porter with roasted or grilled meats: as much as you want to wrap up with it and keep it to yourself, this beer is the centerpiece of your holiday dinner. There’s always room for chocolate peanut butter cookies in bed, with — you know.
Get it: Westlake Wine & Spirits, The Mayor of Old Town
Left Hand Brewing Co. White Russian White Stout with Coffee & Vanilla
Homeplate: Longmont
Characteristics: While this beverage is for strikes and gutters and ups and downs, according to Left Hand Brewing’s website, with its cookie-like, creamy textured pour and scalded milk nose, it’s a pleasant surprise when you segue into a burnt marshmallow molasses finish. Totally retro — who drinks a White Russian these days without tripping back to the late 90s? Dude! It’s so Lebowski.
ABV: 8.9%
Food Pairings: As a stout blonde (no weight jokes), a White Russian Nitro needs dessert. Chocolate-dipped strawberries work, as does a rich bread pudding with caramel sauce. But before you get to dessert, try pairing this stout with the main course. Just keep in mind that the beer is sweeter than the meat, so honeyed barbecue and sesame chicken are off the menu.
Get it: Left Hand Brewing Co. (seasonal); Westlake Wine & Spirits;
Wiley Roots Brewing Co. Muffinberry Monstah Imperial Stout with Blueberry Puree
Homeplate: Greeley
Characteristics: An Imperial Stout with blueberry, cinnamon and graham cracker notes, this sweet, thin, spritzy yet textured stout lingers with its burnt sugar crust.
ABV: 10.2%
Food Pairings: Partners with blueberry muffins, blueberry pie, and thanks to the graham cracker focus, chocolate. Of course. Then again, an oozy nugget of brie topped with blueberry preserves would also be a winner.
Get it: Wiley Roots Brewing Co.; Ram Liquor; Westlake Wine & Spirits