Two months is just enough time to turn out a flavorful ale with enough character and warmth to get you through the darkest part of the year and into the next year. There isn’t quite enough time to brew up a great winter lager (though you could get started on a fantastic Weihnachtsbier for next year!), so in this article we’ll stick to ales.
A holiday ale is simply an ale that you brew for the winter holidays. Whether you celebrate Festivus, Christmas, Calan Gaeaf, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yuletide, or the solstice, any beer you brew to enjoy as part of the festivities is a holiday ale. But, as is so often the case, such beers tend to fall within certain established categories. Here, then, are a few to consider.
Spiced anything: Take your favorite beer recipe, add any combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, and voilà: Holiday beer! While the sky is the limit, remember that more is not always better when it comes to such potent spices. Vanilla, cacao nibs, cinnamon, and chiles can turn an ordinary stout into one reminiscent of Mexican hot chocolate.