Winter's Best Seasonal Brews

Better than any eggnog, hot toddy or mulled wine is the special genre of beer known as the seasonal brew. Brewmasters capture the magical essence of the season in beers that are worth waiting the whole year to drink. And seasonal brews aren't just relegated to dark ales, porters and stouts-breweries expand their repertoire every year, making a seasonal beer appropriate for both the novice and the beer connoisseur to try. These time-tested beers have a wide variety in flavor, but all reflect the essence of wintry spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and orange peel.

Sam Adams Winter Lager
This winter stalwart is a great, approachable beer to start with. You'll catch cinnamon on the nose, and as you sip the flavor becomes noticeably more full-bodied. At 5.8% ABV, it packs slightly more of a punch than your liquor-store lager.

Berghoff Hazelnut Winter Ale
This one's also a good beer to start with. The aroma is rich with hazelnut, and is still light enough to please most palates. Berghoff Hazelnut Winter Ale comes from the Joseph Huber Brewing Company, America's second oldest brewery. 5.6% ABV.

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
While this beer isn't necessarily seasonal, its hazelnut aroma, nutty flavor and malty finish make it rank high on any beer-lover's list. Indeed, this brown ale is the 2007 World Champion, taking the Gold at the World Beer Championships and has won countless awards since it was first brewed in 1993. A great beer for a newcomer to seasonal beers that's ready to take the next step. 6.2% ABV.

Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout
Finally, oatmeal stout that actually tastes like oatmeal stout. This beer, originally for lactating mothers, is brewed in Yorks, England. A bit heavier than the beers listed above, but all the better to warm you with. 5% ABV.

Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
Sam Adams advertises that this beer is the "Christmas cookie of beer." And it is, with a flavor profile that contains toffee, chocolate and caramel with its cold-weather spice blend. 5.9% ABV.

Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic
Any seasonal beer list should contain at least one lambic. This brew pays homage to great cherry lambics like Lindeman's Kriek but is brewed not with cherries, but with cranberries, the most celebrated Northeastern fruit. In typical lambic fashion, Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic contains a sour component on the sides of the tongue in addition to its vanilla maple spice. This fruit beer is worth a try for any beer lover. 5.9% ABV.

These beers range in flavor from approachable to robust, and are a welcome addition to your holiday party beverage selection. You can find these brews and many other holiday selections at your nearest fine liquor store or well-stocked grocery aisle.