Cold Weather Inspires Hearty, Local Beers
A new season means new beer. So, of course, we made the rounds. We did all the painstaking research and tasting. Now it’s time for you to put in the work. Get out there. Warm your bones at a few NEPA brewhouses this season and check out this list of awesome local winter beers.
Stegmaier Winter Warmer
Winter Warmer / ABV – 7.8%
“Traditionally known as Old World Ale, Stegmaier Winter Warmer boasts a brilliant, reddish-orange color and a full chewy body. It presents a robust malty, sweet and fruity aroma that tempts the senses. In using a blend of well-modified pale malts, along with judicious amounts of caramel and specialty character malts, Stegmaier Winter Warmer possesses a high malt character with luscious complexity and alcohol warmth, balanced with the traditional hop bitterness. Enjoy this flavorful offering in the company of your closest friends on a frosty winter night.”
Grandad’s Cranberry Cream Ale
Cream Ale / ABV: 4.6%
“We took our delicious Grandad’s Cream Ale and added Natural Cranberry for a Crisp, Slightly Tart, and Highly Crushable Seasonal Treat. Just in time to help you make it through the Holidays!!”
Kindling Kwad
Belgian Dark Strong Ale / ABV: 11%
“Pennsylvania Farm Show-2022 award winning ale brewed with dark Belgian candi sugar.
Exquisitely smooth, complex, and dangerous. Start something.”
Frosty Fathom
Winter Ale with Vanilla / ABV: 6%
“Fathom this… A fathomer fathoms there is 0.83 fathoms to the bottom of the glass. Winter is time for fathoming and making friends with the more flavorful beers. This Winter Ale is rich with caramel, biscuit, and chocolate malts. Spiced with lots of vanilla bean, sweet orange peel and ginger then dry hopped with orange-citrus focused hops varietals. The final product has strong notes of vanilla with depth you can continue to fathom upon.”
The Garage Imperial Stout
Russian Imperial Stout / ABV: 11.5%
Thick and rich Russian Imperial Stout with decadent chocolate flavor. Complex, hearty, and luscious. This will give you comfort and warmth during these winter months.
Activator Doppelbock
Doppelbock / ABV: 7.9%
“A traditional German-style Doppelbock brewed with a single decoction mash to intensify malt flavor without adding sweetness. Deep amber/ruby in color, this strong lager is deceptively drinkable with notes of toasted malt, a bit of roast, raisin, and faint cinnamon stick.”
Winter Warmer / ABV: 7.5%
“Mr. Dank is our unofficial mascot’s name. The beer is inspired by an oatmeal raisin cookie, including oats, cinnamon, vanilla, raisins, milk sugar, and oatmeal raisin cookies in the boil.”
Belsnickler Winter Warmer
Winter Ale / ABV: 10.5%
“2023 Belsnickler is a sophisticated, intense taste bud samba. Brewed with Montana pale malt, three distinct cara-malts, a touch of honey and chocolate malt. Belgian candy sugar and Abbey Ale yeast provide subtle nuances and assist this brew in attaining its 10.5% ABV. Notes of spiced honey, ripe pears, candied dates, and banana bread.”
Dunkel Weisse
Wheat Ale / ABV: 4.6%
“It’s a classic dark German wheat beer brewed with Munich malts, dark wheat malt and a touch of roasted malt. Has notes of dark fruit with a familiar weisse yeast flavor.”
Bob’s Buns Imperial Pastry Stout
Stout / ABV: 11.6%
“Bob’s Buns is a cinnamon bun inspired stout. First, we threw cinnamon buns in the mash, then conditioned it on cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, candied pecans and cacao nibs. Flavors of cinnamon and sticky pecan meet vanilla icing layered on top of decadent chocolate.”