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Back by popular demand, following our Winter Warmer edition of our “What The Hell” series and subsequent publishing of 2 more sets of 5 Winter Ales, we have no choice but to give the public more of what they crave. So here are five more well-crafted beers we suggest as a brief escape from department store Christmas tunes and the general madness of the season.
Bells Brewery, Winter White Ale (Kalamazoo, MI) – It’s hard to go wrong with Bells and it’s especially the case when they can offer a break from those traditionally big and dark winter beers. They offer a classic Belgian-style Witbier brewed with a blend of barley and wheat malts, then fermented with Belgian yeast, creating fruity and clove aromas, despite using no spices. 5.0% ABV.
Hopworks Urban Brewery, Organic Abominable Winter Ale (Portland, OR) – For another left-turn winter style, you can’t go wrong with HUB’s hugely hopped beast. This winter style IPA featured toasted Munich malt and light 
caramel malts go up again a variety of citrusy Northwest hops. Bringing 70 IBU and 7.3% ABV to the conversation, the famous A-Bomb is not to be missed.
Lazy Magnolia Brewing, Black Creek Imperial Stout (Kiln, MS) – “Black as the bayou on a moonless winter night, this 8.5% Southern-Style Imperial Stout begins with aromas of dark chocolate and coffee, followed by a savory blend of roasted barley and caramel flavors, with a velvety-sweet finish. [This] full-bodied Mississippi dark ale is the perfect winter companion to warm and relax your taste buds with every slow and delicious sip.”
Uinta Brewing, Yard Sale Winter Lager (Salt Lake City, UT) – Those who know a thing or two about winter mountain sports realize that a “Yard Sale” is the trail of accessories you leave behind on an epic crash down the mountain. Uinta’s complex amber lager seems more like the victory dance at the bottom 
of the hill. It’s another fine alternative to the winter warmer archetype offering “honey and caramel undercurrents” and vanilla notes while finishing dry, light and hoppy. 4% abv
Yards Brewing, Olde Bartholomew (Philadelphia, PA) – It only felt right to finish off this list with a big, bruising winter ale. Olde Bart, an old school English Barleywine Ale, is just that kind of beer. Weighing in at 10.3% ABV, it’s brewed with 100% floor-malted Maris Otter Malt, noble hops and offers fruit overtones with a slight hop finish. Despite it’s big 66 IBU rating, plenty of malt bring balance to Olde Bart, something you might just lose after a pint of this old guy.
