Beers aren't just for summer BBQs. That's why we asked Anne Becerra, Certified Cicerone® (read: beer sommelier) from craft beer bar Treadwell Park in New York City, to be our guide for seasonal winter brews.
If you love: Spiced Cider and/or Old-Fashioneds
Then order a pint of: Tröegs Mad Elf
Why you should drink it: "Winter seasonals are often synonymous with spices, and this one delivers. It's brewed with ripened cherries, honey, and cocoa, with big aromatic notes of cinnamon, clove, and allspice."
If you love: Champagne and/or Sparkling Wine
Then order a pint of: Brasserie Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux
Why you should drink it: "With complex notes, a bubbly effervescence, and a remarkably dry finish—this beer rivals even the finest of champagnes."
If you love: hoppy beers and/or IPAs
Then order a pint of: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Why you should drink it: "You don't stop being a hop-head just because it's wintertime. Sierra Nevada's fresh-hop Celebration IPA is full-bodied, with flavors of pine and citrus, and faint notes of toffee."
If you love: Wheat Beers, Hefeweizens, and/or Mimosas
Then order a pint of: Victory Winter Cheers
Why you should drink it: "The whole-flower Citra hops amp up the juiciness of the hefeweizen aromas, making this bubbly beer flavorful and refreshing."
If you love: Stouts and/or Bitter Espresso
Then order a pint of: Bell's Expedition Stout
Why you should drink it: "This highly-roasted-tasting Russian Imperial Stout offers flavors that mimic baking chocolate, molasses, and black cherries, just to name a few."
If you love: Bourbon
Then order a pint of: North Coast Barrel-aged Old Rasputin XVIII
Why you should drink it: "This stout is infused with bourbon notes of vanilla, crème brûlée, and cappuccino."
A version of this article appears in the December issue of Marie Claire, on newsstands now.
