The Best Winter Beers for Non-Beer Drinkers

(Image credit: Jeffrey Westbrook; prop styling by Angela Campos)

published 24 November 2016

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."

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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.

Samantha Leal is the Deputy Editor at Well+Good, where she spends most of her day thinking of new ideas across platforms, bringing on new writers, overseeing the day-to-day of the website, and working with the awesome team to produce the best stories and packages. Before W+G, she was the Senior Web Editor for Marie Claire and the Deputy Editor for Latina.com, with bylines all over the internet. Graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a minor in African history, she’s written everything from travel guides to political op-eds to wine explainers (currently enrolled in the WSET program) to celebrity profiles. Find her online pretty much everywhere @samanthajoleal.