Wonderful Winter Warmers

The upside to the frigid winter temperatures is figuring out the best concoction to keep you warm.

A nice port, smooth brandy, or mead with a splash of whiskey will keep you nice and warm this winter. You can even mull some wine or cheat with some pre-spiced Glögg and a cinnamon stick. One of my favorite winter warmers is hot apple cider with cinnamon liqueur. 

If you want something heavier, something grainy, something yeasty...well, beer would be your perfect winter warmer. Beer is full of hibernation carbs. I would venture to say that beer is the perfect snowed-in, life-saving, winter warmer.

When looking for your perfect, warming, brew, you want to look for something a little heavier. You aren't looking for something that you'd drain in a minute, you want a nice and thick sipping brew. You aren't looking for 3.2 beer either, this has to have a high enough ABV to have a proper warming effect. 

Last year I cataloged some of my favorite, and not so favorite, winter brews. I'll give you a quick run down of my favorites; go to the full post for my full notes. Most of these should be accessible too (with the exception of FFF). 

N'ice Chouffe 10% ABV
Now I'm an absolute sucker for anything Brasserie d'Achouffe brews, and this ale is no exception. It has a spiciness that is balanced out by that wonderful Belgian sugar-ness. It's creamy and perfectly sip-able.

Goulden Carolus Noel 10.5% ABV
This is spicy with a little tartness to it. It's not the tartness of the dried fruit that you find in many dark winter brews. The complexity of the spice makes this worth drinking all winter, or at least until you can pick them all out!

Barrel Aged Brrbon 9.4% ABV
A good bourbon barrel-aged brew always makes for a good winter warmer. Widmer Brothers releases a brrbon annually. If you can find the Brothers Reserve, you'll have a wonderful winter.

Krampus 9.3% ABV
This lager is an interesting one. If you can get your hands on it, it's a must try. It is not your traditional warmer. It's earthy, it's extremely bitter, it's a touch tart. It's a good addition to your winter warmer stash to balance out all that fruit, sugar, and spice.

Behemoth 10.5% ABV
Barleywines are classic winter warming brews. They are heavy. They are grainy. They are powerful. Behemoth is no exception. It's released in January to help you combat the winter chill. For a barleywine, it was more hoppy than malty.

Dogfather 11% ABV
Some stouts are great warmers too. Especially the high ABV ones. This warmer is great if you're in the mood for something chocolaty and creamy. Like hot chocolate.

Dragon's Milk 10% ABV
This is a favorite of mine that can be enjoyed year-round, but I'm nutty that way. It's a dark, complex, sometimes oaky ale. Bitter dark chocolate is the main flavor. While not spiced, dark-fruity, or viscous, my list could not be posted without this gem.

This list is some of many. Feel free to use my notes to work up your own winter warmer list. Look through my winter brews, porters, stouts, and barleywines to see what you might find to battle the winter chills. Let me know what you find.