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ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Thanks to an incredibly hands-on approach to distribution, fresh Stone Brewing beers are now regularly available in select Chinese markets. Answering the impassioned cry of craft beer fans, Stone designed an uninterrupted cold chain delivery approach from San Diego, all the way to bars, restaurants and beer shops around China. This capability positions the brewery as a pioneer, offering China the most diverse, innovative and fresh portfolio of craft beer from the States.

While Chinese beer fans are already familiar with many US brands, including Stone, the market has had little access to fresh, well-handled craft beer. Much of the beer currently available in China has been mishandled via the grey market. These beers are shipped warm and are often long out-of-code with the “enjoy by” dates removed. Fresh Stone beer always boasts bold and complex flavor profiles, preserved by proper cold chain distribution standards.

Now, through special efforts, Stone beer is being regularly shipped to China via its cold, expedited supply chain. The beer’s temperatures are tracked throughout the entire shipping process, ultimately arriving at bars and restaurants equally committed to freshness. Each of these destinations is hand-selected by local Stone Brewing team members for their commitment to maintaining the quality of the beer in storage and in serving. Stone’s first shipment of fresh beer landed in early October to great local excitement. The Stone team celebrated the momentous accomplishment with a series of events at which fans had the exclusive opportunity to sip the freshest Stone beers China has ever known alongside the co-founders and CEO.

“I returned from China energized and blown away by the welcome we received,” said Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder. “Our reputation had evidently preceded us, and I loved being there as our fans enjoyed the bold and complex aromas and flavors of über fresh Stone beers for the first time.”

Whether at home or abroad, always check for the “bottled / canned on” date and “enjoy by” date clearly printed on all Stone beers. If those dates are missing, the beer’s quality may be compromised.

Some of the locations throughout China now stocking fresh, cold, Stone beers include:

• Beijing: Liangshi Brewery, Dao Taproom
• Shanghai: Daga Brewpub, The Cannery
• Guangzhou: Tipsy Bar & Restaurant, Bravo, The South 12 Craft Beer Bar
• Chengdu: Hugo Brewpub, Foam Ranger Taproom
• Xi’an: Xian Brewery Taproom
• Shenzhen: The Pub
• Wuhan: Dazhimen Beer Restaurant, Commune

About Stone Brewing
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an award-winning, industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times, has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multifaceted company is the first American craft brewer to independently build, own and operate their own brewery in Europe (Berlin, Germany), and also opened a production brewery in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing…and pledging never, ever, sell out to the man.  For more information on Stone Brewing, please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Brewery Ommegang is excited to introduce a new evolution in the brewery’s mission to blend the artistry of Belgian brewing traditions with a typically non-Belgian beer style. Candi Stout fuses rich roasted malts with Belgian candi sugar, bittersweet cocoa nibs, and a special strain of Belgian ale yeast. The result is a delightfully drinkable blend of a Belgian-style dark ale and a traditional stout.

“Candi Stout is unique in that the dark candi sugar lessens the body a bit and reduces the need for higher amounts of roasted grains so the beer drinks slightly lighter and less roasted than a typical stout,” said Ommegang Brewmaster Phil Leinhart. “This is a great beer for the cold months ahead, and we’re as excited to share this new beer with fans as we are to drink it this winter.”

Candi Stout is brewed with two-row, flaked barley, Pale Chocolate, Special B, aromatic, Midnight Wheat, and roasted barley malts. Candi syrup and cocoa nibs are added to create a smoothness and lightness of body not typically associated with stouts. Hopped with Styrian Golding and Saaz hops, and fermented with a Belgian abbey ale yeast, the beer’s ABV is 6.7%.

The beer pours a deep, dark black with a thick tan head. Dark chocolate and cocoa lead a complex aroma with subtle hints of dark fruit and spicy yeast. The flavor opens with mild sweetness, giving way to rich chocolate, and mild roast. The use of Belgian yeast and the extra dose of fermentables from candi syrup contribute a smooth body and finish, resulting in impressive drinkability, despite the beer’s complexity.Candi Stout is a perfect match for any variety of chocolate desserts, or on the savory side, with roasted or grilled meats, roasted root vegetables, and aged cheeses.

There will be a one-time release of Candi Stout in 750ml bottles on Saturday, December 23 at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown and in the month of January in Wegmans, Total Wine, and Costco stores in the eastern part of the United States. Candi Stout on draft will be available in The Pub by Wegmans locations in February and nationwide in March, for a limited time.

About Brewery Ommegang
Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997 to brew imaginative craft beers across a variety of styles, with particular emphasis and respect for Belgian brewing traditions. Ommegang brews nine ales year-round, as well as an extensive and innovative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 46 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 75-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events including a summer concert series and a legendary beer festival, Belgium Comes to Cooperstown. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and occasional special event days. For more information, contactwww.ommegang.com. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers.

WORCESTER, Mass. — In honor of the darkest day of the year – December 21 – Dunkin’ Donuts and Wormtown Brewery today announce a partnership to launch DDark Roasted Brew, the first beer to be brewed with Dunkin’ Donuts Dark Roast beans. This decadent stout-style beer features full-roasted coffee flavor reminiscent of freshly-ground beans with a creamy mouthfeel. DDark Roasted Brew will be available exclusively for purchase on draught at Wormtown Brewery’s Tap Room in Worcester beginning at the winter solstice, 11:28 a.m. on December 21, 2017.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Wormtown to launch DDark Roasted Brew,” said Rob Branca, a local Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner in Worcester, MA. “Worcester is home to one of the first Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants so we know how much residents love the brand and our coffee. This partnership with Wormtown continues to drive innovation in Worcester and we are excited to brew up something extra bold to help our loyal guests to celebrate the darkest day of the year.”

To celebrate this special release, Wormtown Brewery and Rob Branca will be joining forces to donate $11,500 to the Worcester Food Bank to help the local community make the most out of the holiday season.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Dunkin’ Donuts on our latest beer,” said Scott Drake, Head Brewer at Wormtown Brewery. “We’re confident this beer is going to be an instant favorite for New Englanders this holiday season, and the fact that we’re able to give back to Worcester-area families through this partnership just makes it that much better.”

Dunkin’ Donuts and Wormtown fans are invited to attend a ceremonial keg tapping event during the winter solstice at 11:28 a.m. on December 21, 2017 at Wormtown Brewery’s Tap Room, located at 72 Shrewsbury Street. Guests will have the chance to enjoy special donut and beer pairings created by the Dunkin’ Donuts Culinary Team, like the Double Chocolate Cake Donut with DDark Roasted Brew, where the smooth body of the beer complements the creaminess of the chocolate icing, finishing with notes of Dark Roast Coffee, malt and chocolate cake. Plus, the first one hundred guests will receive a special gift bag to help celebrate the official start of the winter season.

Follow @DunkinBoston and @WormtownBrewery for additional details about the DDark Roasted Brew.

About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 11 years running. The company has more than 12,400 restaurants in 46 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

About Wormtown Brewery
Wormtown Brewery began in a small ice cream shop on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA in 2010. In 2015, after five years crammed in that location and 13 months of construction, Wormtown Brewery opened the doors to its new location, in the heart of Worcester, on Shrewsbury Street where it continues to grow today. Wormtown Brewery is dedicated to putting “A Piece of Mass in Every Glass” and works with many local farms as they believe sourcing ingredients locally ensures that they are the freshest possible for the freshest beer. For more information, visit www.wormtownbrewery.com.

Nickel Brook announced today that its highly-anticipated Kentucky Bastard Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout will be available in time for the holiday season, hitting store shelves in early December. One of the brewery’s most complex beers, it has consistently been one of the top-rated beers on Ratebeer.com, and has received multiple awards in both Canada and the United States. It also received a perfect score in the Ontario Craft Beer Guide.

Kentucky Bastard is aged for a full year in Kentucky bourbon barrels, creating a truly artisan product. Hundreds of barrels are blended to create the final beer every winter, which is bottled and wax-sealed by hand to encourage further cellar-ageing. The resulting beer blends rich chocolate, coffee and dark fruit notes from the stout with vanilla, oak and warming alcohol imparted by the bourbon barrels. At 12% ABV, it is perfect as a dessert beer, enjoyed by a fire or with a fine cigar, or to celebrate a special occasion.

“Kentucky Bastard was originally a small-batch experiment with some barrels we were able to get our hands on six years ago,” said brewmaster Ryan Morrow. “We’ve continued to refine it over the years, and we’re proud that so many now consider it one of the best bourbon-barrel aged stouts in the market.”

This year’s batch will be released in 500ml wax-sealed bottles. “We can only make a limited amount of Kentucky Bastard every year, and we wanted to give as many people as possible the chance to try this incredible beer” explained co-founder Peter Romano. “It sells out quickly every year, so switching to a smaller bottle allows us to get more bottles out there for people to enjoy.”

Bottles will be available at the brewery Bottle Shop, and wherever exceptional beers are sold while supplies last.

Boulder, CO • December 13, 2017 – Strong brewery growth, increased beer tourism and the launch of the independent craft brewer seal—with more than 2,700 craft brewers signed on—were all part of a watershed year for craft beer in 2017. The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers—looks back on the defining beer moments of the year.

“Craft brewers continue to thrive, if at a slower pace, fueled by a passionate community dedicated to bringing innovation, jobs and beer across America—on Main Street and beyond,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “Today, 83 percent of the population lives within 10 miles of a local brewery, meaning that the positive impact of breweries is being felt in communities all over the country.”

Of note in 2017:

Steady Growth: 6,000 breweries were in operation during 2017—with 98 percent of them small and independent craft brewers.

Jobs and Economic Impact: The BA’s Economic Impact Report, a biennial analysis featuring economic data of craft brewing for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, showed that craft brewers contributed $67.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2016, a 21.7 percent increase from 2014. Craft brewers were responsible for more than 456,373 full-time equivalent jobs, a 7.5 percent increase from 2014, with 128,768 of those jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs.

Independent Craft Brewer Seal: To help educate beer lovers about which beers are independently produced, in June the BA launched a seal touting independent craft brewers. Featuring an iconic beer bottle shape flipped upside down, the seal captures the spirit with which craft brewers have upended beer, while informing beer lovers they are choosing a beer from a brewery that is independently owned. To date, more than 2,700 small and independent craft brewing companies, representing more than 75 percent of domestic volume, have signed on to use the seal.

Can’t Beat ’Em? Buy ’Em: Take Craft Back, a tongue-in-cheek crowdfunding campaign to raise $213 billion to purchase Anheuser-Busch InBev, was launched to draw attention to the lack of transparency and growing disparity in marketplace influence between small and independent brewers and Big Beer. Nearly 12,000 craft beer lovers have pledged their support.

Bipartisan Beer Support: The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), championed by Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Ron Kind (D-WI) and Sen. Bob Portman (R-OH), was reintroduced in the 115^th Congress and has reached a majority of support in both houses. If passed, the bill—which was added as an amendment to the larger Senate Tax Reform Bill in November—would significantly reduce the federal excise tax on the first 60,000 barrels of any domestic brewery that produces fewer than 2 million barrels a year and would lower the federal excise tax on barrelage up to 6 million barrels.

Homebrewing Heats Up: There are currently an estimated 1.1 million homebrewers in the U.S., and in 2017 homebrewers produced more than 1.4 million barrels of beer—equaling one percent of total U.S. beer production. The National Homebrew Competition, hosted by the American Homebrewers Association, continues to be the world’s largest beer competition with 8,618 entries from 3,530 homebrewers worldwide.

Beercations and Tap Rooms Are Boomin’: Beer tourism is growing, with the average craft drinker visiting 3.5 breweries near their homes and 2.5 breweries within two hours’ driving distance. Plus 64 percent surveyed said visiting a brewery/tap room was a new or different beer drinking occasion, indicating brewery visits have created a new sales channel for beer.

#GivingBack: American craft brewers are not just great at making flavorful beer—they are also a force for good. Craft brewers donated an estimated $73.4 million to charitable causes in 2016, up from $71 million in 2014.

“This has been an incredible year for the craft beer community with both challenges and successes. Emphasized more than ever before is the need to advocate for and educate beer drinkers on the importance and value of craft brewers to our nation and our culture,” said Julia Herz, craft beer program director, Brewers Association. “What is especially gratifying is watching the positive impacts beer tourism and independent breweries are having on local communities.”

About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 4,000-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s Independent Craft Brewer Seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^SM, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer^® magazine, and Brewers Publications™ is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S.

San Diego, CA – December 5, 2017  – After hosting 15^th anniversary celebrations at breweries on both coasts, Green Flash Brewing Co. reveals plans for 2018.  Drawing on their legacy as an IPA powerhouse, Green Flash introduces Remix IPA – a new IPA showcasing old-school hops and a modern IPA flavor profile. It offers craft beer consumers the hop-character and quality they have come to expect from the brewery that trademarked West Coast IPA. Remix IPA is 6.2% ABV, and will be available nationwide on draft, in 6-packs of 12oz cans, and in 19.2oz single-serve cans. As the brewery refines their packaged beer assortment, Remix IPA is the only new packaged beer offering that will join the robust Green Flash portfolio. The brewery will also focus on new national draft beer offerings, with four innovative seasonal releases scheduled to debut throughout 2018.

“Remix IPA is an extremely exciting new single IPA release for Green Flash,” says Mike Hinkley, Green Flash Brewing Co. Co-Founder and CEO. “Our brewers are taking the skills learned over the past 15 years of brewing awesome IPAs to create the next iconic front-line beer in the Green Flash portfolio.”

Remix IPA features piney and dank flavors from Green Flash’s “legacy hops” – Cascade, Columbus and Summit. The metallic gold packaging offers a dynamic brand story that draws a parallel between hip hop DJs and the Green Flash brewers – suggesting that the brewing team is skillfully remastering both ingredients and process to create the brand’s next big hit. Last year, Green Flash introduced their Blonde Ale, GFB in 19.2oz single-serve cans, a move that has multiplied their presence in national convenience store chains. Seeking to expand on this success, the brand will offer Remix IPA in both 12oz 6-packs and 19.2oz single-serve cans. Remix IPA will be priced in line with their GFB Blonde Ale.

“We love West Coast IPA, so we decided to come up with a beer that echoes its best attributes with a lower ABV and lighter color and body,” explains Brewmaster, Erik Jensen. “Remix IPA is not quite as hoppy as our flagship brew, but it is unmistakably a world-class Green Flash IPA. It will definitely be my go-to beer next year.”

Harnessing the talents of their brewers in San Diego and Virginia Beach, the 2018 draft lineup will include original beers inspired by pilot-brew releases from company’s Genius Lab and research and development programs. The Genius Lab initiative encourages brewers and staff from all areas of the organization to submit and develop beer recipes which are then served in the tasting rooms. The forthcoming national draft releases include four of their most successful small-batch brews including the winter release of CaCow Milk Stout (6.3% ABV), spring-summer release of The Wit is It – a Belgian-style White Ale (4.8% ABV), the Fall release of the brewery’s annual Treasure Chest IPA (7% ABV) – this year’s offering is an inventive IPA brewed with unique yeast strain. Still in development is a Genius Lab-inspired 16^th Anniversary brew which will release nationwide on draft at the end of 2018.

In addition to Remix IPA and the four draft releases, Green Flash will continue to produce the following beers in 2018 as part of their front-line: West Coast IPA – Double India Pale Ale, Soul Style IPA – India Pale Ale, GFB – Blonde Ale, Passion Fruit Kicker – Wheat Ale with Passion Fruit, and Sea to Sea Lager – Zwickel Lager.

They will be retiring the following beers in 2018: Tangerine Soul Style IPA, Dia de los Serranos Stout with Serrano Chiles, Imperial IPA, and Cosmic Ristretto Baltic Porter with Espresso. Green Flash will no longer be producing 22oz large format bottles, and will be re-introducing their award-winning Belgian-style, Le Freak in a cork-finished 750ml bottle as part of the offerings from their Cellar 3 facility. Green Flash will continue to release rare and barrel-aged beers from Cellar 3 to include: Wild Fox – Barrel-aged Wild Ale (6.0% ABV), Flanders Drive – Barrel-aged Sour Red Ale (7.7% ABV), Rayon Vert – Belgian-style Wild Ale (7% ABV), Sugar Smack – Belgian-style Dark Ale (9.1%), Peach Natura Morta – Barrel-aged Wild Ale with Peaches (6.5%), and Spectral Chaos – Barrel-aged White India Pale Ale (8.5%).

“We are currently focused on reducing overall SKU count while expanding distribution of core brands as well as amplifying our brand’s impact in key regions,” explains Chris Ross, Green Flash President and COO. “As we near completion of our Lincoln, Nebraska brewhouse and restaurant, we are continuing our search for opportunities to expand. We look forward to opening upwards of four new outposts in cities across the country over the next 2 years.”

About Green Flash Brewing Co. 

Green Flash Brewing Co. is headquartered in San Diego, California, and was established in 2002 by co-founders Mike and Lisa Hinkley.  Brewmaster, Erik Jensen, leads brewing operations. Green Flash is an award-winning brewer of fine, craft ales, and specializes in brewing assertive and distinctive beers, such as nationally acclaimed West Coast IPA: an award-winning beer whose wide acceptance has helped define a category. In 2016, Green Flash opened a full-scale brewing facility in Virginia Beach, VA and all Green Flash beers are available nationwide. Green Flash is available in bottles and on draft nationally – offerings include a growing lineup of seasonal and limited release ales, including several barrel-aged beers from their Cellar 3 series.  Please visit the Green Flash website www.greenflashbrew.com for more information.

GLENDALE, Wisc. – Sprecher Brewing Company just added to its growing Belgian-style portfolio with the release of Touch of Blue, a Blueberry Lambic made with whole blueberries. After creating a base ale with Belgian yeast culture and bacteria strains, Sprecher’s brewmaster aged the beer for two years with whole blueberries until it expressed just the right amount of intense floral and dark fruit aromas resulting in a well-balanced, flavorful lambic with a compelling sour finish. The result: a beer perfect for those who enjoy a tart and fruity lambic with just a bit of funk.

“Single batch Touch of Blue an easy drinking beer, a great example of a fruited lambic that we also recommend cellaring because the flavor profile will change over time, as it should. Both the fruit and the Brett character will become more pronounced. We suggest pairing it with Triple Crème Brie topped with dried blueberries, or just enjoying with friends. Touch of Blue is so tasty it’s hard to believe that it registers 8.4% abv (alcohol by volume),” said Sprecher Brewery president Jeff Hamilton.

Touch of Blue is the first fruited lambic brewed by Sprecher brewmaster Craig Burge since the Kriek Lambic created for the brewery’s 25th anniversary in 2010. It is available in 12 ounce bottles and draft. In addition to Touch of Blue, Sprecher’s current Belgian-style beer offerings include: Enkel (Single), Dubbel, Tripel, Quad and Abbey Triple.

Release Parties
Sprecher will host several Touch of Blue release tour parties complete with samples, swag and tomfoolery. The following Wisconsin release tour dates and locations are currently booked:

12/2 Magellan’s on Main Street, 370 W. Main St., Waukesha, WI. 4pm.
12/6 Draft & Vessel, 4417 N. Oakland Ave, Shorewood, WI. 5pm.
12/13 Sconni’s Ale House & Eatery, 1239 Schofield Ave, Schofield, WI. 5pm.
12/15 Mai Tiki Bar, 971-1025 WI-32, Three Lakes, WI. 5pm.
1/3 Stilt House, W62 N360 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, WI. 5pm.
1/5 Crafty Cow, 153 E. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc, WI. 8pm.
1/12 Malarkey’s Pub, 408 W. 3rd St., Wausau, WI. 8pm

About Sprecher Brewing Company
Maker of award-winning beers and sodas, Sprecher Brewing Company is Milwaukee’s first craft brewery since Prohibition. Established by Randal Sprecher in 1985, Sprecher continues to be a leader in Wisconsin’s craft brewing industry.

Sprecher Brewery, the Sprecher Gift Shop and Indoor Beer Garden are located at 701 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, WI. The Gift Shop and Indoor Beer Garden are open Monday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm; Sunday, 11am – 5pm. Tours offered daily. More information about the brewery history, products, tours and Gift Shop hours can be found at www.sprecherbrewery.com, or by calling 414.964.2739.

For more information about information contained in this press release or about Sprecher Brewing Company, contact Anne Sprecher, Communications Director, asprecher@sprecherbrewery.com; 414-964-7837 x252.

Winter technically begins Dec. 21, but craft breweries are already releasing their 2017 winter beers to help you celebrate the season.

We asked small and independent brewers to tell us about the winter beers they’re looking forward to most. We have details on 10 of those beers below — and then scroll to the bottom of the page to see even more.

2017 Winter Beers
Christmas in Your Mouth | Bear Island Brewing | Boise, ID
With hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, allspice — and even a little candy cane for good measure — Bear Island Brewing’s Christmas in Your Mouth is aptly named. The brewery tells us it’s the first beer founder Beth Bechtel ever created, and she came up with the recipe while she was serving in the Navy on board the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush.

“She created this specific recipe to brew upon her return as it was set for early December, thus a winter warmer would be most appropriate,” the brewery explains. “Now this is the most popular seasonal that Bear Island Brewing Company makes each year.”

Snowflake | Meadowlark Brewing | Sidney, MT
Meadowlark Brewing’s holiday offering is Snowflake, a spiced amber ale with molasses, ginger, clove and sweet cinnamon — plus a special addition of mission fig. The beer’s name pays homage to newly-unearthed history by the Sidney, Montana, brewery.

“One of our buildings has a much storied one-hundred-year existence. For many years, the brewery side was the home of the Snowflake Bakery, makers of fine breads, breadsticks and sweet rolls,” explains brewery founder Travis Peterson. “During the remodeling of the building, we recovered many bakery artifacts. It seemed fitting that we would pay homage to this celebrated community institution. Raise a glass for your local bakers!”

Santa’s Little Helper | Port Brewing | San Marcos, CA
This Southern California brewery will see more sun than most of us this December, but that doesn’t keep them from creating a big holiday-inspired stout. Santa’s Little Helper is an imperial stout with an emphasis on dark cocoa and roasted coffee, with a finish that pairs well with those holiday cookies that have been staring at you.

“Santa knows who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, and this is one seriously naughty but nice beer,” says Port Brewing’s Marketing Director Adam Martinez.

Bonus: 2017 marks the first year Santa’s Little Helper will be available in 12oz 4-packs.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Trippel Weizenbock | The Livery | Benton Harbor, MI
This Western Michigan brewery goes all out for the release of Bourbon Barrel Aged Trippel Weizenbock, a 15% ABV beer with a ton of flavor. Brewed with a generous amount of wheat then aged in Four Roses bourbon barrels for one year, this strong dark lager will warm you to the core with flavors of dark fruits, smooth oak, vanilla toffee and bourbon. The brewery says it’s one of the top-rated Weizenbocks in the world. The release is set for the Livery’s December Darkness two-day party Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.

Concrete Ship | Cape May Brewing | Cape May, NJ
Cape May Brewing tells us its Concrete Ship is a “full-bodied bad*ss imperial stout.” This 10.5% winter beer has a velvety texture with rich notes of cocoa and coffee with a touch of heat coming through. It was named for the sunken SS Atlantus, a retired World War I concrete ship that you can see off Cape May’s Sunset Beach.

Super Saison Farmhouse-Style Ale | pFriem Family Brewers | Hood River, OR
pFriem Family Brewers out of Hood River, Oregon, is releasing its Super Saison, a beer brewed to reflect the tradition of Belgian farmers to brew their strongest beers in winter. Super Saison is a 9.5% ABV farmhouse-style ale with notes of pineapple, kiwi and papaya.

As Your Soul | Accomplice Beer Company | Cheyenne, WY
As Your Soul is a brand new beer from Cheyenne, Wyoming’s brand new Accomplice Beer Company — and they’re stoked about this imperial stout winter release.

“This beer was my attempt to create a strong stout with intense coffee and chocolate notes but without adding anything to the beer other than malt. It came out fantastic!” Head Brewer Victor Gabriel tells us. “With an intense chocolate and coffee profile and a nice roasty backbone. I dare you to have more one then one.”

Loma Prieta | Santa Clara Valley Brewing | San Jose, CA
Santa Clara Valley Brewing’s Loma Prieta is an oatmeal rye imperial stout that serves as a base beer for two big winter releases: a Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Loma Prieta and a Bourbon Barrel Aged Loma Prieta. The brewery says “deeply roasted malts are the epicenter of this beer.” You’ll be treated to bold malt aromas with a hint of coffee, dark chocolate and a touch of spicy rye malt. Both the whiskey and the bourbon variants are aged for 10 months.

Whiskey Thief | High Water Brewing | Stockton, CA
High Water Brewing says if whiskey and beer had a baby, it would be Whiskey Thief Smoked Scotch Ale. Brewed with a blend of specialty malts, Beechwood and peat-smoked malts, housemade candi sugar and “dry-hopped” with heather, this winter release will fill your nose with hints of smoke, toffee, roasted nuts and dried flowers. Rich flavors of caramel and toffee bombard the tongue, then slowly break away to reveal a deep layer of smokey, peaty goodness. Whiskey Thief is a collaboration between High Water’s Steve Altimari and Alec Stefansky of Uncommon Brewers in Santa Cruz.

Old Fezziwig Ale | Samuel Adams | Boston
Brewers at Sam Adams lovingly call this creation the “Christmas cookie of beers.” Named after a character from “A Christmas Carol,” this spiced brown ale is a full-bodied 5.9% beer with smooth malt character. You’ll taste flavors of sweet toffee, dark caramel and chocolate, along with spices like cinnamon, ginger and orange peel.

Check out even more 2017 winter beers in our graphic below. We color-coded the snowflakes by beer style. The key at the bottom of the image walks you through it.