When you think of “beer” and “St. Louis, Missouri” the first thing that comes to mind probably doesn’t have much to do with Christmas or (necessarily) craft beer. But St. Louis has been becoming more and more known in recent years as a craft beer destination, thanks to a number of independent breweries and brewpubs that have been springing up—the first among these being Schlafly Beer, which was the “first new brewpub to open in Missouri since Prohibition” back in 1991.

So in honor of Missouri’s current oldest brewpub, today’s pick is Schlafly Christmas Ale, an 8% strong ale spice in the tradition of the season.

Our Christmas Ale is a warming winter ale that blends the spices of the season with sweet caramel malt.  Orange peel, juniper berries, ginger root, cardamom and cloves are added for spiciness.  We use honey in the fermentation process, which raises the ABV without producing too much heat from the alcohol content.

Many breweries produce richer, higher alcohol beers for the winter holiday season, bolder than their year-round offerings. The inspiration for this beer came from spiced holiday beverages such as wassail and mulled wines. Around the holidays, the sweet and spicy aromas, not to mention the booze, in such libations tend to smooth the rougher edges of enjoying each other’s company and spreading goodwill.

I couldn’t have said it better myself!

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