Maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems that there are a notable number of peppermint bark-inspired beers being released this holiday season; peppermint bark is a chocolate confection that sees crushed peppermint candies sprinkled onto melted chocolate, so a stout infused with chocolate and peppermint is an obvious recipe.

So I decided to select a suitably themed beer for today’s Advent pick, and since it’s my birthday, I tend to pick an indulgent choice on this day. So, I went with one of my favorite Colorado breweries, Great Divide Brewing, and its Peppermint Bark Yeti Imperial Stout.

As the temperature drops, Yeti waxes the runners on his sled while visions of bold imperial stouts dance in his head. When the sleigh bells ring and the first flakes of snow begin to fall, Peppermint Bark Yeti is the antidote to winter’s bitter pall. The inclusion of peppermint chunks, chocolate, vanilla and lactose round out the roastiness and bitterness normally associated with Yeti making for a sweeter, holiday-themed version of our legendary imperial stout.

Yeti is already a terrific imperial stout, and Great Divide has been having fun with it with a number of variants. Peppermint Bark, like the base version, is 9.5% alcohol by volume, and since it comes in a 19.2 ounce can, this is definitely a sweet holiday treat to share! Or, you know, if it’s your birthday, maybe keep it all to yourself…

Find Great Divide Brewing Peppermint Bark Yeti on:

• Great Divide’s Beer Finder
• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• RateBeer
• Facebook

Image credits: Great Divide’s Facebook page and website.