Today is National Cookie Day, and in the month of December that really means National Christmas Cookie Day! So to celebrate all things (Christmas) cookie, we’re heading to Sycamore Brewing in North Carolina, which brews an annual specialty winter ale perfect for today: Christmas Cookie Ale.

The brewery doesn’t skimp on the theme, either, brewing this beer with actual cookie dough:

Christmas Cookie Winter Ale is a sweeter, malt-forward blonde ale made with the addition of cookie dough to bring out that Christmas sugar cookie vibe. Malt-wise, the beer comes across with notes of caramel and toffee with a slight nuttiness, but all of those flavors are just a background for the real star – the cookie flavors. Sweet vanilla, slightly buttery (but no artificial butter flavor!), plus brown sugar tones, this beer is an ode to baked sweet holiday goods and expanding belt loops.

It’s 7.5% alcohol by volume and definitely one to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve alongside that plate of cookies instead of milk. You might also consider Sycamore’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Christmas Cookie for an extra-special treat for Santa (or just keep it to yourself). Cheers!

Find Sycamore Christmas Cookie Ale on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• Facebook

Image credits: Sycamore’s Facebook page and website.