Drink

Brewer Ethan Cox's Gift List

by / Dec. 15, 2015 7pm EST

A handful of imaginative Buffalonians help you navigate the holiday season’s last call…

 Ethan Cox 
Brewmaster at Community Beer Works


When it comes to holiday beers, ‘tis the season for all beers spicy, strong, or both: The best beers of the season evoke those gingerbread childhood memories or speak to the cold and dark. Here are a few of my favorites:

 Anchor Brewing: 
 Christmas Ale 


Now a tradition for 41 years, this annual release varies a bit from year to year, but is generally something of a brown ale in style, with additional notes of spruce and a warming, but not over-the-top ABV.


 North Coast: 
 Old Stock Ale 


At 11.9 percent, this ale will provide more than fortitude and is perhaps best enjoyed by an open fire. English malts and hops yield a complex, treacly tipple with a softer bitterness underneath. 


 Brewery Dubuisson: 
 Scaldis Noël 


Laden with rich flavors and aromas of fig, anise, and a hint of banana ester, this 12.5 percent beer well exceeds wine as an accompaniment to many features of the holiday feast, from fatty duck to fruitcake.


 Community Beer Works:
 Oh, Snap! 

We take our seasonal stout and add only judicious amounts of true Vietnamese cinnamon and ginger, resulting in a beer that combines warm flavors with balanced roast and a zippy finish. 


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