By Brian Beauchemin

As you would guess this time of the year, there is no shortage of local breweries producing spiced beers for the holidays. Cinnamon and vanilla lead the way, and there are two beers inspired by Mexican churros. IPAs this month broaden their scope and include grits, spruce tips, and habaneros — but not in the same beer! And if you’re longing for a warming night cap, we have a bourbon barrel-aged porter to soothe your soul. Unless otherwise stated, the beers are already available in local taprooms or supporting establishments.  

Cabarrus Brewing 

Winter Warmer is a classic spiced winter ale brewed with sweet orange peel, spruce tips, allspice, clove, nutmeg, fresh ginger, and an English yeast. The 7.9% ABV dark ale sports aromas of candied ginger, pine, apple pie, and clove, segueing into flavors of snickerdoodle cookies, juniper, milk chocolate, graham crackers, and a touch of vanilla. A lingering malty sweetness finishes off this highly drinkable winter ale. Look for the brew around the Thanksgiving holiday.  

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NoDa Brewing

The annual early-winter release, Hoppy Holidays is a 6.5% ABV American IPA brewed with six hop varieties and spruce tips providing citrus notes and a brisk piney aroma. 

The following four releases will be draft-only options at the brewery’s taproom: Boom is a West Coast-style, double dry-hopped IPA utilizing a wide array of hops (Krush, Mosaic Hyper Boost, Strata, and Mosaic Cryo). The 6.6% ABV IPA shines with bright guava, berry, citrus, and herbal notes.  

Taking an American IPA and twisting it sideways a bit, Mangos Were On Sale utilizes both mangos and habaneros in the brew. The 7% ABV beer provides tropical mango notes up front followed by a slight heat from the habaneros on the finish.

A churro-inspired Mexican amber lager, Churiginal Cinn, was brewed with Vienna and caramel malts, flaked maize, and hand-toasted cinnamon sticks. Releasing Nov. 15, the 5.5% ABV beer has a nutty and slightly sweetened malty character with cinnamon spice notes.

Grit ‘Er Done puts a southern twist on a classic IPA from the addition of grits to the malt bill. Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra, Centennial, and Chinook hops lead to a bold, intense hop payload with a clean, crisp finish. The 5.5% ABV IPA releases Nov. 22. 

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Resident Culture

Mouth Wooed is a 6% ABV fruited sour with key lime, blood orange, and raspberry. The tart lime, bright orange, and pop of raspberry come together in this fruity sour, serving up an ideal blend of tart, juicy, and refreshing.

The first of four hazy beers released this month is Higher Calling. The 6% ABV hazy IPA is a collective effort created by Dssolvr Brewing in Asheville to support the great people and businesses of WNC — not only to show solidarity in a time of need, but to also provide funds for businesses to rebuild.

A hazy pale ale, Weekend Safety Brief, utilizes YCH Veterans Blend and hand-selected Citra hops, in tandem with oats and wheat. The 7% ABV brew is dank, dripping melon and peak-of-ripeness tropical fruit. The brewery created this beer to allow the YCH Veteran’s Blend to shine: three dollars per pound of hops used goes to nonprofit organizations that provide support for the Veteran community.  

Upping the ante on the alcohol front, The Resurrection of the Extraterrestrial Occult is an 8.5% ABV hazy double IPA loaded with three hops providing a burst of tropical fruit flavors. Citra and Strata bring juicy passionfruit and grapefruit, while Motueka adds a crisp, zesty touch of lime. A creamy body balances the juicy sweetness with a subtle herbal kick producing a smooth, full-bodied, and refreshingly fruity brew.

The last of the four hazys, Nectar of the Gods, releases Nov. 29. The 8.5% ABV hazy double IPA is a collaboration with Outer Range Brewing from Frisco, Colo. Mosaic and Nectaron hops make for a tropical paradise in a glass. Mosaic provides layers of juicy mango, pineapple, and a hint of earthy dankness, while Nectaron adds vibrant notes of nectarine, citrus, and a splash of tropical passionfruit.

Switching to the dark side, Half A Lonely is an “imperial-ish” 8.3% ABV pastry stout. The stout is brewed with creamy coconut and bold cacao nibs. Expect the same intense aromas and rich flavors of a stout but one that remains crushable from start to finish.

N.A.R.C. IPA is a non-alcoholic IPA tipping the scales at less than 0.5% ABV. A classic West Coast-style IPA hop profile with all the dank, pine, resinous character but with much less alcohol. The NA beer is dry, crisp, and lightly bitter with notes of grapefruit and orange zest. Releases Nov. 22 in the taproom, distribution, and online. 

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Sycamore Brewing

Bueno Churro Amber Ale is a 6.7% ABV amber ale brewed with local malts from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville. Vienna malt and three Munich malts build a foundation of bready, toasty, caramel, and honey flavors. Toasted white wheat malt adds nuances of graham cracker, pie crust, and breakfast cereal while providing a smooth, silky mouthfeel. Honey malt adds intense honey sweetness and several British crystal malts round out the grist lending more layers of caramel, brown sugar, molasses, raisins, and fig. Spices add slight cinnamon intertwined with sweet vanilla up front, with malt notes supporting throughout. Dessert-like cake and donut flavors mingle throughout tasting the brew. 

The brewery’s annual holiday beer, Christmas Cookie Winter Ale, returns with a Nov. 23 kick-off event. The 7.5% ABV blonde ale is malt forward and blends in real cookie dough. The taste of cookies dominates with vanilla, caramel, toffee, and buttery notes supported by a nutty maltiness. 

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Triple C Brewing

Pouring deep amber in color, White Blaze is the brewery’s seasonal winter brew. The 6.0% ABV spiced winter ale welcomes you with aromas and flavors of freshly ground cinnamon and vanilla beans ideal for the cold winter months.  

Maple Pecan Espresso is a 6.3% ABV golden ale and is their version of a fall pumpkin beer. The ale is brewed with roasted pecans, pecan and praline coffee, and maple. Flavors of nutty pecan and sweet praline swirl on the palate while balanced by the maple and coffee aroma. 

A 6.0% ABV fruited sour, Cranberry Orange Crumble Sherbet is both sweet and tart, providing copious amounts of cranberries and sweet oranges in tandem with cinnamon dust and vanilla to make a unique and tasty winter sour.  

BBA UAN is a 10% ABV bourbon barrel-aged breakfast porter releasing November 22. Brewed with local Cloister honey and fresh roasted coffee and then aged in select bourbon barrels for 9 months resulting in a dark, sweet, creamy, roasty brew. 

Releasing Nov. 29, Cheers! Is a 6.5% ABV winter IPA. The bold IPA brewed in celebration of the holidays utilizes Centennial, Cascade, and Chinook hops contributing citrus flavors with a sweet malt backbone for balance. 

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Wooden Robot Brewery

Cellarrested Development is a pale ale with Comet, Citra, and Columbus hops. Brewed in collaboration with Cellarest Beer Project, this vibrant pale ale channels the spirit of the West Coast. The dynamic trio of hops has this 5.5% ABV brew bursting with citrus and pine flavors.

A dark lager inspired by Czech Tmave Pivo, Bot in the Dark is brewed with a variety of kilned and roasted malts from Epiphany Craft Malt. The 5.2% ABV brew delivers malty notes of fresh-baked bread and dark chocolate, with a smooth, clean finish.