Best Bets in WV Beer – Holiday Edition

We uncovered some new best bets in WV beer that can put a twinkle in your eye and help you though the busy holiday season. We’re sure there are other worthy beers out there, but these are ones that caught our attention. West Virginia breweries greatly appreciate your support.

Abolitionist Ale Works, Charles Town

The absolute king of holiday beers this year has to be Abolitionist Ale Works. We’ve never seen a bigger holiday line-up. Brewer Mike Vance has at least 12 special beers out for the season. Here are four of them that that got our attention. But you should probably check out the entire line to see if another one of them tickles your fancy more. They also have one of the better selections of merch available on their website.

Dirty Santa Beard Imperial Stout – Holiday Edition. Aged in Cognac barrel for about 8 months and in Bourbon Barrel. Flavored with figs, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon sticks and ginger. WOW. 10% ABV. Available in 16 oz. cans at the brewery.

Abo Xmas Spiced Strong Ale is one of Mike Vance’s favorite but he thinks “Abo” scares people off because they don’t get that it’s short for Abolitionist, which is what the regulars and locals call them. Abo Xmas is Brandy barrel-aged with figs, ginger, vanilla and cinnamon. 7.5% ABV. In 16 oz. cans at the brewery.

Liquid Fruitcake Barrel Aged American Wild Ale. Mike Vance has made this beer every year since the brewery opened. Brewed with cranberries, tart cherries, blueberries, candied ginger, vanilla, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg. How could you not want to try a liquid classic fruitcake in a can. They only canned a limited amount of it. 7% ABV. Available at the brewery.

Wild Wit Christmas. They call it an American Ale with cranberries, vanilla and cinnamon. It’s fermented with a wild West Virginia yeast. If your taste runs to Belgian-style wheat beers with spice, definitely give this one a try. 5% ABV. Available in 16-oz. cans at the brewery.

Big Timber Brewing, Elkins

These Elkins brewers know snowy days better than most and also know how to make beers that go with them. Check out these three special seasonal releases. You can’t go wrong here.

Alpen Glow Gose. The third year for this beauty and festive it is. A lighter kettle-soured wheat beer flavored with bright cranberry, fresh orange peel, rosemary and a kiss of J.Q. Dickinson salt. 5.0% ABV. 16 oz. cans & draft. Availability: in distribution and at the brewery

Gingerbread Stout. Who can resist real gingerbread flavors in one of BTB’s classic big imperial stouts. This one has ginger, clove, cinnamon, chocolate, toasted sweet breadiness. That’s a winter classic in a can. 11.2% ABV.

BBA Porter. Oh boy. Here it comes again. Walkin’ into the room like it owns the place. Take a fresh Smooth Ambler Barrel and age some tasty BTB Porter in it for over a year. You get the picture. Now get the beer. 8.9% ABV.

Screech Owl Brewing, Cuzzart

The brewery opened their wonderful online store and it’s a great place for gift shopping. Shirts, hats, glassware and more. And if the brewery is snowed in, you can definitely find plenty of 4-packs of Screech Owl 16 oz. cans in the stores across Preston and Monongalia counties — Buckwheat Honey Porter, Hoo’s Your Daddy IPA, Bold Blonde, Threshing Floor Wheat, and Wild & Wonderful Strawberry Ale.

Weathered Ground Brewery, Cool Ridge

Sam Fonda is never afraid to brew the widest range of beers, from the big, bold and beautiful imperial ales to the smooth, balanced, and quaffable lagers. Right now both of them are ready for your holiday enjoyment. And don’t forget their brewery logo merchandise that makes the perfect gift for the WV beer lover.

Frosted Ground Winter Lager. One of West Virginia’s best winter lagers. This amber beer is toasty malty and rested on vanilla beans. Well-balanced to keep it max drinkable. 5.2% ABV. They’re almost out in the brewery but it’s around many parts of the state in distribution. Available in 4-packs of 16-oz. cans.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Struggle Street Breakfast Stout. Consistently among the very highest rated imperial stouts in West Virginia, this festive archangel of malt is back for another run. Brewed with extra oats and chocolate malt then rested on locally roasted coffee beans and aged in a bourbon barrel. 9.2% ABV. Available in 16-oz. cans.

Golden Ground Golden Ale. Brewed with the less-common Talus hops for an earthy and citrusy bite, this is a new leader among local light beers. Fonda has been loving this beer so much, he is adding it to the regular rotation. And they have plenty of it right now. 5.1% ABV. Available in draft only.

Bad Shepherd Beer Co., Charleston

Folks in the Charleston-Huntington area know that Bad Shepherd Beer Co. loves to re-release their favorites from the past years. We found some of those beauties on tap right now. Find them at Black Sheep Burritos, Bahnhof, and several area bars, restaurants and retail outlets.

Stroopwafel Spiced Ale. Back again for another cool fall season, Stroopwafel has a definite affinity for the holiday season with milk sugar added to enhance its rich, vanilla and cinnamon spicy character. They’re down to the last few kegs, so jump on this one soon. 6.2% ABV.

Biere de Jouett. This highly anticipated annual beauty is a beer worth celebrating the holidays and New Year with. Quite strong, and aged for over a year in wines barrels with tart cherries. Truly a special offering. 9.8% ABV. Available in bottles as well as on draft.

Grabhammer Hefeweizen is a beer inspired by the brewer’s time on the slopes at Snowshoe. An easy-drinking but full-flavored hefe. 4.1% ABV. Available in cans and on draft.

And if you get over to their taproom, a fresh batch of Keep On Keepin’ On IPA awaits you. This one will provide a taste of summertime during this week’s winter weather event. Generously dry-hopped with 2020 harvest Galaxy and El Dorado  hops. A tropical, hazy sensational brew. 7% ABV.

The Peddler, Huntington

While some may have had these two beers at Thanksgiving, there is still plenty left and they are too festive to let the season pass without trying them.

Cautious Granny is a winter spiced winter warmer so perfect as accompaniment for Christmas season feasts, the hot tub, curling, and reindeer herding. 8.3% ABV.

Plumb Bob is their latest fruited sour, and it’s a good one. Plums loves the holidays. Right? Pair with Christmas plum pudding. 5.5% ABV.

Both beers are available on draft at the brewpub and in limited distro in the Charleston-Huntington region.