‘Tis the season: 10 winter ales brewed right here in Arizona

Winter may not bring snow and ice to the Valley – at least, not usually – but it does mark the arrival of some great seasonal beers, from Christmas brews to winter warmers. The Innertubes are full of top 10 lists of the country’s best, but I like to focus a little closer to home.

So, as much as I enjoy, say, Odell’s Isolation Ale or Bison’s Gingerbread Ale, our local brewers deserve some love, too. Here are 10 winter seasonals brewed in Arizona (all currently on tap unless noted):

Winter Wobbler: The brewers at Four Peaks in Tempe select a different style every year for this granddaddy of Arizona winter seasonals. Last year it was a Baltic Porter; this year it’s a Rye Barleywine, which will be tapped today. Sorry, no growlers.

Winter Warmer: Named the Valley’s best seasonal beer by New Times, this favorite (pictured above) from Chandler’s SanTan is an English Spiced Strong Ale brewed with toasted sweet malts, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. It’s served in a snifter with free ginger snaps.

12 Daze: This newcomer, a collaboration between SanTan and Liberty Market, is a Caramel Spiced Amber Ale lightly flavored with latter’s popular chai tea. Its namesake 12 ingredients include ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper.

Nut Before Christmas: This English Brown Ale from SunUp has a medium-light body with toasted nuttiness and caramel, toffee and biscuity flavors. Can’t get over to the Phoenix brewery? It’s also on tap right now at Whole Foods Market in Chandler.

Ornament Ale: Brewed down in Tucson, this medium-brown Holiday Spiced Ale from Thunder Canyon is infused with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and a “secret ingredient” but doesn’t have the typical high alcohol content of winter warmers. Currently on tap at Papago.

Christmas City Ale: This just-tapped Holiday Spiced Ale with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and orange zest from Prescott Brewing is an annual tradition in Prescott, aka Arizona’s self-proclaimed
“Christmas City.” Also available in 22-ounce bombers.

Ye Olde Knicker Kicker: Oak Creek annually tweaks the name of its award-winning, slightly sweet Scotch Ale, which can approach 12% ABV. Rumor has it Santa’s Knicker Kicker might be the moniker when it’s tapped later this week.

WinterBock: This Doppelback from Gordon Biersch is a very malty (thanks to four different types of malt) dark-brown lager with hints of holiday spices, but with more carbonation than the classic German style. Available at both the Tempe and Gilbert locations.

Grand Cru: Originally brewed by BJ’s for the new millennium, this Belgian Strong Pale Ale has become the Chandler brewhouse’s traditional way to ring in the New Year. Featuring fruit and spice flavors, it’s served in a commemorative tulip.

Twenty Twelve: Lake Havasu City’s Mudshark ties into the Mayans’ end-of-the-world mythology with its Scotch Ale, which mixes the sweetness of whiskey with the bitterness of coffee. The copper-colored beer won’t be tapped for a few more weeks.

How many of these have you tried?