In the spirit of my previous post, I’m recording a few random Winter brews that I’ve tried this month. I’ll call this one the The Best of the Rest 2010, Christmas Edition.

• Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (CA) (pictured below), this strong IPA (6.8% ABV) is one of my favorite winter seasonals.

• Christmas Ale, Anchor Brewing Company (CA) (pictured right), according to Anchor: “Every year since 1975 the brewers at Anchor have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale…the Ale’s recipe is different every year…” Read more about this awesome Ale on the Anchor web site.

• The Mad Elf, Tröegs Brewing Company (PA) (pictured right), I had been cellaring a 2009 Mad Elf and decided to crack it open on my birthday. This is a damn delicious brew — a ruby red ale brewed with honey and cherries that clocks in at 11% ABV.

• Brown Shugga’, Lagunitas Brewing Company (CA) (pictured right), a festive, strong Barley Wine-like beer made with brown sugar (9.8% ABV). Thanks Rich, for sharing a bottle from your six-pack!

• Scotch Ale, Fordham Brewing Company (DE), this winter seasonal is smooth, smokey, and malty – a perfect warmer for a winter night (8% ABV).

• Goose Island Mild Winter (IL), I bought a six-pack at Magruder’s and liked it so much that I bought another.  This is a sessionable Mild Ale at 5.6% ABV.

• Chicory Stout, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE), I drank a pint of this roasty and delicious Stout with dinner at the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Gaithersburg, Maryland. After dinner, we enjoyed a leisurely drive through the Winter Lights at Seneca Creek State Park, one of our favorite winter traditions.

• Shiner Holiday Cheer, Spoetzl Brewery (TX), I had a bottle of this Dunkelweizen brewed with Texas peaches and roasted pecans at my sister’s holiday open-house. Smooth brew, with subtle peach and pecan flavor.

• Porter, RAW Brewing (DC), my brother-in-law Rich brought a growler of his latest home brew over on Christmas day, and the smooth, dark beer went perfectly with our Christmas dinner of Crown Roast of Pork. Rich also brought a cellared bottle of his 2009 Porter, and an Anchor Porter, for a mini-Porter tasting.

• Yellow Snow IPA, Rogue Ales (OR) (pictured right), after the Porter tasting, I pulled out a 22 oz. bomber of Yellow Snow IPA, a bitter brew with a big hop flavor (6.2% ABV, 70 IBU).

I love the winter beer season!