It's the holiday season! Here are 12 Beers of Christmas from Louisville's craft breweries

Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal
·10 min read

This holiday season, Louisville's craft brewers have been putting the finishing touches on some creative winter warmers to help you celebrate the season in style. From a Christmas cookie-inspired ale to a "Partridge," but not in a pear tree, we've rounded up 12 Beers of Christmas from Louisville's craft beer scene to help you drink local as you celebrate the holidays and the end of 2021.

So raise a glass this holiday season and toast Louisville's vibrant craft beer scene. Cheers, everyone.

3rd Turn Brewing

Seasonal beer: Polar Bear Fell On Me, ABV: 8.3%, Imperial Stout with chocolate and mint

10408 Watterson Trail; 6300 Old Lagrange Road, 3rdturnbrewing.com. Hours vary by location

3rd Turn Brewing has released its winter beer called "Polar Bear Fell On Me," an Imperial Stout flavored with chocolate and mint.
3rd Turn Brewing has released its winter beer called "Polar Bear Fell On Me," an Imperial Stout flavored with chocolate and mint.

Polar Bear Fell On Me, a robust Imperial Stout flavored with notes of chocolate and mint is a nod to one of 3rd Turn Brewing's favorite Patrick Swayze movies, "Road House," where the now cult-classic line, "A Polar Bear Fell On Me," is uttered.

This imperial holiday stout is made with Hershey's milk chocolate and chocolate mint tea for a subtle note of mint beneath a bed of chocolate. 3rd Turn also added a healthy dose of roasted grain for a dark coffee layer to balance out the sweet chocolate notes.

"Layer up this winter and snuggle up to this polar bear," said head brewer Mike Burress.

The beer will be released on Dec. 15 and available at both the Jeffersontown and Crestwood locations.

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Against the Grain

Seasonal beer: Louisville Proper Pappy, ABV: 7.5%, Kentucky Common barrel-aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels and blended with coffee

401 E. Main St.; 1576 Bardstown Road, atgbrewery.com. Hours vary by location.

Against the Grain has released its 2021 holiday beer called Louisville Proper Pappy, a Kentucky Common barrel aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels and blended with coffee.
Against the Grain has released its 2021 holiday beer called Louisville Proper Pappy, a Kentucky Common barrel aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels and blended with coffee.

Louisville Proper Pappy from Against the Grain is not a beer to skip this holiday season. This Kentucky Common is barrel-aged in Pappy Van Winkle barrels and blended with coffee. It features a blend of caramel, chocolate and roasted barley malts that account for the roasted notes while the adjuncts, corn and rye, contribute spicy notes and a mellow sweetness. The addition of coffee gives a subtle chocolate and toffee kiss to each sip.

The special yeast used in this beer produces a measure of lactic acid yielding a tart and refreshing finish, according to Brewmaster Jerry Gnagy.

The Kentucky Common is the only indigenous beer style originating in the Louisville area. Near the turn of the 20th century, most Kentucky breweries only made this style and it accounted for around 80% of the Louisville area’s beer consumption, according to Against the Grain.

Gnagy was inspired by the "holiday helper" his Peepaw used to make, a secret concoction that consisted of mostly bourbon and coffee with a Werther Original melted into it. As a kid, he would sneak sips of Peepaw's magic potion and dreamt of one day making his own holiday helper. Kentucky Proper Pappy is Jerry's dream realized.

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Apocalypse Brew Works

Seasonal beer: Nuclear Winter Warmer, ABV: 5.6%, English ale with notes of toffee, treacle, and toasted bread.

1612 Mellwood Ave., apocalypsebrewworks.com Hours: Monday 4-7 p.m., Thursday 4-7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-10 p.m., and Sunday 2-7 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Apocalypse Brew Works is serving up a "Nuclear Winter Warmer" as its holiday seasonal brew, an 5.6% English ale with notes of toffee, treacle and toasted bread.
Apocalypse Brew Works is serving up a "Nuclear Winter Warmer" as its holiday seasonal brew, an 5.6% English ale with notes of toffee, treacle and toasted bread.

Apocalypse Brew Works is serving up a "Nuclear Winter Warmer" as its holiday seasonal brew, an 5.6% English ale with notes of toffee, treacle and toasted bread. It's a beer you can enjoy with friends as you gather around the fire (or fire pits in our case), said Head Brewer Leah Dienes.

The ale's moderate ABV allows you to have more than one but the richness of the malts gives it a fuller flavor.

"Most of our beers are named for things that can be 'apocalyptic,' this being no exception," Dienes added.

It will be on tap at the Fallout Shelter taproom and available to-go in crowlers and growlers.

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Atrium Brewing

Seasonal beer: Yuletide Joy, ABV: 6%, a Blonde Stout featuring cacao nibs, coffee and Christmas spices

1154 Logan St., atriumbrewing.com. Hours: open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day

Atrium Brewing is serving up Yuletide Joy, 6% ABV Blonde Stout, for the 2021 holiday season.
Atrium Brewing is serving up Yuletide Joy, 6% ABV Blonde Stout, for the 2021 holiday season.

Indulge in some Yuletide Joy this holiday season at Atrium Brewing with its Blonde Stout featuring cacao nibs, coffee and Christmas spices.

“My favorite uncle Max was a sailor, so the only time I got to see him as a kid was when he came home for Christmas. He would dress as Santa and hand out beers to all the adults," said Head Brewer Spencer Guy. "With this Blonde Stout, I wanted to recreate the magic I felt when he returned from sea. I really want everyone to drink this and truly feel Yuletide Joy.”

Yuletide Joy is available on draft and in 16-ounce four-packs in the taproom starting Dec. 10. On Dec. 11, Santa will show up to celebrate and share a drink with you for the holiday season.

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Falls City Beer

Seasonal beer: St. Nick Beer, ABV: 4.8%, Red Ale brewed with Spruce

Falls City Taproom, 901 E. Liberty St., fallscitybeer.com. Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 4-10 p.m., Thursday, 12-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 12-11 p.m., and Sunday 1-8 p.m.

The Falls City Brewing 2021 St. Nicholas Day Beer is a Red Ale brewed with spruce.
The Falls City Brewing 2021 St. Nicholas Day Beer is a Red Ale brewed with spruce.

For the past three years, Falls City Beer has celebrated Saint Nicholas Day by brewing a special beer and releasing it on the special day with unique boot-shaped glassware.

The 2021 St. Nick Beer is a Red Ale brewed with Spruce. This limited release pours a deep, copper-red color with a frothy white head. A mild, semi-sweet caramel malt base is accented by a piney, spruce character perfect for the holiday season.

"Cozy up by the fire with a boot of St. Nick and your favorite vinyl," for the holiday season, said Drew Johnson, director of operations at Falls City.

The holiday beer is available in the taproom in six-pack 12-ounce cans and on draft.

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Gallant Fox

Seasonal beer: "Sh*tter's Full Christmas Ale," ABV: 7.5%, Seasonal Ale

2132 Frankfort Ave., gallantfoxbrewing.com. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 3-11 p.m., Sunday 1-7 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Gallant Fox's Sh*tter's Full Christmas Ale is brewed with enough Sweet Orange, Honey, Ginger and Cinnamon to smack you in the face with holiday cheer.
Gallant Fox's Sh*tter's Full Christmas Ale is brewed with enough Sweet Orange, Honey, Ginger and Cinnamon to smack you in the face with holiday cheer.

Back by popular demand is Gallant Fox's annual release of "Sh*tter's Full Christmas Ale."

This beer is packed with enough honey, ginger, sweet orange and cinnamon to "smack you in the face with holiday cheer," according to co-founder Roger Huff.

This year, Gallant Fox is also expanding its Christmas beer offering to include three additional brews: "Mele Kalikimaka" (a pineapple plum sour ale), and two versions of "Jelly Of The Month Club" (a blackberry and a strawberry blonde ale), Huff added.

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Goodwood Brewing

Seasonal beer: Shoot Your Eye Out. ABV: 6.9%. Holiday stout

636 E. Main St., goodwoodbrewing.com. Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m., Friday- Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out," from Goodwood Brewing is a robust winter milk stout is brewed with Cholaca — the liquified form of cocoa. This brew features a strong, roasty chocolate flavor and aroma with lactose (milk sugar) providing a sweet finish and big-bodied beer. Chestnuts are added to balance out the sweetness and add a delicious nutty kick.
"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out," from Goodwood Brewing is a robust winter milk stout is brewed with Cholaca — the liquified form of cocoa. This brew features a strong, roasty chocolate flavor and aroma with lactose (milk sugar) providing a sweet finish and big-bodied beer. Chestnuts are added to balance out the sweetness and add a delicious nutty kick.

This robust winter milk stout at Goodwood Brewing is brewed with Cholaca — the liquified form of cocoa. This brew features a strong, roasty chocolate flavor and aroma with lactose (milk sugar) providing a sweet finish and big-bodied beer. Chestnuts are added to balance out the sweetness and add a delicious nutty kick.

The name came from the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story,” which recounts the childhood memories of author Jean Shepherd in 1940s Indiana. The story is told through the character of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker, a kid who just wants a BB gun for Christmas, despite every warning — including one from Santa — that “You'll shoot your eye out, kid!”

“We’ve been brewing Shoot Your Eye Out for several years around the holidays and it’s been a big hit. We brew our chocolate milk stout to appeal to our winter stout lovers. Best enjoyed by sitting next to your leg lamp," said Goodwood Brewer Kelly Thompson.

Grab the holiday brew at any Goodwood locations on tap or to-go in a 32-ounce crowler.

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Gravely Brewing Co.

Seasonal beer: Partridge, ABV: 6%, copper-colored ale

514 Baxter Ave., gravely.com. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m., Friday, 3 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, 12 p.m. to midnight, Sunday, 1-9 p.m.

Partridge, a holiday ale at Gravely Brewing Co, is a copper colored ale with mellow caramel sweetness paired with candied pears and spiced with ginger root before a dry, refreshing finish.
Partridge, a holiday ale at Gravely Brewing Co, is a copper colored ale with mellow caramel sweetness paired with candied pears and spiced with ginger root before a dry, refreshing finish.

Gravely's winter seasonal is Partridge, a copper-colored holiday ale with mellow caramel sweetness paired with candied pears and spiced with ginger root before a dry, refreshing finish. Partridge is also lagered to allow for a more subdued character to present itself.

"As with all our beers, this one is named with musical inspiration, 12 Days of Christmas to be precise," said brewer Nick Felton.

Partridge is available on draft in the Highlands taproom and in cans at Kroger, ValuMarket and most other groceries as well as regional liquor stores.

"Being sweet is nice and all, but everything is better with a little spice," Felton added.

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Great Flood Brewing

Seasonal beer: '37 Coffee Porter, ABV: 6%, Coffee Porter

2120 Bardstown Road; 12717 Shelbyville Road, Middletown; greatfloodbrewing.com, hours vary by location

Great Flood Brewing Co.'s holiday beer is a ’37 Coffee Porter, with aromatic notes of forward chocolate and subtle roast, balance flavor with milk chocolate, coffee, and roast.
Great Flood Brewing Co.'s holiday beer is a ’37 Coffee Porter, with aromatic notes of forward chocolate and subtle roast, balance flavor with milk chocolate, coffee, and roast.

Great Flood Brewing is serving up its ’37 Coffee Porter this holiday season, which has aromatic notes of both forward chocolate and a subtle roast, balanced with milk chocolate, coffee, and roast. It is brewed with cold brew coffee and is a great option throughout the season.

The porter received its name from the Great Flood that occurred all along the Ohio River Valley in 1937.

"We try to honor those that came together to rebuild and assist their neighbors and their city during and after the disaster and this beer is named to remember those efforts," said co-founder Zach Barnes.

It's currently only available on draft at the Bardstown Road Taproom and Middletown Restaurant locations.

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Mile Wide Beer Co.

Seasonal beer: 5th Anniversary Double Dry-Hopped Double Northeast IPA, ABV: 8%; 5th Anniversary Double Fruited American Sour Ale, ABV: 7%

636 Barret Ave., milewidebeer.com. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday, 2-11 p.m., Saturday, 12-11 p.m., Sunday 12-8 p.m. Closed Monday.

Mile Wide Brewing Co. is launching two December beers in celebration of its 5th anniversary, including 5th Anniversary Double Dry-Hopped Double Northeast IPA and 5th Anniversary Double Fruited American Sour Ale.
Mile Wide Brewing Co. is launching two December beers in celebration of its 5th anniversary, including 5th Anniversary Double Dry-Hopped Double Northeast IPA and 5th Anniversary Double Fruited American Sour Ale.

Why not celebrate the holiday season and Mile Wide's fifth anniversary at the same time? The Highlands-based brewery is releasing two new beers that will be available at the taproom only on draft and in to-do four-packs of 16-ounce cans.

The first winter beer is its 5th Anniversary Double Dry-Hopped Double Northeast IPA, which launches Dec. 9. A crowdsourced recipe yielded an 8% oat forward Double Northeast IPA, which has been double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Citra and Mosaic hops. Expect a soft mouthfeel and an absolute explosion of tropical fruit characters, co-founder Scott Shreffler said.

The second is its 5th Anniversary Double Fruited American Sour Ale, which is being released on Dec. 10. Another crowdsourced beer, this sour is double fruited with raspberry and blackberry and finished with vanilla. Loaded with intense berry flavor, this beer finishes with a pleasant tartness and creamy vanilla.

“For our 5th Anniversary beers, we wanted to do something different and bring our supporters into the recipe process. So, we created a poll and let people tell us what they wanted us to brew," said Shreffler. "It was a super fun experience, and I think people are gonna love the final product."

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Monnik Beer Company

Seasonal beer: His Dark Materials, ABV: 5/5%, full-bodied lactose sweetened milk stout with oats

1036 E. Burnett Ave., monnikbeer.com. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Monnik Beer Co. is release its 2021 version of His Dark Materials. At 5.5% ABV, it’s  a rich and full-bodied lactose sweetened milk stout with oats.
Monnik Beer Co. is release its 2021 version of His Dark Materials. At 5.5% ABV, it’s a rich and full-bodied lactose sweetened milk stout with oats.

Along with Noël, Monnik's holiday season tripel brewed with lavender and ginger, this year the brewery you can indulge in a pint of His Dark Materials, a rich and full-bodied lactose sweetened milk stout with oats.

Flavors of chocolate, espresso, and dark fruit make this the perfect beer for a cold winter night. But be warned — His Dark Materials "drinks bigger than the ABV would suggest," said owner Brian Holton.

"In this beer, we add unreasonable amounts of highly kilned malts and use lactose to balance the strong roast flavor," he added.

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Old Louisville Brewery

Seasonal beer: Christmas Cookies. ABV: 7.5%, Holiday Ale

625 W. Magnolia Ave. oldlouisvillebrewery.com. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday 5-11 p.m., Saturday, 2-11 p.m., Sunday, 2-9 p.m. Closed Monday.

Old Louisville Brewery's "Christmas Cookies" beer
Old Louisville Brewery's "Christmas Cookies" beer

Old Louisville Brewery is leaning all the way into the holiday season with its popular Christmas-themed beer appropriately called Christmas Cookies.

"We used cinnamon, ginger, sorghum molasses, and brown sugar in addition to vanilla in this iteration," brewer and co-owner Ken Mattingly said previously. "Just like making cookies with grandma, this ale has all the aromas and flavors of the holidays."

It's available on-site in a draft, howler, growler or four-pack of 16-ounce beers.

Reach Features Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 12 Beers of Christmas from Louisville's craft breweries 2021