Winter Beers

Crowded stores, cold weather and arguing politics with family while gnawing on an overcooked ham calls for one thing: winter beer. Craft beer has exploded in America and native breweries of all sizes dabble with holiday-appropriate brews. Traditionally these seasonal beers tend toward heavy malt and spice. But now anything goes, so long as flavors can be thematically tied to winter (or a conifer appears somewhere on the label). So to help you drink away your troubled investments and stimulate the floundering economy in the process, I've compiled a list of worthy winter friendly beers and breweries offering tours, tastings and taprooms. The list is by no means complete, so give us your recommendation on the message boards.

Smuttynose Brewing Company in Portsmouth, N.H.
Robust Porter (5.7% alcohol by volume)
As comforting as a mug of post-sledding Swiss Miss hot chocolate, Robust Porter is one of my favorite cold weather drinks, period. Robust Porter pours a deep brown like a pint of Starbucks and goes down sweet, smooth and creamy with a hint of wood; it's like chomping on mahogany dipped in dark chocolate. Not that I've ever done that. Smuttynose offers tours and tastings on Thursdays and Fridays.

___________________________________
Find related articles on MSN:

• What's your beer IQ?
• Should Old Libations be Forgot?
• Best ski trips for city slickers
• Best of MSN City Guides

___________________________________

Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, Colo.
Hibernation Ale (8.1% ABV)
Hibernation Ale is Great Divide's take on an English old ale, a dark and malty style undergoing extended aging. Only its intense woodsy aroma couldn't be more Coloradoan. With rich caramel malt balanced with plenty of lingering hops and a faint hint of bitter chocolate, it's enough to encourage holing up for the next few months. Great Divide offers tours Monday through Saturday and their taproom pours their standard lineup, plus the occasional rare or seasonal brew.