Living in Minnesota during the winter means you better prepare for the cold months. When I say cold, I literally mean consecutive days of below zero temps. 5 science based tips to stay warm and 10 winter survival hacks offer many helpful tips to keeping warm, but I also turn to one of my favorite things in life -Beer! I like to switch from ales to thicker and darker beer to help warm the tummy and spirit. Here is my list of my tried and true wintery brews that I enjoy.

Brewery: SanTan Brewing Company

Beer Name: Sex Panther

Style: Chocolate Pilsner

ABV: 9.1%

 

Tasting Notes:
This chocolate pilsner pours a dark, concentrated brown color with a dark tan head. The aroma has notes of toasted malts and dark chocolate. This pilsner offers a huge mouth feel with tastes of dark chocolate, dares and figs with just enough hop character to balance it all out with a slight bitterness at the end. This beer is a great winter beer that has a heavy aroma and smooth finish.

Brewery: Sante Fe Brewing Company

Beer Name: Imperial Java Stout

Style: Imperial Coffee Stout

ABV: 8.0%

 

Tasting Notes:
This coffee stout pours a mysterious dark, almost black color with a big mocha colored head that is very thick. The aroma is also thick with big notes of expresso, dark chocolate and fudge. If you were blindfolded you would think a delicious, tiramisu dessert was in front of you. The taste is bitter up front with a roasted coffee taste that finishes smooth with hints of cocoa and dark chocolate. Imperial Java Stout is a rich and flavorful brew that warms the tummy on those cold nights. This is a must try for any fans of coffee stouts.

Brewery: Bohemian Brewery

Beer Name: Cherry Bock

Style: Schwarzbier

ABV: 4.0%

 

Tasting Notes:
This Schwarzbier style brew pours a very dark brown with hints of red and auburn with a coffee and cream colored head. The aroma does not disappoint with hints of fresh coffee grounds, vanilla beans, cocoa and roasted malt. The aroma draws in anyone who loves dark beer. The taste of this beer will surprise you. You will notice the dark roasted malt flavors but are mellowed out by hints of expresso and bitter chocolate. This beer is very smooth and light with a finish that fades away on the tongue. This is a great dark beer that offers bold flavor without leaving you feeling full.

Brewery: Baxter Brewing Company

Beer Name: Phantom Punch Winter Stout

Style: Foreign Stout

ABV: 6.8%

 

Tasting Notes:
The Phantom Punch Winter Stout by Baxter Brewing Company pours a dark color with hints of brown and red with a coffee-colored head. The aroma offers notes of roasted coffee, chocolate and sweet vanilla. Once this beer hits your lips you are flooded with flavor starting with bitter chocolate and coffee flavors and ending with the sweetness from roasted malt and vanilla. This well-crafted brew is very smooth going down and offers rich roasted malt flavors from start to finish.

Brewery:  Big Elm Brewing Company

Beer Name: Gerry Dog Stout

Style: Oatmeal Stout

ABV: 6.5%

 

Tasting Notes:
This oatmeal stout pours an inky black color with a think beige head. The aroma is very enticing on a cold day with notes of roasted malts, sweet caramel, cocoa, chocolate and espresso. Gerry Dog is a medium-bodied stout with ample chocolate and coffee flavors. The dark malts and rolled oats add sweetness and depth to the mouth feel. This is a great semi-sweet, rich and flavorful oatmeal stout with plenty of hints of chocolate.