Cold temps got you down? Well, it’s the time of the year to enjoy a rich, delicious winter holiday ale at a local craft brewery. Several breweries around the state are serving up some tasty brews, mostly limited annual runs, so get there soon!
Holiday ales tend to be on the sweet side, and many even work as a dessert beer. They also tend to be higher in alcohol content than traditional ales, with abv’s typically running between 7%-9%.
We spoke to Pat Maguire, Director of Marketing at Narragansett Beer, to learn more about the brewery’s Bing Crosby Winter Warmer Holiday Ale (7.4% abv), which has increased production and distribution significantly since debuting last year. We’re also roundomg up several other holiday offerings from local breweries below.
The Crosby was introduced in 2023 and is marketed in cooperation with the Bing Crosby estate. “Bing’s a holiday icon,” says Maguire. “The Bing brand, the heritage, the nostalgia; he is synonymous with the holidays, with Christmas. With Narragansett also being a heritage brand – it seemed like a good fit – two classic brands coming together.”
In addition to the beer, customers can find holiday t-shirts with the Bing logo for sale at the Providence brewery and online. “The Bing folks will be selling it on their website as well,” adds Maguire.
In 2023, the ale was brewed mainly for locals. “Last year was a smaller run; we did about 300 cases,” explains Maguire. “It sold out quickly, and we had a lot of people on social channels asking where they could get it. So this year, we upped the production about 10 times, closer to 3000 cases.” The beer is distributed to markets in New England, the Mid–Atlantic, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Colorado. You can purchase the Winter Warmer at liquor stores around Rhode Island and on draft or in a four-pack to-go in the Providence taproom.
We did just that and found it to be one of the best brews we’d enjoyed in a while. Complex and filling, it’s brewed with dark cherries, sweet orange peel, and ginger with notes of toffee and dried fruit for sweetness. English hops provide a hint of bitterness and spice, making it perfect for relaxing around the fireplace. Click here to learn more.
More Holiday Brews from around RI:
Proclamation Ale Company: Winter is Warmer
We sampled Proclamation’s Winter is Warmer (7.8% abv) and brought home a four-pack to share for the holidays. The rich ale, brewed with cherry, maple, cinnamon, and vanilla is meant to be slipped slowly. I found it to be a tasty holiday ale, a little like cherry pie, a nice addition to the Proclamation line. Click here to learn more.
Lops Brewing: Toy Soldier Winter Ale
The Toy Soldier Winter Ale (8% abv) is a deep caramel-colored dark ale brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, and molasses. It’s a popular seasonal brew at the Woonsocket brewery, available throughout the holiday season. Click here to learn more.
Grey Sail Brewing: Kegnog Milkshake
Grey Sail in Westerly offers a unique take on holiday beer with their Kegnog Milkshake (6.5 abv), with Amarillo hops, vanilla, and lactose, for what is described as a dessert-like beer. It’s not quite a holiday ale, but certainly something to enjoy this holiday season. Look for the slightly intoxicated Santa on the can. Westerly, Click here for details.
Moniker Brewery: Holiday Lager
Coming in a little lighter, at 4.3% abv, Moniker’s Holiday Lager is aged on amburana wood chips with notes of vanilla, toasted walnut, caramel, and cherry. It’s certainly worth a stop at the Providence Brewery. Click here to learn more.
Tilted Barn Brewery: Holly
Holly (9% abv) is described as a Belgian Dark Strong Ale, extremely complex and brewed with significant amounts of Belgian candi sugar. Holly features inviting notes of caramel, raisin, dark cherry, and fig. Click here to learn more.
