Gingerbread houses and cookies are Christmas-table staples. But gingerbread beer? Not so much鈥攗ntil now. What was once a novelty has gone mainstream, with dozens of breweries now offering the sweet and spicy suds.
Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh, co-founders of Richmond-Virginia-based , created the first official gingerbread beer in October 2011. They were working on their first winter seasonal when a local farmer walked in with stalks of fresh white ginger. The meeting led to what seemed at the time like a crazy idea鈥攚hy not brew a gingerbread stout?
After its initial release in December 2011, won a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup and was awarded a 100-point rating from Beer Advocate, making it one of seven brews at the time with a perfect score. And all of this happened within six months of Hardywood鈥檚 opening.聽
鈥淲e went from having a small portfolio of beers known only in certain centers of the Richmond area, to all of a sudden having one beer being talked about all over the country,鈥 McKay says. 鈥淚t was extremely exciting for us.鈥
As a 9.2 percent ABV Imperial Milk Stout with 20 gallons of honey, 12 pounds of fresh ginger, three pounds of vanilla beans, and a half pound of Vietnamese cinnamon per 20-barrel batch, Hardywood鈥檚 Gingerbread Stout has earned a loyal following. Kim Jordan, co-founder and CEO of , included it in her 鈥渄esert-island鈥 six-pack. Jim Koch, co-founder and CEO of , was inspired to make a Samuel Adams gingerbread beer after meeting McKay and Murtaugh.
This season, the number of gingerbread beers has continued to grow. Brewers like it because it fits the season spirit, but isn鈥檛 tied to a specific holiday, says Al Marzi, brewmaster at . 鈥淲e wanted something that would have a little bit longer legs, something you could still sell in January,鈥 he says.
As for drinkers, well, we like gingerbread beer because it鈥檚 damn tasty. Here are six of our favorites:
Secessionist Gingerbread Stout, 10% ABV
,聽Houston, Texas: Buffalo advertises its Secessionist Gingerbread Stout as the beer that makes 鈥淢rs. Claus naughty.鈥 Mildly sweet, creamy, and with lots of spice, this stout is a good fit for someone who would dunk a rich gingerbread cookie into beer鈥攐r at least think about it. Be warned: It鈥檚 much spicier than it smells.
Gingerbread Man, 6.7% ABV
,聽Denver, Colorado: An American-style brown ale, Strange Craft鈥檚 Gingerbread Man has an aroma of freshly-baked gingerbread cookies. Not overly sweet, the malty flavors of the ale complement the spices perfectly, making this a beer that鈥檚 easy to drink year-round. The ginger warms as you drink, so be prepared for a slight bitterness on the finish.
GingerBreadHead, 4.6% ABV
,聽Portland, Maine:聽Reminiscent of a gentle, bottled gingersnap, Shipyard鈥檚 newest winter venture has warming flavors of molasses and brown sugar to complement the CaraMunich and Chocolate malts. Light-bodied with some bubbling and lingering spices, this is a good starter brew for those looking to dip their toe in the world of gingerbread beer.
Back Home Gingerbread Stout, 8.50% ABV
,聽Los Angeles, California: Golden Road founders Tony Yanow and Meg Gill have developed one of the warmest gingerbread beers around. If the strong taste of alcohol is your idea of the perfect complement to holiday spice flavors, this is your winner. Think hefty notes of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, a lingering cookie sweetness, and a pronounced booziness throughout.
Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout, 9% ABV
,聽Boston, Massachusetts:聽For those who prefer their alcohol a bit more subtle, Samuel Adams鈥 Merry Maker is a tasty alternative. It pours the color of coal. It has a creamy, tan head of foam. And its filled with aromas of sweet caramel malt, gingerbread, nutmeg, and molasses. With medium carbonation and a warming, toasty finish, Merry Maker hits the lighter end of the stout “fullness” spectrum and would pair nicely with a slice of carrot cake鈥攐r gingerbread.
Gingerbread Man Amber Ale, 5% ABV
,聽Gainesville, Florida:聽One of Swamp Head鈥檚 鈥渆lusive reclusive鈥 releases, this reddish-orange ale is well worth its sips鈥攊f you can get your hands on it. Using their Lost in Time ale as the base beer, Swamp Head adds cloves and vanilla beans in addition to the usual cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, helping round out the light, smooth taste and leaving a lingering spice.