A beer for the holidays—from crowded stores to awkward office parties to grating family get-togethers, it’s still a time to be thankful. Especially for a festive holiday ale that will make you wish the holidays would last just a bit longer. The tradition of holiday libations has its origins in the Middle Ages when spices were commonly used instead of hops to add flavor and medicinal qualities to brews. The style re-emerged in the early 1900s in the northern countries of Western Europe when local brewers began creating specialty holiday brews for their favored patrons. Today, most breweries make their holiday offerings darker and more potent and often add spices like ginger and cinnamon for a more pronounced holiday flavor.
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