By Kristen Kuchar

The holiday season is associated with many beloved flavors – cranberry, gingerbread, baking spices, cocoa and of course, candy cane. Fortunately, Colorado brewers are taking note and adding these nostalgic ingredients to well-made craft brews for everyone to savor during this festive time of year. These craft specialties will only be available for a short time.

Magical Narwhal Candy Cane Unicorn Stout | Woods Boss Brewing Company

This Woods Boss stout was dry hopped with crushed candy canes, along with lactose for a creamy, peppermint beer. There are almost 15 pounds of peppermint packed into the recipe, resulting in a refreshing, chocolatey holiday beer. [6.4% ABV]

Beggars Can’t Be Choosers Christmas Ale | WestFax Brewing Co.

Ideal for the season, WestFax Brewing Co. in Lakewood is brewing a Christmas Ale. The beer is brewed with holiday mainstays – honey, ginger and cinnamon. [7.7% ABV]

Nutcracker IPA | Sanitas Brewing Co.

Earlier this month, Sanitas Brewing Co. released Nutcracker IPA, available at the Boulder and Englewood locations. The winter IPA has a piney aroma with flavors of stone fruit and grapefruit. [7.2% ABV)

Candy Cane Nitro | Left Hand Brewing

Left Hand Brewing’s Candy Cane Nitro is a full-bodied imperial peppermint milk stout. It has aromas of fresh peppermint, coffee and chocolate, and it’s only available for a limited time. [9.5% ABV]

Peppermint Subnivean | Rock Cut Brewing

Located in Estes Park, Rock Cut Brewing is brewing up a seasonal Vanilla Porter with Peppermint. Whole vanilla beans and chocolate malts are used to create a beer with notes of coffee, chocolate and vanilla sweetness. [6.8% ABV]

Childhood Memories | Over Yonder Brewing Co.

Childhood Memories from Over Yonder Brewing Company in Golden captures all of the classic holiday flavors. The winter warmer is holiday spiced, made with fresh ginger, orange, lemon peel and locally sourced honey. [7% ABV]

Spruce Tip IPA | Upslope Brewing Company

Embrace the seasonal aroma of fresh pine needles with Upslope Brewing’s Spruce Tip IPA. The malty, winter IPA is brewed with hand-picked spruce tips to give that piney aroma, and it also has notes of candied orange peel. [7.5% ABV]

Ginger Red Cookie | Pumphouse Brewery

Among Pumphouse Brewery’s seasonal selections is Ginger Red Cookie – an amber ale that is infused with clove, cinnamon and fresh organic ginger root. It’s available at the downtown Longmont restaurant and brewery. [5.5% ABV]

Hot Cocoa Medianoche | WeldWerks Brewing Co.

Weldwerks Brewing’s variant is inspired by the classic wintertime favorite: hot chocolate. The imperial stout is infused with toasted marshmallows and hot cocoa powder and aged for 28 months in bourbon barrels.

Gingerbread Powder Run | Living The Dream Brewing

Gingerbread Powder Run is Living The Dream Brewing’s vanilla cream ale, but with a twist. The Littleton brewery is adding a festive flare with ginger and other spices. [4.8% ABV)

Christmas Ale | Breckenridge Brewery

Breckenridge Brewery’s Christmas Ale is a malty, full-bodied winter warmer. It’s brewed with Mt. Hood and Chinook hops, and the malts lend comforting notes of chocolate and caramel. [7.1% ABV]

Old Jubilation | Avery Brewing

A classic Colorado holiday beer is Avery Brewing’s Old Jubilation, launched in 1997. The malty brew is a winter English strong ale with hints of hazelnut, toffee and mocha. [8.3% ABV]

Gingerbread Yeti | Great Divide Brewing Company

Great Divide Brewing makes a Yeti for every season – pumpkin spice, Mexican chocolate and for the holiday season, a gingerbread imperial stout. The cookie inspired beer is brewed with honey, vanilla beans and spices. [9.5% ABV|

Holiday Ale | New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium Brewing’s Holiday Ale is a limited-release winter warmer. The seasonal beer has flavors of cranberry, orange, cinnamon and other spices. [7.5% ABV]