Winter Beer - Special Seasonal Treat

Yes, there's holiday cheer, food, presents, gathering with family, hanging out with friends and the whole shebang… Like a cherry on top of that, winter is the season when breweries put out their special seasonal beers, usually called winter beer. Winter beers have become a very interesting genre on the global beer scene, and for many breweries they are like a trophy to be proud of, something to shout about at the end of a year. Although there is no standardized style and there are many variations on the theme, all winter beers have some features in common. They are not easy-drinking thirst-quenchers, but rather rich and full-bodied, complex beers with a higher alcohol content, made to warm you up and spread holiday cheer. Like a Christmas tree-topper, winter beer is a special treat for every beer enthusiast.

“Božićno pivo, or Christmas beer by Medvedgrad, excellent label, and even better dark lager.” Image credit: Pivovara Medvedgrad

With the craft beer revolution that hit Zagreb a couple of years ago and is still sweeping the city, the situation with seasonal beers has never been better. Yes, there’s mulled wine and punch and brandies, but this winter there’s a wide selection of local beers we could have only dreamed about only three years ago. With all due respect to craft breweries, our oldest seasonal beer comes from Zagrebačka pivovara (Zagreb Brewery). The biggest Croatian brewery and the oldest still existing institution of that kind in Zagreb first introduced their winter beer in 1990. They call it Božićno pivo (Christmas beer), which is basically a richer, fuller version of their best-selling lager, Ožujsko pivo. Traditionally, they change the label every year, commissioning different artists to design it. In the beginnings they used prominent, well-known artists, but lately the job is done by young, aspiring artists, like Nikolina Zanetti this year.

“2016 edition of the traditional Christmas beer by Zagrebačka pivovara.” Image credit:Zagrebačka pivovara

Another winter beer also called Božićno pivo is a seasonal product of Medvedgrad Brewery, the oldest microbrewery chain in Zagreb, very ambitious and hyperactive in the last couple of years. Božićno pivo is a strong, dark lager (dunkler bock style) with a special blend of five malts. The extract is impressive 18%, and alcohol content is 6.9%. The first batch was brewed and launched in 2012, so this is the fifth edition, and Medvedgrad really keeps getting better with practice.

“Winter-friendly Neon stour by Varionica craft brewery.” Image credit: Varionica

Although they are maybe not called winter beer, neither marketed as such, many of Zagreb’s new craft breweries have some special seasonal beer of their own, perfect for sipping in the cold months ahead of us. We are waiting for the premiere of Pivionica’s rich and sweet cream stout called Creamstmas Stout.  Crafter’s is about to release a dark and aromatic Scotch ale called Spirit. Neon stout by Varionica is not a newcomer and it’s not strictly seasonal, but this creamy outmeal stout is just made to be enjoyed in winter. It’s also very food-friendly. Hipsters’ favourite Garden Brewery simply has to add a winter beer to their ever-growing number of labels, and their Vanilla and Chocolate Porter is definitely something different on the local beer scene.

“Christmas special, Vanilla & chocolate porter by the Garden Brewery.” Image credit: Garden Brewery

Who knows, maybe there will be some other surprises, but even this is more than enough to find some really great bottles of beer on your Christmas table and around it. And matching it with Christmas food, from starters to desserts, can be a new challenge for the adventurous palate.

“Winter beers and Christmas spirit go together.” Image credit: Pivovara Medvedgrad

Author: Taste of Croatia