Of the many holiday treats to look forward to, gingerbread might be one of the most iconic. Whether in the form of a house, man-shaped cookie or a cake-like loaf, the spicy aromas and flavours of freshly baked gingerbread are enough to conjure up images of a crackling fire and the jolly, bearded man himself.
One Ontario craft brewery has bottled up their take on gingerbread in a seasonal winter beer. Lake of Bays’ Winterhaven is a bold ale made from Vienna and rye malts with a hint of hop. “It's warmly spiced and great for those who like the flavour of gingerbread delivered in a very subtly sweet liquid,” says Lake of Bays’ Sarah Girdwood. “We always want to avoid brewing liquid cookie.”
Winterhaven is a pleasant sipper with fruity aromas (black cherry and fruitcake, according to Lake of Bays) that progress to a lightly spiced body. The dry finish is refined and welcome, leaving hints of cinnamon and clove lingering on the tongue.
In a large-format 750mL bottle, Winterhaven is perfect for sharing – and at a boozy 8% ABV, it might not be a bad idea to crack it open with a few friends.
$11.95 for 750mL; LCBO
