There's nothing like sitting comfortably in front of a blazing fireplace, peering out the frosted windows at a landscape blanketed in snow, and drinking a dark, well crafted Winter Ale. Also known more traditionally as a Winter Warmer, these brews tend to appear only in the winter months, vanishing well before the last snow melts into the spring. Historically, winter beers have been brewed for centuries. Their ancestors served as celebratory libations for the pagans during the winter solstice. They're rich, flavorful, and thick; everything you need to keep you warm during the frigid winter months.

Winter Warmers generally display a darker, fuller body. As with Stouts, they tend to be very malty. Some are brewed with spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, honey, and hazelnut. Those brewed in the US are generally considered an American Strong Ale, derived from their more modern ancestors in England, the English Strong Ale. Along with the overall heaviness of the beer, they usually have a rather high alcohol content that sits somewhere between 6.0% and 9.0% ABV. So, remember to accompany your hearty Winter Warmer with that cheese log your mother sent you for Christmas, because a few too many of these and you'll find yourself drifting lethargically into hibernation for the winter.

Here at the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado, we've compiled a short list of the some of the Winter Warmers available around the state. While by no means an exhaustive list, it should give you an idea of what's around to keep you warm and joyous for the winter season. Enjoy the holidays and drink well!