Winter seasonals too often fall prey to the traditional trope of “overly sweet, dark, thick.” McMenamins’ seasonal, the Kris Kringle Traditional Yuletide Ale, has the full body, fragrantly chocolate nose and warm, rich red color that you would expect from a beer released around the holidays. But with five different kinds of hops—Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, Perle and Sterling—this Kris Kringle is big and bold, not saccharine, and most likely steering his sleigh through dense stands of fir trees. A moderate (for the Northwest) ABV of 6.84 percent ensures that a pint will warm the bones and bring about some hearty Christmas cheer.
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