By James Robinson, Grocery Manager

There is much talk about wine on Aisle 5, but the aisle is also home to a solid selection of European beers, many of which are limited release and offered only during the holidays. Many of these brews come in large format bottles which are perfect for gifting and sharing with your beer-loving family members and friends. And … a bit of advice: If you see a bottle that catches your eye, don’t wait. Most of these items aren’t available for re-order and what you see on the shelf is most likely all we’ll get for the season. So, if you’ve got a hankering for festive beers with a malty backbone and wintery baking spices, look no further – you’ll find it on Aisle 5.

Celebrator, Ayinger Privatbrauerei

Although not classified as a ‘holiday’ beer, Ayinger’s ‘Celebrator,’ with its heady aromas, dark, malty flavors, coffee notes and festive foam make it one of the most complex, satisfying and tastiest wintery brews available. For the uninitiated, the beer is classified as a strong lager, and the beer’s monastic origins are reflected in its delicious heartiness. One of the traits that sets the Celebrator apart, however, is that it lacks the sweetness so often associated with doppelbock beer.

The Ayinger Celebrator has been ranked among the best beers of the world by the Chicago Testing Institute several times and has won numerous awards and medals. Celebrator is a world-class beer that sips beautifully on its own but that also pairs perfectly with roasted meats and hearty winter cuisine.

Delirium Noël, Huyghe Brewery

Delirium Noël from the Huyghe Brewery is a seasonal Belgian Strong Ale that pours dark red with a foamy beige head. Top fermented and bottle conditioned, the brew boasts potent aromas of dark fruit, apricot, caramel malt, sweet cherry, cinnamon and clove with notes of vanilla, apple, banana and yeast. The taste is similar to the aroma, but includes notes of toffee, plum and red wine with notes of pepper and bitter hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy smooth thanks to generous and lively carbonation. The 10% ABV is well hidden, and the finish is lingering, spicy, and dry. This is truly a winter warmer.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, St. Bernardus Brewery

Classified as a dark, top-fermented Belgian Strong Ale (Quadruple), St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is a seasonal beer, full of wintery character and flavors tailored to the festive season. The beer pours a reddish brown color with a layer of cream colored foam. Big malt sweetness greets the nose along with notes of brown sugar and spice. St. Bernardus boasts a flavor profile of big malts, dark fruit, exotic spices and yeast, all balanced by warming alcohol and mild hop bitterness. The beer is heavy-bodied but crisp up front. With 10% ABV the St. Bernardus is a world class winter warmer.

Scaldis Noël, Dubuisson Brewery

Scaldis Noel is somewhat atypical of the Christmas style as no seasonal herbs or spices are added; instead the recipe relies on a handful of ingredients - roasted caramel malts, hops, candy sugar and water. Top fermented and filtered, the brew pours dark amber red with a small off-white head. Aromas include sweet dark fruits, cherry, fig, peach, toffee and marzipan with notes clove and smooth alcohol. Taste follows the nose and also includes honey sweetness and dark fruits, cracked pepper spiciness, some hop bitterness and even notes of anise. The mouthfeel is medium-to-full bodied; the finish is lingering, bittersweet, warm, and dry. Try the Scaldis Noël with Bûche de Noël, triple crème cheeses, Tarte Tatin with butterscotch cream; and dark and slightly bitter chocolate.

Straffe Hendrik Xmas Blend, De Halve Maan Brewery

The Straffe Hendrik is a Belgian Strong Ale (quadruple) that pours dark brown with a frothy beige head. The beer is top fermented and bottle conditioned, boasting aromas of caramel, apple, bread, raisin and cherry with notes of cocoa and malt. Taste follows a similar profile and opens with sweet fruits immediately balanced by toasty malt and notes of licorice, allspice and pepper. The mouthfeel is rich, lush and creamy with medium carbonation and an 11.0% ABV that is well hidden. The finish is long, warm and dry.

The de Halve Maan brewery is located in the heart of Bruges and is widely known for its highly acclaimed Straffe Hendrik quadrupel. A very limited selection of the quadrupel production is barrel aged each year in the medieval cellars of the brewery. For this special Xmas Blend, the barrel selection is determined by De Halve Maan's brew masters, combining Bordeaux, Calvados and Rum barrel aged quadrupel with young quadrupel. This special blend is then refermented in the bottle, allowing for even more complexity, fine effervescence, and an extended shelf life - this special beer will age nicely for up to 5 years.