L.A. Breweries Celebrate The Holidays

L.A.-area breweries honor the holidays

We associate distinct culinary traditions with the Christmas season, and many L.A.-area breweries are now translating those flavors into beers.

The Bruery continues its 12 Days of Christmas series with 5 Golden Rings, an 11.5 percent ABV Belgian-style golden ale that's reminiscent of spiked punch, complete with flavors of pineapple juice, cinnamon, allspice and ginger.

Eagle Rock Brewery, ever upbeat, stages an annual Jubilee. Its drinkable gingerbread cookie clocks in at 8.1 percent and contains cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, allspice and molasses. ERB also sells bottles of 2011 Jubilee ($13.50), with vanilla notes from Cabernet barrel aging.

In a more twisted fashion, Cismontane Brewing Company brews Dead Santa, an 8.4 percent Belgian tripel-inspired beer with black cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon and bitter orange peel. If St. Nick is smart, he'll take his cookies solo.

Anaheim's Noble Ale Works created You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid to honor a line Ralphie hears after requesting a Red Rider BB gun in A Christmas Story. The golden 9.1 percent winter warmer tastes like mulled cider, with apple cider and Christmas spices like orange peel, cardamom, cinnamon and allspice.