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Holiday Craft Beers

Holiday Craft Beers 2020

Posted On: December 07, 2020

Say cheers to the holidays with these festive seasonal brews from the craft brewers in the Quad Cities!  Whether you’re buying them as a gift or just picking up a growler, crowler, or cans to take home, the breweries in the QC are ready to help you be the hit of the holidays.

(Currently, the Illinois restaurants and bars are closed to indoor service.  All are offering curbside and some have online ordering and delivery.  The Iowa QC breweries offer curbside and some have online ordering too. Stay up to date on our area's Covid regulations here.)

6 park of beer with a glass of dark beer

Bent River Brewing’s Jingle Java is a long-time favorite that fans look forward to getting their hands on as soon as it’s tapped.  This coffee stout is enhanced with a warm winter mix of vanilla, pecan, cinnamon, caramel, and rum. Their Rock Island location is where to get a growler or refill.  Hours updated on a week-by-week basis on Facebook.

Front Street Brewery’s Snickerdoodle Cream Ale is a more-recent favorite.  Just like its name implies, you’ll taste creamy cinnamon and other comforting spicy notes.  Stop in at the taproom in the Freight House or the pub & eatery. You can get a growler too.

The name might be intimidating but the popular Krampusblüd Nordic Stout at Wake Brewing in Rock Island returns for year.  This stout is fermented with Nordic yeast; then aged with vanilla beans and Dark Matter coffee. Get your 4-packs to go on the weekends.

glass of light stout beer

Contrary Brewing in Muscatine has a whole array of holiday-themed brews to try.  The Barry White Xmas Stout is a Christmas ale with a lot of oats and lactose with an infusion of coffee, chocolate, and Christmas spices.  Or try the Smoked Butternut Squash Porter and Taylor’s Market Maple Butternut Squash. Order online or by phone for contactless pickup, or stop in!

The Midwest Ale Works’ new Chocolate Raspberry Stout has just the right amount of sweetness for the season.  Order online or by phone for curbside pick-up at their East Moline location.  Or try the Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout if you're already sweet enough. 

The new Witty Repartee Belgian Wheat at Crawford Brew Works in Bettendorf is a Belgian Wit that went a little bit crazy.  The traditional orange peel and coriander blends with a soft wheat malt character and subtle Kent Goldings hop character. This one somehow grew to almost 10% ABV and picked up some ginger and tumeric tea for a spicy, tannic character that will leave you begging for more.  Order online for curbside/pickup in person or stop in!

Tis the season for dark beers and the new “Can't Phase Me!” from Radicle Effect is the fourth addition to our phase series.  This stout is brewed with cacao, anchos and chili de arbol.  You’ll taste subtle chocolate sweetness up front with a gentle warmth on the throat from the chilies.  Visit rebrewerks.com for online orders/curbside pickup or call 309-283-7605 to place your order over the phone.

glass of light stout beer with a pecan maple stuicky bun

The Maple Leaf Sticky Bun Scotch Ale at Geneseo Brewing Co. will remind you of Christmas morning.  This beer only gets better as it gets closer to room temperature!  It’s malt forward, and sweet without being cloying.  Call 309-945-1422 for curbside service or delivery.

The new sour from Five Cities Brewing in Bettendorf tastes just like dessert with their new Strawberry and Graham Cracker Pastry Sour.  You can order online for curbside or schedule it in advance, or stop in!

The Clash Clown Brown Ale at Galena Brewing Ale House in Moline has little bit of everything for the early winter season—a little roasty, a little nutty, a little sweet. Stop in to pick up a growler or get a refill Thursday-Saturday.