With colder months come darker beers and in Virginia Beach we think that’s cause for celebration. Here is our guide to some of our locals’ favorite dark beers for the winter season.

 

Lynnhaven Coffee and Cream Stout

 

Pleasure House Brewing

 

 

The powerful aroma of roasted coffee is the first thing you’ll notice on this dark-bodied brew. While coffee also comes through well upon tasting, subtly-sweet notes of creamy vanilla are also present. This is a smooth roast perfect for ay stout-lover. Enjoy this beer while warming up after a morning boat ride with the whales. It tastes like coffee, so it’s acceptable at any hour.

 

Truce in the Forest

 

Young Veterans Brewing Company

 

 

This bottled Imperial IPA, named for a temporary holiday cease-fire between a small group of American and German troops during the Battle of the Bulge, pours a cloudy golden color and is citrusy and earthy on the nose. A light sweetness in taste is followed by the floral hoppiness that IPA lovers will crave. Share a bottle of this refreshing creation with friends and family over a holiday feast. It pairs especially well with spicy food.

 

Bavarian Brunette

 

Wasserhund Brewing Company

 

 

This Dunkelweizen pours a clear brown color and hits the nose with some winter spices and a hint of sweet malt. Faint clove is present upon tasting with a slight caramel sweetness on the end - the perfect winter beer for Hefeweizen lovers. This beer is perfect after coming in from a brisk hike through First Landing State Park - if there happens to be a little snow on the ground, even better.

 

Nut Quacker Almond Cream Stout

 

Back Bay Brewing Co.

 

 

Back Bay’s seasonal release this year will be bottled in a 750mL for a special holiday release, it’s one you won’t want to miss. This almond cream ale is brewed with a large amount of lactose to give this beer a delightfully creamy texture and sweetness. Available on draft at both Back Bay and their sister brewery, Farmhouse, this will have you feeling the holiday spirit in no time.

 

Angelico Imperial Stout

Commonwealth Brewing Company

@commonwealthbrewco, Instagram

This tasty winter treat is heavy on the seasonal aromas of roasted, dark chocolate, coffee, and oak. These aromas carry through the flavor as well, with roast hazelnut, vanilla, oak, and plenty of cacao. This big, full-bodied beer is boozy, yet smooth, and finishes with a nice, dry finish. This beer pairs perfectly with warm firelight, twinkling trees and your favorite crooner singing an old favorite in the background.

 

Apricot Tripel

 

Back Bay Brewing’s Farmhouse Brewery

 

@farmhousebrewingva, Instagram

Farmhouse’s Tripel comes with a healthy addition of apricot puree, resulting in a balanced tartness in each sip. Orange in color, this beer is simply refreshing year-round and is one of our favorite easy-drinking beers in the winter. Operating out of a restored 1912 inland farmhouse, this brewery will give you a “home for the holidays” feel, making it one of our favorite spots to cozy up with a great beer.