Fresh releases and events worth seeking out this month, listed from lowest to highest ABV.
Week of Dec. 20
Bluewood Brewing – Pitchside Pale Ale (5% ABV)
American-style pale ale brewed with Mosaic, Centennial, HBC 638, and Simcoe. Bright hop aroma, balanced bitterness, and built to be crushable. Brewed with Saint Louis City Punks, with proceeds supporting local mental health and suicide prevention charities.
Old Bridgeview Brewing – I Put Out for Santa Chocolate Chip Cookie Stout (6% ABV | 20 IBU)
Dessert-forward stout brewed to evoke chocolate chip cookies. Cocoa, sweetness, and bakery-style flavors lead the way in a playful seasonal release.
Side Project Brewing – Bleu (6% ABV)
Missouri wild ale built on the Fuzzy base, aged in oak with blueberries. Soft fruit depth with gentle acidity.
Shortleaf Brewing Company – River Drifter IPA (5.6% ABV | 56 IBU)
A returning IPA focused on balance and repeatability. Clean hop aroma, firm bitterness, and a smooth body.
Side Project Brewing – La Fosse Blend #2 (7% ABV)
Missouri wild ale with apricots. Bright, expressive fruit character with soft acidity.
4 Hands Brewing Co. – War Hammer (9% ABV)
Annual West Coast IPA showcase packed with Helio, Simcoe, and Citra. Stone fruit, citrus zest, herbal earthiness, and dank pine with an amplified dry-hop finish.
Six Mile Bridge Beer – S’mores & Pistachio Baklava Stout (9.1% ABV)
Dessert-driven stout layering chocolate, marshmallow sweetness, pistachio, and pastry richness. Bold and indulgent.
Schlafly Beer – Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (10.2% ABV | 40 IBU)
Brewpub-exclusive imperial stout aged 22 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. Dark chocolate, vanilla, spice, and a warming finish.
Deep Sleep Brewing Company – Port Wine Barrel-Aged Stout (11.1% ABV)
Chocolatey, roasty stout aged 3.5 years in Augusta Winery port wine barrels. Bold vinous character with a distinctive port-driven finish. Extremely limited.
Millpond Brewing – Apple Brandy Barrel Fruitcake (11.2% ABV)
Barrel-aged stout aged in apple brandy barrels and conditioned on raisins, dried cherries, dried apricots, orange peel, cinnamon, and toasted pecans. Rich and festive.
Side Project Brewing – For the Cellar (OWK recipe) (15% ABV)
Aged 15 months in Cognac barrels and finished with Mexican, Ugandan, and Madagascar vanilla beans. Deep, layered, and dessert-leaning.
Public House Brewing Company — firkin releases (listed last)
Strawberry Lime Berliner Weisse (? ABV)
Bright, tart, and fruit-forward. Cask-conditioned and naturally carbonated.
Belgian Dubbel (? ABV)
Dark fruit, soft spice, and rounded malt character from firkin conditioning.
Red IPA (? ABV)
Hop-forward with a sturdy malt backbone. Small batch and fleeting.
Double Cream Oatmeal Stout (? ABV)
Creamy, rich, and dessert-leaning. Firkin-only and extremely limited.
Week of Dec. 10
Best Day Brewing – Dark Diamond (0% ABV)
A dark Mexican-style NA lager built for winter. Roasted malt, cocoa warmth, and a crisp finish. A portion of proceeds supports Protect Our Winters.
Millpond Brewing x Little Lager – Loaded Dice (4.6% ABV | IBU not listed)
A Caffé Amaro barrel-aged schwarzbier with cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, raisin, and soft herbal notes. Cold barrel aging adds depth while keeping the finish clean.
Interruption Brewing – Golden Snitch (4.9% ABV | 11 IBU)
A blonde ale brewed with lactose, vanilla, and butterscotch, now pouring at Good News O’Fallon. Smooth and butterbeer-inspired with warm rewatch-season vibes.
Main & Mill Brewing – Fruit Drops: Winter Punch (5% ABV | 10 IBU)
A kettle sour from Main & Mill’s Fruit Drops series, dressed up for winter. This seasonal version layers cranberry, cherry, orange, pineapple, and a hint of ginger for a bright, punchy sour that drinks festive without leaning heavy. Tart, fruity, and built to feel like a little sunshine in December.
Bluewood Brewing – Pitchside Pale Ale (5% ABV | IBU not listed)
A soccer collaboration with Saint Louis City Punks. Light, crushable, and built for match watching. A portion of every case sold supports local mental health and suicide prevention charities.
Crossroads Brewing – Crown & Hearth (5% ABV | IBU not listed)
A classic session bitter built for long conversations and steady pours. Biscuit-rich malt leads the way, backed by gentle hopping that keeps things balanced and approachable. Inspired by friendly rivalry and full pints, Crown & Hearth is the kind of beer that rewards settling in and ordering another.
Stubborn German Brewing – Oatmeal Cookie Amber Ale (5.3% ABV | IBU not listed)
An amber ale brewed with real oatmeal cookies in the mash, delivering a malt-forward, slightly sweet finish that genuinely reads like dessert. Soft, comforting, and unmistakably cookie-adjacent, this seasonal release leans into cozy flavors without turning cloying. Available on draft and in cans, and likely to move fast.
Modern Brewery – After Dark (5.5% ABV | IBU not listed)
A Munich-style dark lager made entirely with German ingredients. Smooth, rich, and layered with notes of nuts, toasted bread, toffee, and dark chocolate. Unfiltered and cold-lagered six weeks.
Bald Buddha Brewing – Cerveza de Buddha (5.6% ABV | IBU not listed)
A smooth, easy-drinking dark lager inspired by traditional Mexican styles, built for cold winter nights rather than beach weather. Malt-forward without being heavy, this one leans clean, comforting, and quietly flavorful. A solid seasonal twist on a familiar classic.
Side Project Brewing – Obscura (6% ABV | IBU not listed)
American stout infused three times with Ugandan vanilla beans. Bold vanilla aroma, cocoa depth, creamy sweetness, dried fruit hints, and soft milk chocolate.
Perennial Artisan Ales – Celestial Vapor (6.2% ABV | IBU not listed)
A returning hazy IPA that longtime Perennial fans know well. Celestial Vapor is built with Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe, and El Dorado Cryo hops, delivering a spicy-leaning hop nose that opens into a full rush of tropical fruit, with passionfruit leading the way. Soft, balanced, and expressive without being heavy, this one lands squarely in the sweet spot for hazy IPA season. Back on tap and ready to disappear again.
Shortleaf Brewing – Samoa Stark (6.5% ABV | 22 IBU)
A returning stout built to taste like dessert in a glass. Brewed with coconut, caramel, and French cocoa, Samoa Stark leans rich and indulgent without going overboard. Toasted coconut leads, followed by layers of chocolate and caramel sweetness. Cozy, crowd-pleasing, and tailor-made for cold nights. Back now and likely not for long.
Crossroads Brewing – Ready to Mingle (6.5% ABV | 44 IBU)
A Belgian blonde with a strong origin story. This beer began as a homebrew Belgian Golden Single and went on to sweep the Golden Monk awards, taking both first place and Best in Show. Bright, balanced, and quietly complex, Ready to Mingle brings classic Belgian character with a clean finish and just enough bitterness to keep things lively.
Steampunk Brew Works – Constant Clockwork: Endtime (6.6% ABV | 44 IBU)
A winter-ready spin on the brewery favorite, dry hopped with resin-rich lupulin Cryo pellets for brighter aroma and a sharper finish.
Turbulence Brewing – Late Departure (6.8% ABV | 33 IBU)
A returning hazy IPA brewed with lactose and lightly dry hopped with Warrior and Galaxy. Smooth citrus, soft tropical notes, and mellow bitterness.
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. – Old Tjikko (7.3% ABV | 40 IBU)
A returning holiday classic, Old Tjikko is UCBC’s spruce ale brewed with proprietary spruce oil that layers evergreen aromatics over a toasty malt base and spicy, woody hop character. Named for a 9,550-year-old Norway spruce in Sweden, this one drinks like winter in a glass. Festive without being gimmicky, and unmistakably seasonal.
Missouri Brewers Guild – Missouri Loves Company Baltic Porter (8% ABV | IBU not listed)
A limited-edition collaboration brewed by Missouri breweries as part of the Missouri Loves Company series. This small-batch Baltic porter drinks rich and smooth, delivering classic winter-warmer depth without going heavy. Dark malt richness, gentle sweetness, and a clean finish make it an easy holiday pick. Available in 12-ounce cans that just happen to fit perfectly in stockings. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Square One Brewery & Distillery – Imperial IPA (8.5% ABV | 55 IBU)
A 15-year-old recipe revived. Citrus, spice, and a touch of malt sweetness. Double dry hopped with Triple Pearl, Huell Melon, and Mosaic.
Lieferbräu Brewery – Kiss From a Rose (10.2% ABV | IBU not listed)
A returning imperial stout aged 12 months in Four Roses bourbon barrels. Rich and warming, this one leans into barrel depth with a smooth, slow-sipping profile that feels tailor-made for winter. Cozy, contemplative, and built to be savored rather than rushed.
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. – Barrel Drips (11% ABV | IBU not listed)
A blend of three imperial stouts aged in Bulleit bourbon barrels and finished with Blueprint Gamatui coffee. Chocolate, caramel, and cherry notes. Taproom only.
Old Herald Brewery & Distillery – Tequila Cask Aged Triple Dry Hopped Double IPA (11.1% ABV | IBU not listed)
A bold Double IPA aged in tequila casks and triple dry hopped. Agave warmth, oak softness, and bright citrus-tropical hop character.
2nd Shift Brewing – Imperial Stout With Coffee And Maple 2025 (11.5% ABV | IBU not listed)
An imperial stout brewed with Living Millennially Sumatra coffee beans and maple syrup. Slightly sweet and gently bitter at the same time, it drinks softer and more balanced than the numbers suggest. Rich without being heavy, with coffee depth and a smooth maple finish. Available in Shiftmas advent boxes and for sale in the to-go cooler.
The Hop Brewery – Midnight Stave Bourbon Stout (ABV not listed)
A post–Black Friday bomber aged on oak staves from Honey Heist Mead Co.’s Confidence Man and finished with Blade and Bow bourbon. Dark, warm, and complex. Call ahead before making the drive.
Ferguson Brewing Co. – Vanilla Bourbon Porter (12.5% ABV | 33 IBU)
Dark brown with a creamy head, full of vanilla bean, caramel, cocoa, and roasted malt. Warm bourbon finish. Final release of a fan favorite.
Old Bridgeview Brewing – Barrel Aged King Moe (13.5% ABV | IBU not listed)
A Russian imperial stout aged eleven months in Nobletons bourbon barrels. Big, rich, boozy, and quickly becoming an annual Thanksgiving tradition.
Artifact Spirits – Fact-41 12-Year Straight Rye Whiskey
Artifact has released its first-ever age-stated whiskey, drawn from a standout 12-year-old rye barrel that rose above the rest during internal tastings. Barrel No. 41 showed classic rye spice, a full and luxurious mid-palate, and a long finish layered with baking spices and fall apple. Bottled straight from the barrel, this is a bold, high-proof release built for slow sipping and serious whiskey drinkers.
The details:
• Age: 12 years, 5 months
• Proof: 141.9 proof (70.5% ABV)
• Bottles: 106 total
• Price: $125
How to get it:
Available now through Artifact’s website at awhiskey.xyz, with extremely limited quantities.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Events worth planning around this month — taproom anniversaries, festivals, and a few farewell pours.
DECEMBER 16
Stubborn German Cookie Contest + Oatmeal Cookie Amber Release
Stubborn German Brewing celebrates the return of its Oatmeal Cookie Amber with its 3rd annual Cookie Contest, featuring two categories this year: cookies and cookie bars. Bakers should drop off 12 cookies or bars by 5 p.m., with judging by an esteemed panel and prizes for the winners. Not a baker? No problem. Extra cookies will be shared at the brewery, and the fresh Oatmeal Cookie Amber will be flowing on draft and available in four-packs — and it tends to go fast.
DECEMBER 20
Last Call for FBC
Ferguson Brewing Company pours its final pints with an all-day farewell party marking the brewery’s last day of business. Both floors will be open with a limited menu, live music from The JJR Band, and one last chance to raise a glass at a longtime Ferguson staple. Doors open at 11 a.m., and they’ll pour until 9 p.m. or until the beer runs out.
JANUARY 24
White Rooster Stout Fest
White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery’s annual Stout Fest returns right on schedule, kicking off bright and early at 8 a.m. Expect 10 different stouts on draft, split evenly between imperial stouts and milk stouts. Same format as every year, same winter logic: donuts, dark beer, and no reason to sleep in.
White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery, 113 W Jackson St., Sparta, IL 62286
