2018 is nearly over and it is time once again, to look to family and friends and celebrate. To put everyone in the right mindset I present to you Ivanti’s 12 Beers of Christmas 2018 edition. Ok, so there is more than 12 recommendations here, but that just means there is that much more to enjoy and celebrate!

Whether you are a connoisseur of craft beer or looking to expand your horizons you will find a variety of suggestions from Ivanti Employees and Customers from around the globe. A special thanks to all our customer advocates who submitted suggestions! We had an overwhelming number of submissions this year so for those who did not make the cut, my apologies. I could only put so many in the blog.

So, from all of us here at Ivanti and our broader Ivanti family to all of you, we wish you a happy holiday season—no matter what you celebrate—and a very prosperous new year! (And remember, drink responsibly.)

IPAs

Merry Christmas to all the hop-heads out there. Here is the lineup for IPA recommendations this year:

  • Michael, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Tower Station IPA by Mother Road Brewing
    Style: India Pale Ale   ABV: 7.3%    IBU: 70
    Description: Michael sampled a variety of beer while visiting Flagstaff AZ earlier this year, but this is one he would drive back to get again. Solid IPA and a spectacular label.
  • Frank, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Spicy Roger by Gulpener Bierbrouwerij
    Style: Double IPA   ABV: 8%   IBU: 120
    Description: An IPA with a pirate’s bite! Brewed with a hint of chili pepper.
  • Darth Jodius, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Pyro by Burning Brothers Brewing
    Style: American Pale Ale  ABV: 4.6%   IBU: 37
    Description: Gluten-Free beer that is full bodied and delicious (No Sorgum). If you are a celiac and need gluten-free beer then I would recommend Pyro.
  • Brent, Ivanti Software Engineer
    Beer Recommendation: M-43 NE IPA
    Style: New England IPA   ABV: 6.8%   IBU: 65
    Description: A gem of a hazy NE IPA made with Calypso, Amarillo, Citra, and Simcoe hops. Very juicy and a good balance of bitter. Available in Michigan.
  • Andy, Ivanti Software Engineer
    Beer Recommendation: FAD by OMNI Brewing Co
    Style: New England Double IPA  ABV: 8%  IBU: 45
    Description: If MN local favorite Surly’s Todd the Axman were ever brewed as a double, this is what it would taste like.  The culmination of juiciness, malty sweetness, and bitterness blend together into a dangerously drinkable combination. 
  • Liz, Ivanti Product Marketing Manager
    Beer Recommendation: Pina Colada Milkshake by Weldwerks
    Style: New England-Style Milkshake Double IPA  ABV: 8%  IBU: N/A
    Description: Weldwerks had a goal to launch 100 new beers in 2018 (they exceeded it!). This is #76 and one of their most popular beers. It’s brewed with lactose, Citra & Mosaic hops, toasted coconut, pineapple puree and vanilla. It may be snowing but I’m dreaming of the beach with a pina colada (beer) in hand!
  • Shane, Ivanti Pre-Sales Consultant
    Beer Recommendation: Quiet Deeds Session Ale by Deeds Brewing
    Style: Pale Ale   ABV: 4.4%   IBU: 25
    Description: Full of flavour, not too hoppy, bright citrus overtones and goes down quickly. Highly recommended by Ivanti ANZ SE's and Sales people alike, this beer is sure to enhance your next trip to the Greatest city in the World - Melbourne.

Pilsners, Lagers, and Shandys

On the lighter side for those who aren’t into the hop craze or darker beers.

  • Kelly, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Mill Street Original Organic Lager
    Style: European-Style Lager  ABV: 4.2%   IBU: 11
    Description: This beer is light and crisp, with a clean finish. It was the first organic Lager in Ontario and is 100% all-natural and certified organic.
  • Thomas, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Kirner Pills
    Style: European-Style Pilsner  ABV: 4.8%  IBU: N/A
    Description: Great local beer from Kirn in Germany.
  • Timothy, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Swill by 10 Barrel
    Style: Shandy  ABV: 4.5%   IBU: 4
    Description: Light and lemony lager that is rich in flavor and refreshing with almost any meal.

Belgian Ales

My personal favorite. I group Belgian beers into two families. The farmhouse ales and what I like to refer to as Monk beers. Trappist, doubles, triples, quads, strong dark are many of the types you will find descended from traditional beers brewed by Belgian monks who would fortify the beers as a staple to supplement their diet during the winter season.

  • Dennis, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Leffe Triple
    Style: Belgian Triple  ABV: 8.5%   IBU: 15
    Description: Light and sweet. Leffe Tripel is an authentic blond abbey beer full of character that experiences a secondary fermentation in the bottle due to the presence of yeast. Its flavor is robust and refined.
  • Ira, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Black Current Wilder by Reformation Brewery
    Style: Belgian Strong Ale   ABV: 8.8%   IBU: N/A
    Description: Black currant, orange peel, and pilsner malts lend a bright, assertive tartness and dry finish.
  • Ken, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Firestone Walker Twenty-Two Anniversary Ale
    Style: Belgian Strong Ale   ABV: 11.8%   IBU: N/A
    Description: We humbly present XXII Anniversary Ale, a beer celebrating our 22 years brewing here on California’s Central Coast. Each year we host a barrel aged blending competition with local winemakers & this year the winning blend is from Sherman Thacher & Daniel Callan of Thacher Winery, along with Terry Hoage & Phil Lamontagne from TH Estate Wines, with help from our friend & master bread maker Arie Litman. XXII Anniversary Ale is 12.7% ABV & is a blend of bourbon, rum & gin barrels.
  • Andrew, Ivanti Director of Sales
    Beer Recommendation: Bitter & Twisted by Harviestoun
    Style: Golden Ale   ABV: 3.8% (cask) 4.2% (bottled)  IBU: 34
    Description: Clear golden ale with a citrus hop aroma, and is brewed very close to my house in Scotland…! It has a malty-sweet aroma with a floral, fruity hoppiness and a zingy, zesty flavor. Complex, rounded, sweet and dry; this is the connoisseurs' session beer par excellence!
  • Ken, Ivanti Director of Engineering
    Beer Recommendation: Framboise Lambic by Brouwerij Lindemans
    Style: Lambic   ABV: 2.5%   IBU: 12
    Description: I’d consider this a dessert beer and given the opportunity I always have dessert first in case there’s a fire and we have to leave before the meal ends. Perfect beer for the Holidays! This lambic is deep red with a medium body. It has medium sweetness and is reminiscent of raspberries, sweet herbs, and yeast. Zippy acidity balances out the sweetness to provide a harmonious finish. And yup 2.5%, but no one wants to fall asleep at Mom’s house during the holidays!
  • Jonathan, Ivanti Technical Enablement Lead
    Beer Recommendation: Haka by Butcombe Brewery
    Style: Golden Ale   ABV: 4.5%   IBU: N/A
    Description:  Cask seasonal. This amber-colored beer has a robust, full-flavored character and features generous helpings of New Zealand hops which lend a beautiful, grape-like aroma. Hops used: Nelson Sauvin

Stout and Porters

The heavy hitters. We have a few options here this year that are guaranteed to please those of with a taste for darker beers. 

  • Brad, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Avery's Mephistopheles
    Style: Double Imperial Stout   ABV: 14.6%   IBU: N/A
    Description: Velvety smooth and delicious, almost a liqueur in its complexity.
  • Ross, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation:  Brasserie Deiu Du Ciel! Peche Mortel
    Style: Imperial Coffee Stout   ABV: 9.5%  IBU: 76
    Description: Extremely smooth, good coffee bitterness, dry, lingering finish.
  • Rick, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Old Man Winter Porter by Ribstone Creek Brewery
    Style: Porter  ABV: 6.6%  IBU: N/A
    Description: Dark, malty and rich with coffee and chocolate overtones.  An ideal pint to raise on a cold winter night in Alberta.

More Ales!

In my opinion you can never have enough good ale. Here we have a collection of Irish, Scotch, and German Ales that are certain to delight!

  • Jim, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale
    Style: Scotch Ale  ABV: 7.7%  IBU: 21
    Description: Named for a medieval Scottish sword, CLAYMORE SCOTCH ALE is our tribute to the legendary “Wee Heavy” beers of Scotland. This malty, deep-ruby beauty features lots of caramel sweetness, a reserved hop profile, and a subtle warming character. Unlike its namesake, this beer only requires one hand, but it’ll still make you feel like nobility. 
  • Jason, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: RoHa Maltese Cross
    Style: Red Ale  ABV: 4%  IBU: N/A
    Description: I'm a big fan of this little Brewery. Maltese Cross is a great red that has a mild malt and almost makes it a session beer plus most of the proceeds go to supporting the local firehouse right down the road. 
  • Derek, Ivanti Customer Advocate
    Beer Recommendation: Troegenator by Troegs Brewery
    Style: Double Bock   ABV: 8.2%   IBU: 25
    Description: Thick and creamy with an amazing dark flavor - for those that want a winter beer that's not overly spiced and isn't a Stout or Porter