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The label promised berry jam; our glasses screamed butterscotch. We cracked open Great Lakes Brewing’s Cookie Exchange milk stout expecting a sweet, fruity holiday twist and instead found caramel, coffee, and a full-on Werther’s vibe. After a pre-show feast and one too many smoothie-style pours at a local favorite, we got honest about why pastry stouts can overwhelm a full palate and when a single dessert beer is the right move. Then we reset with Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale—a classic, lightly skunky European-style ale that trades spice overload for clean malt, easy bitterness, and genuine drinkability.

Between sips, we share a Rising River shoutout, a golf simulator discovery, and the pre-snow scramble that always hits the week of Thanksgiving. We talk roofs and gutter guards, small-town nights out, and the way winter rituals shape what you drink: a light, balanced ale for game day, a pastry stout for a slow night, and a fruit-forward option when leftovers lean rich. Our ratings are clear, our jokes are warm, and our gratitude is real—because these seasonal beers aren’t just flavors; they’re part of the moments we remember.

If you’re stocking up for the holidays, skip the spice bombs that dry out your tongue. Reach for a classic winter ale you can share across the table, and save the cookie stouts for that single slow pour after dessert. Give it a listen, tell us which winter beer belongs in your fridge, and help others find the show—follow, share with a friend, and drop a quick review. Your notes keep the mics on and the glasses clinking.

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