Bauhaus Brew Labs – Lederfrozen (6.4% ABV)

This German-style bock lager pours a dark mahogany with a foamy head, with a nose that includes toasty biscuit, sweet honey, and faint caramel. The flavor profile is similar with core toasted malt and bready flavors. It begins with a toasted bread element and transitions into a sweeter, caramelized experience, finishing with a sweet note and subtle underlying notes of traditional dark beer flavors such as coffee and chocolate. It leans on the sweet side of the spectrum, but balanced. It is sold in Bauhaus’ Frostbox seasonal mixed pack along with a Belgian-style white ale, West Coast-style IPA, and vanilla stout.

Bauhaus Brew Labs opened in 2014 in Northeast Minneapolis. They are known for their jovial, community-focused taproom and beer garden. Beer-wise, Bauhaus draws inspiration from German tradition and modern American craft with a broad appeal. They also serve housemade nonalcoholic beers, hard seltzers, and THC beverages.

Utepils Brewing Co. – Quadriga (10.1% ABV)

Utepils’ take on the Belgian-style quad is fizzy, herbal, sweet, and hearty all in one. It is rich and bready, carefully balancing notes of multigrain bread with cardamom, candied sugar and citrus. Additional tasting notes include toffee, fruitcake, and faint caramel. While many quadrupels are defined by sweetness, Quadriga features a hearty malt base with spice and herbal flavors that set a winter-appropriate tone before it finishes with a goodnight note of candied citrus and caramel along with a wisp of cardamom and nutmeg. As it warms, the carbonation draws less attention on your tongue, replaced by the sweet and spice profile.

It is available at the Bryn-Mawr neighborhood brewery, a short hike or cross country ski from Theodore Wirth Park, and sold in the Winter Weekender Mix Pack at liquor stores. The Winter Weekender also includes a sessionable Czech-style black lager called Loonar Eclipse, the crisp Pils, and Hoppestokk hoppy lager. Further cementing the winter spirit, Utepils has a partnership with The Loppet Foundation, and they are the official beer sponsor of the 2025 Loppet Winter Festival.

Fair State Brewing Cooperative – Mister Falcon (7.3% ABV)

Winter beers don’t need to be dark. Mister Falcon is a hazy IPA collaboration with Barrel Theory (located in Saint Paul), showcasing three different hop varieties, and brewed with malted oats to give a thick and satisfying heavy, yet fizzy, body. It’s a very aromatic beer that gives off orange juice, melon, tropical fruit and citrus tones. The beer itself is big and flavorful, at 7.3% ABV. Initial flavors include pineapple and tropical fruit, developing into a dank finish with a hint of bitterness. While there is a big dose of the tropics, it’s a fitting winter beer with classic citrus and pine undertones that set the mood. It will be available beginning in January.

Fair State is one of few cooperative breweries in the country. Their Northeast taproom offers a local, neighborhood atmosphere with a wide variety of beers available, including lagers, sour ales, IPAs, and stouts. Many restaurants are located near their Central Ave NE base of operations.

Pryes Brewing Co. – Lost Moon (12.4% ABV)

Lost Moon is an annual bourbon barrel-aged stout, a big boozy beer and winter warmer. Just like winter, imbibe in moderation. Lost Moon sets itself apart with a mellow, creamy body and big flavors or cherry, plum, and dark fruits. You’ll also pick up on a blend of chocolate, coffee, and roasty malt flavors with a discernable alcohol presence. It starts with the strong fruit flavors, merges with a smooth milk chocolate, then gives a blend of everything at the finish, along with a notable bourbon kiss at the finish.

Pryes is located along the Mississippi River near downtown and features an in-house pizza kitchen and a feather bowling lane with a multi-level restaurant meets warehouse atmosphere. The Idyll Forest sour series offers a wine-like twist and, for those who want a dark winter beer with less alcohol, Peace Offering coffee stout is another winner.

The Freehouse – No. 96 Beware - Black (r)ice (5.0% ABV)

Sometimes you want the bigger flavors of a dark beer without the bigger body. The beer’s name is a reference to deception. While it looks like a porter or stout, it carries a sooth, light body. Made with black rice, it’s light and fizzy but with a full, nutty flavor. It starts out toasty, then a sweeter caramel and nutty profile takes over, finishing with a touch of coffee-like bitterness that brings it full circle for a clean finish. It’s perfect for those who want something mild and less malty, but still season appropriate. Newly tapped for 2025 at The Freehouse and the Blue Plate family of restaurants.

The Freehouse is located on Washington Avenue in the North Loop neighborhood. It is an urban diner and late night gathering spot for hot food. In addition to in-house beers, there is a full bar with spirits, cocktails, wine and more. Brown Ale No X, offered year-round, is another fitting beer for a cold day. Many of their beers are available on draft at other establishments owned by Blue Plate Restaurant Company, such as Longfellow Grill and The Lowry.

Keep building your flight of winter beer...

With all the styles of beer to try, the winter is no time to hibernate. Additional beers that are perfect for the season include Breffix at Modist, Snownami at Northbound Smokehouse, plus Town Hall Brewery’s Black H20 and Hope & King, Loretta’s at Indeed Brewing, Blood Orange Pilsner brewed by Finnegans (now found in the Fulton Taproom), or Nitro Coffee Ale and Winterize lager at Surly.