On the 12th day of Christmas, Julia recommended to me…

Still Zoomed Out from Lamplighter Brewing Company (Cambridge, MA)

and

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)!

We’ve reached the end of Beermas! This year has been a total clusterfuck. You could even say it’s been a nightmare! There’s no reason for me to recap the unique buffoonery that 2020 has brought to each and every one of us, but hopefully when we’re looking back on it all from 2021 we’ll be able to laugh.

Today I’m pairing The Nightmare Before Christmas with some fun Double IPAs that are all too appropriate for reflecting on all of the highs and lows that 2020 brought us. And, you can catch all of the beers that you missed here!

Still Zoomed Out is an 8.2% ABV American Double IPA brewed with Citra, Enigma, and Nelson Sauvin hops. Another classic Lamplighter IPA, you can expect a balance of bitter hops and fruitiness with notes of sunshiney cantaloupe and bright raspberries. A sequel to another Lamplighter release from earlier this year, Zoomed Out, this brew is perfect for sipping while virtually connecting with friends and family this holiday season.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is whimsically macabre and the perfect way to wrap up this beer countdown. This year has felt like a bizarre blur, almost like we’re living inside one of the mysterious trees that Jack Skellington stumbles across in the forrest, but instead of being themed after a holiday, ours is themed after a global pandemic!

Space Command is an 8% ABV Double IPA from Four Quarters Brewing fittingly made with Galaxy and Comet hops. One splash of hope that we’ve been able to enjoy in 2020 is that we can finally see the light at the end of the Trump administration tunnel! I always kept a couple of these hilarious cans on hand for watching the debates leading up to the election this year and thoroughly enjoyed every hazy, tropical sip.

Cats Are People Too is a 9% ABV Double IPA from Finback Brewing that’s dry-hopped with Citra, Cashmere, Mosaic, Nelson, and Belma hops. I’m a huge fan of just about everything Finback releases (especially their Apple Pie sour), and this DIPA is no exception. Super juicy with a soft and creamy mouthfeel, the 9% ABV is a bit deceiving on these bad boys. More importantly, the name of this beer is a great reminder to acknowledge the important role our feline companions have played in keeping us sane throughout this ridiculous year. Finback’s slogan is “Good beer for good friends.” I consider all of my dear readers friends of mine, so I hope these last 12 days have led you to some good beers!

Can’t find any of these Double IPAs in your area? Reach into the back of your fridge and dig out whatever pumpkin beers you have leftover from Halloween! (If you haven’t been clicking through the links on these emails you’ve been missing all the best jokes.) I personally still have a solid stash of Downeast Pumpkin and Dunkin’ Pumpkin from Harpoon that I should work my way through sooner rather than later.

And, last but not least, a submission from a reader that had to make the cut for obvious reasons. Ale Asylum’s FVCK COVID is a 4% ABV pilsner that has been in high demand all across the country. Keep your eyes peeled for FVCK COVID 2.0, a 5% ABV hazy pale ale. They expect these brews to be around through the summer, and hopefully by then we’ll be able to safely crack some open together as we toast to the mayhem that we trudged through over the course of 2020!

Happy holidays ya filthy animals!

This year has undeniably been a roller coaster, but the biggest blessing came my way in the form of this little fluff ball! I hope Sofia brought all of you as much joy in this series as she brings me every day. We’ll see you in 2021!