Come A-Wassailing with Lake County Holiday Libations 2019
By: Jonathan Jones 12/13/2019
Deck the halls with growlers and sifters, sip, sip, sip, sip, sip, sip, sip, sip, sip!
‘Tis the holiday ‘saison’ to be ‘mulled-y’ as the Lake County Libation Trail is making SPIRITS bright. Many of these participants on the trail have prepared holiday libations to capture their interpretation of the season in liquid format.
These Lake County artisans of suds, spirits, and vino have all of the festive feels for visitors during the brisk winter times.
There’s a lot of family time, shopping, and stress that comes along with the holiday season. Sometimes you just need a break. These Lake County makers have received the message as creators pack a special holiday punch through the good, bad and tough times. If you haven’t indulged, now is the time.
Here we come a-wassailing among this Lake County.
Beer: Cranberry Wheat Lager
Outlook: This 4.7 percent ABV lager-pale brew is introduced to the s in November for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The naturally carbonated fruity lager contains a subtle tartness due to the melody of Bosacki hops and cranberry. The Cranberry Wheat Lager provides you and the family as it’s a beautiful complement to appetizers and dinner entrees.
Bosacki’s Home Brew, 610 E. Hawley St., Mundelein.
Beer: Holiday Pils
Outlook: Don't miss out on this festive Czech Pilsner. The season greetings sips sit at 4.5 percent ABV with 45 IBUs. The Historic Downtown Long Grove brewhouse just created another small batch of the libation. Don't wait too long because this craft beer will go fast during the holiday season.
Buffalo Creek Brewing Co., 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove.
Cocktail: Chocolate Cayenne Old Fashioned
Outlook: Tis the season to feed your sweet tooth. The Lake Zurich distillery offers a slew of innovative flavors in their cocktails. Visit the land of chocolate as they add their in-house distilled bourbon whiskey to your holiday wishlist. Copper Fiddle is also running a sale on their spirits. If you purchase a case at the Lake Zurich distillery (mixed and matched), you can save 20 percent.
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. Illinois Route 22, Suite 110, Lake Zurich.
Beer: Mexican Hot Chocolate Imperial Stout
Outlook: This brew ABV stands at 11.5%. The suds drink is a rye barrel-aged imperial stout complemented by Mexican chocolate, vanilla beans and other spices.
Flesk Brewing Company, 200 Applebee St. Suite E, Barrington.
Wine: Vin Glogg
Outlook: This vino warms the soul during the wintertime. The concoction contains a half dry red wine while the other half is port. Vin Glogg is jam-packed with cinnamon, cardamon spices, and it also includes an orange peel taste. Vin Glogg is intended to be served warm.
Glunz Family Winery and Cellars, 888 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake.
Beer: Barrel-Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee Stout
Outlook: The Barrel-Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee returns through the holidays as the Lincolnshire brewing company will release the beverage this month. The 11-percent ABV stout is brewed with Mexican coffee beans from Bannockburn’s Newport Coffee House. Wonderful aromas of molasses and coffee waft from this libation, and the scents are paired with hints of oak and vanilla. It’s the perfect holiday present for a parent or pal.
Half Day Brewing Co., 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire.
Beer: Rough Cut Red IPA
Outlook: Don't hang out with a rough crowd during the holidays. However, if you have to, make it Harbor Brewing Co.'s Rough Cut. The Winthrop Harbor brewery provides a delicious red/IPA concoction in their line of suds. The drink is perfect for the holiday season with a balance of hops and malty backbone. The Harbor Brewing Co. beer stands at a 6.9 percent ABV.
Harbor Brewing Co., 811 Sheridan Rd., Winthrop Harbor.
Beer: Lip Lettuce
Outlook: This brand new pale ale from the Grayslake brewhouse is the mustache of all mustaches. Once you sip, you met with an explosion of Southern passion hops from South Africa. Your tastebuds will experience notes of passion fruit, guava and grapefruit. Lip lettuce is a six percent ABV beverage.
Light the Lamp Brewery, 2 S. Lake St., Grayslake.
Wines: Christmas Red Spiced Wine & Christmas White Spiced Wine
Outlook: This treat is served for vino fans annually at the Wheeling mainstay. The Christmas Red and White Spiced Wines are mulled libations jam-packed with aromas of cinnamon, cloves and gingerbread cookies. The red drink obtains a tad more cinnamon while the white has a bit more cardamom spice. The red and white is a perfect complement to chocolate cranberry and coconut oatmeal cookies.
Lynfred Winery, 971 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling.
Beer: Santa’s Magic
Outlook: This strong Belgian ale in Illinois’s oldest brewery has a light body, but the flavor is spicy, and the aroma has a sophisticated scent of spice and fruit blend. The Libertyville brewery’s most popular seasonal ale contains honey and dark Belgian candy sugar. The seven percent ABV magic in a glass can be compared to the similar tastes of Chimay and Duvel.
Mickey Finn’s Brewery, 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
Beer: Besley's Waukegan Extra
Outlook: The holiday season reminds all of a Christmas Carol. While the Waukegan brewpub showcases suds with Ray Bradbury novels, this beer gives a Charles Dickens feel. Besley's Waukegan Extra is an English Bitter, standing at a 4.8 percent ABV. There's a fun little story behind the naming of this brew that you'll find out when you check-in.
Nightshade and Dark's Pandemonium Brewing Company, 216 W. Clayton St., Waukegan.
Spirit: Cocoa Curaçao
Outlook: The Green Oaks distillery has released their newest winter libation. Cocoa Curaçao, their latest installment of the orange liqueur (last year was Beehive Curaçao), they found the best available cacao. The beverage was infused and distilled with an array of orange peels. This spirit has rich yet refined aromas of orange and chocolate, with intriguing, layered flavors of bright orange with deep chocolate undertones. It is sweet, yet balanced and extremely sippable.
North Shore Distillery, 13990 Rockland Rd., Green Oaks.
Beer: Stay Puft
Outlook: Winter is the perfect opportunity for a campfire. The holiday season is when we indulge our sweet tooth. Donning a marshmallow man logo similar to a villain fought by some busters that ain't afraid of no ghosts, the Barrington brewhouse's Stay Puft is a brown ale. Stay Puft is 5.5 percent ABV with 15 IBUs.
The Onion Pub and Brewery, 22221 N. Pepper Rd., Lake Barrington.
