Beers of the Week: Holiday Gift Packs

If there's one thing that the LCBO does well in terms of beer, it's their annual Christmas gift pack promotion. Every year around this time, sampler packs from some of the world's best breweries (and yeah, a few not-so-great ones) appear in Ontario liquor stores, often containing beers, glassware and other goodies that aren't normally available here. There are still some weak points to the program, such as the lack of representation of craft breweries from the US and elsewhere in Canada, but for fans of UK and Belgian ales in particular, it really is the most wonderful time of the year.

With this year's selection of packs being particularly large, it may be hard for shoppers to choose a gift or two for their beer-loving friends (or their beer-loving selves, for that matter). And aside from the obvious questionable choices (does anyone really need a 710 ml bottle of Corona?), it's pretty hard to go wrong with most of them. But for the indecisive set, here's a quick guide to a few that we especially recommend.

Samuel Smith's Selection Box (LCBO 696658 - $12.95)
Sadly, the LCBO decided for the first time in a decade or so to not carry Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale this year, but the return of this great gift pack makes up for it somewhat. Containing a 550 mL bottle each of Sam Smith's rich & silky Oatmeal Stout, earthy & well-balanced Pale Ale, and toasty & nutty Nut Brown Ale, as well as a pint glass and two coasters, this is a great choice for those who enjoy traditional ales. And it's also one of the real bargains of the season, as single bottles of Sam Smith's beers sell for close to 4 bucks.

St. Peter's Twinpack (LCBO 97477 - $11.95)
Various beers from St. Peter's Brewery have done well here in the past as single bottle offerings, thanks in no small part to their unique flask-like bottles, but this is the first time we've had a gift pack from them available in Ontario. It features two beers never available here before - St. Peter's India Pale Ale and Ruby Red Ale - along with a branded glass, and while the IPA left me a bit underwhelmed due to it's somewhat harsh and metallic character, the Ruby Red is an excellent ale, chock full of toasted and fruity malt balanced by citric and slightly spicy hops than linger deliciously in the back of the throat.

Historic Ales from Scotland (LCBO 893719 - $13.05)
While it's usually shelved with the holiday gift packs at this time of year, this set from Scotland's Heather Ales is actually available year-round at the LCBO, although few locations seem to stock it regularly. Too bad, as the foursome of beers in this package are some of the most unique ales available in Ontario, or anywhere else. Beers in the quartet include Alba Scots Pine Ale, Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale, Fraoch Heather Ale and Grozet Gooseberry Wheat Ale. This is a great choice for the more adventurous beer drinkers on your list.

Maredsous Gift Box (LCBO 925818 - $14.95)
It was actually a bit of a toss-up as to which of the Belgian Trappist/Abbey ale packs would make this short list, as the others - including Chimay, Westmalle and Affligem - are equally worthwhile. But the Maredsous box, containing bottles of their 6%, 8% and 10% ales and a glass, got the nod due to the fact that they're rarely available outside of this package. They're not the most complex Belgian ales around, but all three of them have pleasant sweet and spicy notes, with the 10% being especially warm and inviting.

Exclusive Belgian Ales (LCBO 562397 - $16.20)
Not to be confused with the similarly named Taste Of Belgium package (which is a yawn-inducing trio of Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe Blond), this perennial favourite is a mixed six-pack from Belgium's prolific Van Steenberge Brewery. The highlight of the pack is Gulden Draak, a 10.5% dark ale with huge flavours of caramel, dark malt, dried cherries and spice, but the other five are no slouches either.

Trafalgar Triple Threat (LCBO 103960 - $10.95)
At first, it may not seem very economical to pay $10.95 for three 200 mL bottles of beer. But these little babies from Oakville's Trafalgar Brewing are no normal beers, as they're all in the 14%-15% alcohol range, putting them up amongst the strongest beers being brewed anywhere in the world. Ostensibly a double IPA (Critical Mass), Belgian triple (Black Bullet) and barley wine (Korruptor), they don't really fit snugly into any particular style - as the labels say, they're simply Very Strong Beers. For best results, treat them as liqueurs and sip them slowly as aperitifs or nightcaps.