Come A-Wassailing Your Way with Lake County Holiday Libations 2020
By: Jonathan Jones 12/11/2020
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. Holiday Your Way on the land of lakes' libation trail.
Here we come a-wassailing your way with Lake County Holiday Libations.
Cranberry Wheat
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 with a beautiful complement to appetizers and dinner entrees. The brewery is for carryout and alfresco style from Thursdays-Sundays.
True North
The newest small-batch special at the Long Grove brewpub is a Christmas ale called True North. The winter spiced ale tastes like Christmas in a glass and has just the right amount of mulling spices. Buffalo Creek Brewing will donate $1 from every pint of True North poured (until the supply runs out) to YouthBuild Lake County to support the nonprofit organization's mission of helping self-sufficient young adults thrive and improve their communities. For at least the remainder of the calendar year, Buffalo Creek has their Alpine Biergarten open to those who want to brave the cold (unless there is severe weather). The Historic Downtown Long Grove bar is also providing to-go orders.
Old Fashioned and Bloody Mary Kits
Utilizing the Lake Zurich distillery's Bourbon Whiskey and/or Vodka, Copper Fiddle is providing Old Fashioned and Bloody Mary kits for purchase. Copper Fiddle Distillery has added vodka to their repertoire in 2020! The Lake Zurich liquor masons used their legendary rye, yellow corn and barley mash distilled in their copper pot and reflux for this clean finishing, very balanced and smooth triple filtered Midwestern vodka. The neutral spirit is 100 percent distilled grain. Copper Fiddle is open for pickup and for outdoor sips. Call for availability.
Vin Glögg
This vino warms the soul during the wintertime. The 13% alcohol by volume concoction contains a half dry red wine, while the complementing percentage is port flavor. Vin Glögg is jam-packed with cinnamon, cardamon spices, and it also includes an orange peel taste. The Grayslake adult beverage is intended to be served warm. The Grayslake vino is the December Libation of the Month.
Barrel-Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee Stout
The Barrel-Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee is taking a victory lap through the Lincolnshire brewing company. The 11-percent ABV stout is brewed with Mexican coffee beans from Bannockburn’s Newport Coffee House. Beautiful aromas of molasses and coffee waft from this libation, and the scents are paired with hints of oak and vanilla. Half Day Brewing Co. is open for outdoor dining on their fantastic patio and for pickup daily serving growler refills and four packs.
Strawberry Banana Milkshake Hefeweizen
The newest concoction by the Winthrop Harbor brewing company is a #HarborStrong libation. The double fruited hefeweizen has been canned in four-packs. The strawberry-naner stands at a 5.8% ABV. Harbor Brewing Co. is open for to-go and outdoor dining from Wednesday to Saturday; Wed-Fri. 5-close (8 p.m. at the earliest) and Sat-Sun 2-7 p.m. Enjoy a brew at home or on the shores of Lake Michigan.
This Chocolate is Nuts
"Nine out of 10 people like chocolate. The 10th person always lies." You'd have to be nutty to not try this can of suds brewed by the Grayslake brewhouse. This Chocolate is Nuts is a rich imperial stout brewed with cacao nibs, peanut butter cups and peanut butter flavor. It contains everything that the man in the big red suit likes: milk and sugar. The 10% dessert drink comes in four-packs (limited to three, four-packs). You can still visit the pub and eatery by making a reservation on their patio, but Light the Lamp Brewery provides carryout, curbside and delivery (if you're in their zone). They are open Tuesday through Sunday.
Christmas Red & White
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. Send some love from the Windy City with Lynfred's Welcome to the Vin de City basket! It includes their Vin de City red and white wines, Chicago popcorn and chocolate and toffee from Chocolate Inspirations starting at $53.
Santa's Magic
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 Chimay and Duvel's similar tastes. Mickey Finn's is open for takeout and on their patio.
Mr. Pale
"There are smiles and smiles; learn to tell the dark variety from the light." "Something wicked this way comes," but we can still enjoy the libations from the Ray Bradbury themed brewery, Nightshade and Dark's Brewery. The Waukegan brewpub provides a valiant return for Mr. Pale. The adult beverage is a dry American pale ale with Mosaic hops.
Sunset Sips
The beverage concoction is as refreshing as a beautiful Lake County sunset: sweet, fruity and closes with a crisp finish. North Shore Distillery has a few versions of @Home cocktail packages to take home. However, this specific mix involves their delectable North Shore Gin No. 11 (or one of the other Green Oaks gins or vodkas distilled in house), clover honey, fresh lemon juice, cranberry juice, club soda and rosemary sprigs. The drink must be stirred, shook well and strained into a cocktail glass. Outdoor drinking and carry out orders are available.
Don't Tell Mom the Baby Citra's Dead Mango
It's never good to tell mom that the baby Citra died, especially since it's season greetings time. The Gurnee brewery has another version of this beverage with a blood orange flavor. The mango version of this double India pale ale stands at an 8% ABV.
Dick Floats
The Waukegan facility specializing in gin and whiskey is located in Waukegan, but the spirits are created in Wheeling. The Lake County Libation Trail participant creates decadent beverages for the modern townsman, by the modern townsman. The delectable treat the Waukegan/Wheeling distillery created is Dick Strong - a craft espresso ice cream libation with bourbon. Oppidan is opened from 4-6 p.m. on Saturdays for carryout orders.
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