Black Raven Brewing Co. is building a Cigar City-like rep for brewing outside the box – winning acclaim for every style under the sun. But many in the community point to their annual Winter seasonal as the zenith of their innovative skill.

Brewed with northwest cranberries, orange peels, galangal root and a secret blend of brewing spices, Fesitvus Holiday Strong Pale Ale does what few hits fail to do: it remains wholly original. Given that most successes spawn immediate replicas, this is a serious feat of strength.

At 7.4% ABV, this Pale Ale is not a light beer; with its hoppy tribute and mélange of adjuncts, it’s no Winter Warmer either. Instead, Festivus stands alone as a delicious and potent mouthful of festive cheer – inspiring any palate to vibrate with holiday flavor they never saw coming.

Palisade, Simcoe and Lemondrop Hops infuse fruity apricot and earthy citrus into the woody herbal bitter of Nugget, Fuggle and Chinnook. But it’s the hum of allspice, nutmeg and chai alongside the galangal root’s toasted ginger riffs that really makes Festivus sing. The sweet tang of cranberries and orange chime in like the refrain of your favorite Christmas carol.

With Festivus, Black Raven pays tribute to the fictitious holiday made famous by Seinfeld – a special day separate from the tyranny of commercial Christmas. But all jokes aside, they’ve created a beer that defies conventional winter styles.

Spring a bottle on your friends the next time they drop in for a night of drinking and watch surprise bloom on their faces when layers of vibrant flavor unfold.

In the words of Frank Costanza, that’s a Festivus miracle!