Falalalala la laaaaa laaaa Beer.

The holiday season is upon us and, that means one thing for my family and friends- beer.  Since meeting my husband, my holiday party schedule has grown exponentially.  It seems like everyone and their cat has some form of get-together over the next month.  These partays always include great food, fabulous company, improptu dancefloors and (my personal favorite) lots of booze.

I'm a tried and true beer girl.  I want to like rum & eggnog.  I would love to sip on a candycane rimmed cocktail out of a fancy glass but I love me a good bottle of barley, hops and yeast!  I enjoy most beers from pilsners to stouts.  It seems as though new breweries and different types of craft beer are popping up all over the place.

Besides the warm-fuzzies I get from buying local and supporting the humble craft brewery down the street, I know that the chances of someone drinking my beer at a party is much less if I bring something that isn't a big brand.  If there are 6 bottles of my twigs-and-berries-dipped-in-granola beer next to a 24 of Coors Light, you bet your bottom dollar that the neighbour who came without any booze is going to steer clear of my weirdo brew.

 If your holiday party invitation states "BYOB", consider trying a new brand.  Here are three bottles I will be reaching for this winter (in no particular order):

1.  100th Meridian by Mill Street (Toronto)
      A really nice (organic!) Amber ale.  It's crisp and smooth with its organic ingredients coming from West of the 100th meridian (hence its name!).

2.  The Chai Wallah Has a Mustache by Granite Brewery  (Halifax & Toronto)
     You may have to trek a bit farther than your local LCBO for this one but it's worth the trip!  Nestled on the SE corner of Mount Pleasant & Eglington in Toronto (also found in Halifax), Granite Brewery is home to some truly delicious brewed-on-site beers.  The Chai Wallah Has a Mustache is a milk stout with chai spices, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper.  It's like a warm hug on a cold night.  It gets better- a portion of sales from each pint sold goes toward Prostate Cancer research.

3.  King Pilsner by King Brewery (King, ON)

     This is a bright, easy-drinking Czech pilsner.  It's super refreshing and is popping up on tap in lots of pubs in and around Toronto.  

What do you reach for at the Beer Store?  Join the conversation on Twitter & Instagram @midtowndiaries #beerme.