The No Seatbelt Blog returns from its hiatus just in time for the holidays, and is ringing in the Christmas season with a brand-new edition of “The Beer List”! This year, I get to gush about one of my favorite Christmas beers, White Christmas from Sam Adams. Since this brew mysteriously eluded me in 2015, my words here will carry excitement as fresh as the fallen snow.

New England’s own Boston Beer Company, better known as Samuel Adams, is a master of consistency, churning out a massive variety of solid, drinkable beers for every palate. The brewery’s slate of winter beers are particularly popular, and White Christmas is among the best of them. A wintery witbier brewed with a perfectly complimentary list of ingredients including nutmeg, cinnamon, and orange peel. The malt presence weighs in against the citrus fruit and spice combination, giving the beer a bready flavor on the back end. The tag-team taste of citrus and spice, a fairly common backbone in witbiers, is front-loaded, which is to be expected judging by the aroma after the pour.

The beer pours a hazy, opaque orange color, with a significant carbonation level sending a rush of bubbles across the tongue with every sip. Regardless of that, White Christmas has a light mouthfeel for a winter seasonal, a style that is typically dark, heavy and warming for obvious reasons. There is a noticeable sweetness to this holiday brew formed by the citrus essence and malt, and when paired with the lively carbonation aspect, the beer almost takes on the character of a champagne – which is more than fitting for yuletide festivities.

White Christmas by Sam Adams carries a 5.8% alcohol-by-volume level, which is fairly average for a witbier, and is available for your enjoyment during the winter months. Craft beer doesn’t have to be obnoxious or gimmicky, and Sam Adams does a service to that craft, brewing balanced, enjoyable beers for the masses. This is truly one of my favorite offerings from the Boston-based brewer, and I look forward to it every year.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this new edition of “The Beer List,” and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with the people you love…and perhaps a good beer. From The No Seatbelt Blog to you and your family, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!