Bob Townsend’s beer pick

> Sweetwater Festive Ale 2008

> Sweetwater Brewing Co., Atlanta

> $9.99/ six-pack; $8.99/ liter at metro beverage stores; also on draft at some metro beer bars.

> Profile: Festive Ale, Sweetwater’s October-December seasonal offering, has become an Atlanta holiday tradition. Call it a winter warmer or a spiced porter, this hefty 8.6 percent alcohol by volume brew is loaded with roasted malts and spiked with cinnamon and nutmeg. The dark brown color and tan head signal a robust, full-bodied ale that features a creamy mouthfeel, a sweet malty flavor, with caramel and chocolate notes, and a pumpkin pie aroma that lingers on the palate.

> Pair with: True to its name, Festive Ale is a great beer for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. And the wax-dipped liter bottle makes a fun holiday party gift. At the holiday table, Festive is a tasty match for baked ham or smoked turkey. Of course, the cinnamon and nutmeg are perfect for pairing with spiced desserts, especially pumpkin or apple pie. After dinner, a snifter of Festive is a fireside treat.

—- btowns@bellsouth.net

Bob Townsend is editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast.