The annual Winter Beer Festival is coming up on December 4 and 5th at Hale’s Palladium in Frelard. The Washington Beer Commission has just released the initial beer list  and it’s looking like a good mix of traditional winter beers and specialty beers, with some hoppy brews thrown in for good measure.

Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the list to see what’s caught Mrs.  Beer Blog’s eye. Mmmmm beer and chocolate. (Time to join WABL, if you haven’t already)? If you’re a WABL you also get in early to beat the crowds, and you get extra tasting tokens. Seriously, this WABL thing usually pays for itself by the end of the year.

The Chocolate Box is back this year as a sponsor, which means beer and chocolate pairings including a beer/chocolate cupcake this year. Brings tears  of joy to Mrs. BB’s eyes. 

The festival runs Friday December 4th from 5 to 10 p.m. (WABLs get in at 4 p.m.); and Saturday, December 5th from 1 to 10 p.m. (WABLs get in at noon). Tickets include six tasting tokens, or eight if you’re a WABL, and cost $23 advance, $25 at the door if any tickets are left. Advance tickets are available online, or at one of the authorized ticket outlets.

7 Seas Brewing Co.- Gig Harbor
7 Seas Export Style Stout
British Pale Ale
Ballz Deep Double IPA

Anacortes Brewery- Anacortes
Klosterbier
Noel Winter Ale
Cask Noel Winter Ale

Big Al Brewing- Seattle
Winter Warmer
Irish Red or Smoked Porter

Big Time Brewery- Seattle
Yulefest
Malaprop 8 Abbey-style Bier
Decade 2.1

Black Raven Brewing Co.- Redmond
Second Sight Scotch Ale
Citrus & Spice Trickster IPA

Boundary Bay Brewery- Bellingham
Cabin Fever 08 & 09
IPA

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen- Bellingham
Dunkel Lager
Strong Ale

Diamond Knot Brewing Co.- Mukilteo
Industrial Ho!Ho! 07 & 09
Pumpkin Ale

Elliott Bay Brewing Co.- Seattle & Burien
Organic Noale Holiday Ale
Organic Demolition Ale

Elysian Brewing Co.- Seattle
Bifrost
Bye-Bye Frost

Fish Brewing Co.- Olympia
Fish Tale Winterfish
Leavenworth Biers Boulder Bend
Spire Mountain Dark & Dry

Fremont Brewing Co.- Seattle
Snow Fall
Universale
Mystere d’Hiver

Georgetown Brewing Co.- Seattle
Lisa’s Chocolate Stout

Hale’s Ales Brewery- Seattle
Wee Heavy
TBA

Iron Horse Brewery- Ellensburg
Mocha Death
Iron Horse IPA

Issaquah Brewhouse/Rogue Ales- Issaquah
Yellow Snow IPA
Mogu Madness
Menage A Frog
White Frog

Lazy Boy Brewing Co.- Everett
Mistletoe Bliss
TBA

Naked City Brewery- Seattle
The Big Lebowski
Bing

Northern Lights Brewing Co.- Spokane
Winter Ale
Chocolate Dunkel

Pike Brewing Co.- Seattle
Pike Entire
Pike Auld Acquaintance

Port Townsend Brewing Co.- Port Townsend
Winter Ale
TBA

Pyramid Breweries- Seattle
Snow Cap
Humburg’R
TBA

Ram Restaurant & Brewery- Seattle
Ol’ Mall Walker 08 & 09
Dawg Sled 08 & 09
Bi Clops

Redhook Ale Brewery- Woodinville
Winterhook Winter Ale
Redhook ESB
Longhammer IPA

Rock Bottom Brewery- Bellevue
Black Diamond Oatmeal Stout
Frostbite Strong Ale

Schooner Exact Brewing Co.- Seattle
Hoppy Holidays Winter Ale
Hoppy the Woodsman
Mystery beer

Scuttlebutt Brewing Co.- Everett
10 Below
Mystery Cask

Silver City Brewery- Silverdale
Beautimus
Fat Woody

Snipes Mountain Brewery- Sunnyside
Pumpkin Death 08 (Cask Bourbon) & 09
Fresh Hop IPA

Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Co.- Snoqualmie
Avalanche Winter Ale
Steam Train Porter

Three Skulls Ales- Seattle
Wreckage Barleywine
Hop the Plank IPA

Trade Route Brewing Co.- Pacific
Ginger Pale Ale
Pandan Brown
Chieftain Amber Ale

Two Beers Brewing Co.- Seattle
Jive Espresso Stout
Immersion Amber
Echo IPA

Water Street Brewing Co.- Port Townsend
Burr’s Frosty Winter
Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

WABL Beer*- Mocha Stout by Northgate Ram
Mocha Stout featuring Café Vita’s Theo blend and Theo’s Cocoa nibs
*Available exclusively to WABL members at the Merchandise/WABL Booth