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As long as humans have been brewing beer, they have shown a super-human commitment to making the drink as versatile as possible: Light lunchtime ales, fruity dessert brews, refreshing summer lagers and, of particular current interest, robust cold-weather ales.

From hearty imperial stouts imported from Britain to Catherine the Great's Russian court in the 18th Century, to spiced seasonal variants of already potent Belgian abbey ales, winter beers have traditionally been about big flavor and an even bigger alcohol content. Today's versions are no different. Prime yourself with a vigorous, warming pint before stumbling out into the snowy streets, or grab one of these brews for help dozing through those interminable family gatherings. Whatever you do with them, our 12 badass beers of Christmas should help make it a blissfully boozy wintertime.

Leave your own suggestions in the comments.

Winter Warmers

    The only thing better than a hot bowl of oatmeal for breakfast on a frosty winter morning is a cold pint of Oatmeal Stout. 5% abv.

    Flickr/NicholasPorochniaJr

    This 150-year-old Oxfordshire brewery still uses a steam engine to drive its brewing equipment and horse drawn carts to deliver the finished product locally. Not that that means dusty old recipes: Twelve Days is a fresh update on the traditional English winter warmer and packs a nutty, flavorful punch into its relatively benign 5.5% abv.

    BottleTrek.com

    The daddy of modern American seasonal brews. Unlike many winter efforts, this easy to find IPA eschews malty sweetness in favor of an intensely floral, hoppy bite. 6.8% abv.

    Bierkraft.com

    One definition of the term 'wassailing' is the olde English practice of singing to and drinking the health of orchards, in order to inspire a bumper (hard) cider apple harvest. We'll happily raise a glass and a tune or two to North-West brewmasters Full Sail if they'll send us a few more bottles of their deliciously spiced winter warmer. 7% abv.

    LiquidSolutions.biz

    The Germans are best known for their crisp lagers and refreshing hefeweizens, but that doesn't mean they can't knock out a decent cold weather pint -- like this easy-drinking Bavarian Doppelbock. 7.2% abv.

    Bierkraft.com

    They know a thing or two about winters in Orkney, perched way up there in the North Sea, off the top of Scotland. The name of this reddish-amber Scotch Ale celebrates a 10th century Viking ruler of the island, but could easily refer to the headache you're likely to get after downing more than a couple of these monsters. 8.5% abv

    Flickr/AllesGut

    A great winter brew should evoke the spirit of the season in more ways than just its alcohol content. The plum pudding hints of this Belgian strong ale should instantly evoke Christmas. The 8.5% abv, meanwhile, should make you plenty Merry.

    Bierkraft.com

    A traditional Scottish strong ale somewhat confusingly brewed in Belgium for the European market. No matter, a few bottles of this sweetly spiced, subtly boozey treat and you won't care what country you're in. 8.8% abv.

    Brouette-Des-Bieres.com

    We've always been drawn to the pink elephant motif on the bottles from this Belgian maker of light and fruity, yet deceptively potent, brews. Sticking a Santa hat on said pachyderms was hardly gonna change that.10% abv.

    Delirium.be

    A prince among winter seasonals. Treacly black, earthy and filling, with a bitter, chocolate sweetness. Like Guinness on steroids. 10.6 abv.

    Flickr/NicholasPorochniaJr