We’re here! We’re beer! Get used to it! Check out local retailers and restaurants such as the Winetree, Liquor Locker, Old Chicago, Westside Liquors, the Gerst House, the Fox & Hound, University Liquors and other fine dispensers of goodness for brews along the lines of these. Ratings are from 1 to 5 (5 highest, 1 lowest).

It’s cooooooooold, so here’s a nice selection of frosty brews for frosty times. Prosit!

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Sharon: 3

Light slightly pink in color. Tastes weak. Not a lot of flavor. I can’t taste the pomegranate at all.  Something is off with the carbonation, as it tastes a bit flat. Blah!

Rachel: 5

Yum…good stuff, the pomegranate isn’t overwhelming, very very subtle. The wheat brewed taste stands out. Does have sort of a sweet, tart like aftertaste, but is very enjoyable. Very crisp and refreshing. The slight sweet taste is very nice at the end. Great flavor.

Todd: 2

It's nice and light, with a bit of a zing (and wins some points for originality), but ultimately Major Tom's isn't a standout beer, as there's really no depth to it.

Dylan: 2

Fruit-flavored beer is almost universally wrong. But this is – amazingly – an exception. Nary a hint of sweet/tart with this wheaty brew makes Major Tom’s a drink that conjures up a long hot summer

NEW HOLLAND - THE POET OATMEAL STOUT

Sharon: 4

Dark chocolaty color and flavor. It’s a good blend of chocolate and vanilla flavor. It has just a tiny bit of a bite. Great for after dinner with a slice of cheesecake. 

Rachel: 2

Also a very dark beer, but not as tasty as the Bourbon Barrel Stout. This one has a little too strong of an aftertaste to it. Not for me. Way too strong, not very refreshing. Has a bite.

Todd: 3

I give this one props for the cool literary reference. However, the important thing here is the taste, right? Well, this medium-bodied stout has a characteristic burnt-chocolate/coffee taste, with a lingering finish. It's a solid, if unremarkable stout, but there's absolutely no comparison to BBC's world-class barrel stout this month.

Dylan: 1

Sweet! But not in a good way. The Poe-esque label is cool, but this stout is out. Too sweet, too thin, and altogether not my cup of tea (or beer).

GOOSE ISLAND CHRISTMAS ALE

Sharon: 2

If you read this column each month, then you know I’m not a Goose Island fan anyway. It’s a nice amber color. I do like the taste at first but then the hops take over and I just can’t drink it. It seems like a heavy beer and better for drinking in the winter.

Rachel: 3

I always love Goose Island, I thought that I would really enjoy this one, but it didn’t surpass the others – very simple and plain, nothing too different about it. It is okay, just not spectacular. 

Todd: 1

I've never been a fan of Goose Island's beers, and this one doesn't change my attitude one bit. It's a bitter, hoppier brew that feels more like an IPA, and an average one at best. To top it off, I get no hint of holiday-style spices at all.

Dylan: 3

Unlike those guys, I like Goose Island’s brews. And in this case, their Christmas ale is solidly in the middle for me – not too great, but definitely not at the bottom.

DOGFISH HEAD 90 MINUTE IPA

Sharon: 1

Smells like dead fish head. One sip is all I can handle. Toooooo much hops! Eeee Gad!  But the husband likes it and he can have it.

Rachel: 1

WAY too much hops for me. I’m not a fan of hops though…if you tend to be, this one is perfect for you. A 90-minute constant hop addition…plus a crazy amount of barley and dry hop in every tank…so the label says. 

Todd: 4

A fine, superb Imperial India Pale Ale with a rich, complex taste. Dogfish always takes pride in creating unusual craft beers, and this one is a sure-fire winner, with it's balanced hops and a sweet, smooth finish. Top-notch, and a first placer most months.

Dylan: 5

Hoppy, heady, rich and robust, but still really refreshing. I imagine that this is a faithful version of what the stuffy imperialists took with them to India when Queen Victoria was still kicking it.

BBC JEFFERSON'S RESERVE BOURBON BARREL STOUT

Sharon: 5

Very dark! Can’t even see through it. Has a light bourbon smell. Very Smooth. Great beginning, middle and ending taste. One can only guess the alcohol content, as it is not listed on the bottle. But I’d bet one or two bottles would get you on your way to a good buzz. The bourbon flavor is not over powering. It’s good to the last drop!

Rachel: 4

Definitely stout, but oh so tasty. I love this one…much to my surprise. BBC…a Louisville brewery, they did something right with this one. For those who don’t think they like dark beer, try this one. 

Todd: 5

If a beer can be called beautiful, then this one qualifies. Louisville's impeccable craft brewers have concocted this fine stout, then aged it in oaken bourbon barrels, so you get a smooth, lush, and complex taste with the vibe of a fine wine. This is a top-shelf beer that has few peers. It may be a might expensive, but this is one beer you simply must try.

Dylan: 4

That’s a stout! Hearty, robust and meaty. A thick-layered dessert-worthy brew that happens to go very nicely with the dark chocolate I’m scarfing down right now.