Time to snuggle up with something tall, dark and handsome.

Well, yeah, my husband, too. But I was thinking more in terms of a nice winter warmer.

Winter warmers are specialty beers that are brewed for enjoyment during the holidays. Just like Grandma's eggnog, Aunt Louise's exquisite rum balls or your brother's famous cheese fondue, winter warmers are special because they only come out once a year -- and because they are mighty tasty.

And just like any good cook, brewers enjoy showing off a little when they create their winter warmers for the holidays -- something I especially look forward to year after year.

Traditionally, winter warmers are hearty, heady brews that are meant for sipping. And because the flavors are usually very complex -- brewers often add oranges, cinnamon, clove, coriander or cranberries for example -- many beer lovers enjoy a winter warmer fireside or after dinner, like a liqueur or a glass of port. In fact, a number of winter warmers possess spiced, chocolate, coffee or fruity notes that easily accompany desserts. Some of us even prefer them for dessert.

Additionally, because of their lovely colors -- often ranging from dark amber to deep copper to opaque black -- winter warmers can hold their own in pretty glasses or goblets at the dinner table. The last thing you would want is a frosty mug for these brews, which are best served, like red wine, at cellar temperature. Winter warmers do well with heartier meals that often accompany the holidays. Roasted turkey might pair nicely with a crisp orange-and-coriander winter warmer. And that holiday ham would go great with a malty version -- or perhaps one laced with cranberries or cherries.

Many winter warmers are higher in alcohol than even your average microbrew, often reaching the levels of barley wines, which, like their grape counterparts, can be upward of 14 percent alcohol. But don't fret. Many winter warmers can still warm your heart and your tootsies with as little as 5-6 percent alcohol, which means your head won't feel like Santa's reindeer landed on it the next morning.

Also, much like wine, many winter warmers can benefit from "laying down" for future enjoyment because of their higher alcohol content -- a fact that makes for great gift-giving opportunities for the beer lover in your life. As the beer ages (under proper cellaring conditions), it takes on different flavors. Some beer fans like to store away several different years of the same winter warmer to enjoy in a "vertical tasting," or a sampling of each years' worth of the same beer in one sitting.

Another thing that makes winter warmers so highly anticipated among beer lovers is that many of the recipes change from year to year, but the brand name remains the same.

One example of this is San Francisco-based Anchor Brewing Co.'s Our Special Ale, which has been adored by beer aficionados since 1975 -- making it an American classic. Each year, Anchor's brewers create Our Special Ale with something just a little different, making each year's offering a highly anticipated event.

Most winter warmers are available locally, from your nearby microbrewery, or, regionally, in the case of some of the larger craft breweries. But the larger brewers are getting in the act as well. And some of the best winter warmers are imported from Europe. To find some to sample in your area, look for holiday-related names and labels that look wintry.

But hurry. Like our quickly fading hours of daylight this time of year, winter warmers don't stick around very long.

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