‘Tis the season for cheery beers

ook no further than the national Beer Judge Certification Program to discover that there are more than 100 distinct styles of beers being made in this world. While we’re fortunate to have access to a variety of classic beer styles in and around Madison, we’re also lucky that our local brewers take risks to make unique options, too. Of course, “unique” can be interpreted in different ways. For these brewers, that might mean brewing a beer they’ve never made before. It may mean tweaking this year’s batch to make it different than last year’s. It may also mean that it’s brewed in tribute to a cat. One attribute holds true across each of these beers: They’re sure to provide a unique story to share at the holiday table as you pass around a pour...