Thanksgiving has packed its bags — and hopefully it included the last of autumn’s seasonal beers in its carry on. It’s been acceptable to revel in winter ales for a few weeks now, but with Christmas now peeking over the horizon and the cold strengthening its icy grip, it’s truly time to finish off the last of the Oktoberfest inspired beers lurking in the recesses of the fridge. It’s December: Don your knit sweaters, listen to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and prepare to swig from your favorite winter beer. And fortunately, since we reside in the Northwest, we don’t have to look far to find some of the best.

Let’s look at some of the local fare:

Oakshire Ill-Tempered Gnome — Though it does retain some of the spice common to autumn beers, Oakshire complements the spice with a nice malty presence, and a subtle hoppiness that brings to mind the smell of pine. Its finish is smooth, and at 6.8 percent alcohol by volume, it shouldn’t take more than one or two to warm you up on a cold winter night. Ill-tempered Gnome is well worth a try, and should be available in most grocery stores.

Ninkasi Sleigh’r — This beer should be well known as it’s been on store shelves for months — but that doesn’t take away from Sleigh’r’s potency. A Dark Double Alt, Sleigh’r is heavy, which cuts down on its drinkability at times, but this super-charged seasonal is one of Ninkasi’s best all-around beers. Like Ill-Tempered Gnome, it’s malty. But unlike it, there’s nothing subtle about it. And at 7.2 percent ABV it packs a wallop and should complement a warm couch and Malcolm in the Middle reruns nicely. Sleigh’r should be available in most local grocery stores.

Hop Valley Festeroo — This dark ale floods the tongue with flavors ranging from toffee to a nice earthy-pine. At first this seasonal might come off as a tad sharp, but after getting to know one another Festeroo acquits itself admirably — and at 7.5 percent ABV it’s no slouch in the power department. Festeroo is harder to locate than its Ninkasi and Oakshire counterparts, but can be readily found on tap.

And now some seasonals from around greater Oregon:

Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale — This Winter Warmer style seasonal satisfies the taste buds adequately without overwhelming and should appeal to those who find Sleigh’r-like beers to be too harsh. A cherry-like scent wafts off this ale when it’s poured into a glass, but when sipped, the fruitiness diminishes and echoes the taste of a red-ale or amber. It clocks in at 6.4 percent ABV, continuing the trend of strong winter ales and should be available in most grocery stores.

Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies — This India Pale Ale style seasonal from Bend’s Deschutes Brewery is lovely. Most winter brews trend toward being darker and heavier, but Chasin’ Freshies kicks this stereotype to the curb — and at 7.4 percent ABV, it rivals any other beer on this list in potency and face-warming potential. In a glass it exudes a rich golden hue that looks like sunlight glinting off a young Santa Claus’ beard. It has citrus overtones without overwhelming and despite the staple bitter hoppiness of an IPA, it finishes smooth. If you can find it, you should drink it — and make your friends drink it too.

Hopworks Abominable Winter Ale — This seasonal from the Portland-based Hopworks falls somewhere between a red ale and an amber — and it also falls into the awesome category. In terms of consistency it balances the malt of some of the heavier winter ales and the hoppiness of an IPA to create a remarkably drinkable brew. This addition from Hopworks should satisfy the taste buds of most beer enthusiasts and takes the classiness up a level by being available in cans (perfect for Christmas sweater parties). At 7.3 percent ABV it’s not to be taken lightly, but if you’re not near a roaring fire, it’ll serve as an adequate replacement.

Widmer Brrr — It’s hard to go wrong with this Winter Warmer style brew from Portland’s Widmer Brothers. It’s not on the heavier side like some winter seasonals, but it brings a nice blend of sweetness and bitterness that echoes an IPA with a hint of citrus. It may not be for everyone, but because of Brrr’s surprising lightness and drinkability it carves out a unique identity among winter themed beers and boasts a 7.2 percent ABV to boot. And, in comparison to many of the beers on this list, it’s relatively affordable, and therefore well worth a try.