The first glass of Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale will be poured during a release party starting at 11 a.m. Oct. 25 at the Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewpub, 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland. Info from the brewer's website:

Illustration by Duncan Scott/
DScott@News-Herald.com

It's good to keep Christmas in your heart all year long, but like Old St. Nick, Christmas Ale comes just once a year.

Cleveland's favorite holiday nectar will touch down in the GLBC Taproom on October 25 at 11AM for all the good over-21 boys and girls. Come dressed in your reindeer sweater and ring your jingle bells as we give a warm, festive welcome to a fresh batch of spiced holiday goodness.

Look for a special appearance by Santa Claus (played by jolly Brewer Luke Purcell), ready to listen to your Christmas list (more beer, right?). Co-owner Pat Conway will recite the winning poem from our First Pour Poetry Contest in the fashion of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" before one of our bartender elves serves the season's first glass to the winner and we kick off another joyous season of Christmas Ale!

Christmas Ale will be poured while supplies last. Reservations not accepted. Sorry, no jug or growler fills. Details subject to change without notice. 

So what's that about the first pour poetry contest? It's a chance for you to show off your creativity and your love of Christmas Ale, and get the first glass poured at 11 a.m. Oct. 25. More details on the First Pour Poetry Contest:

It's good to keep Christmas in your heart all year long, but like Old St. Nick, Christmas Ale comes just once a year.

Cleveland's favorite holiday nectar will touch down in the GLBC Taproom on October 25 at 11AM for all the good over-21 boys and girls. Come dressed in your reindeer sweater and ring your jingle bells as we give a warm, festive welcome to a fresh batch of spiced holiday goodness.

Look for a special appearance by Santa Claus (played by jolly Brewer Luke Purcell), ready to listen to your Christmas list (more beer, right?). Co-owner Pat Conway will recite the winning poem from our First Pour Poetry Contest in the fashion of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" before one of our bartender elves serves the season's first glass to the winner and we kick off another joyous season of Christmas Ale!

The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros wrote his own "Ode to Christmas Ale" in the style of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" for the Dec. 20, 2009, edition of The News-Herald. It was published as the centerpiece of our Sidetracks feature page:

Check out his poem for inspiration, but, please, don't plagiarize any of his poetic art.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl