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You’ve dealt with everything this holiday season from long lines at malls to bumper-to-bumper traffic jams to ice cold temperatures to putting on a smile for holiday gatherings at the in-laws.  You’ve held up your end of the bargain and now it’s time for you–time to put a smile on that face, kick back with a frosty cold one and say good bye holiday blues.  Now the only question is where should you do it?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.  Look no further for your list of holiday brews to cure your holiday blues!

Senor Wong’s in Lowertown might just be the place for you.  Located on Kellogg Blvd behind Kellogg Square Apartments, Senor Wong’s offers locally crafted beers and imported beers from Asia and South America.

Asian beers include Tsing Tao (China), Singha (Thailand), Tiger (Singapore) , Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), Asahi (Japan), Sapporo (Japan) , Hitachino Ginger Brew (Japan) and Hitachino Xh Sake Cask Quad (Japan).  Latin American beers Corona Extra – Mexico City, (Mexico), Brahma – (Rio De Janero, Brazil), Negra Modelo – (Mexico City, Mexico), Pacifico – (Sinaloa, Mexico), Tecate – (Los Cabos, Mexico).

If you’re looking for that trip around the world but can’t afford it after all that Christmas shopping, grab any of the beers above and sink into the Asian or Latin culture.

Across town at the corner of Selby and Fairview is the Blue Door Pub.  The “Blue Door,” as the locals call it, offers some great brews on tap including:  Surly Furious,  Lift Bridge’s Farm Girl, Summit Extra Pale Ale and Summit Oatmeal Stout.  Additional seasonal beers rotate through the Blue Door including, Bell’s Two Hearted IPA, Summit Winter Ale, Summit Scotch Ale, Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale and Widmer Brrr.  This shoe box of a restaurant offers great burgers to complement your frosty brew and a great neighborhood feel.

Back in the West end area of Saint Paul is the oldest bar in Minnesota known as The Spot Bar.  This bar is a major dive but one of those bars you grow to love and a staple of the neighborhood.  Mike O’Toole has owned the place for over 25 years and you can strike up a conversation with just about any of the regulars inside.  Beers on tap are pretty simple including Premium, Summit Extra Pale Ale, Leinenkugel’s, Michelob Golden Draft Light and Guinness but they are incredibly cheap.

On the east side is Saint Paul’s only Strip Club–get your mind out of the gutter, I wouldn’t send you to a REAL strip club to cure your holiday blues.  This is a meat and fish place, with a fun name and the bar is fantastic.  Tucked under the second floor balcony, the Strip Club bar has a smattering of beer options to choose from including the North Coast Pranqster Golden Ale on tap, a bunch of Budweiser, Miller and Coors products in the can,  some more sophisticated canned beers in Lion Imperial Lager, Tilburgs Dutch Brown, Scaldis Noel $12.50.  If you’re looking for something in a can, there are some unique choices such as the 11.2 oz Wittekerke or the 22 oz Sapporo.  The Strip Club also has what they refer to as large format beers including Avery Imperial IPA (22oz), La Chouffe Houblon (750ml) and Delerium Nocturnum (750ml)–the last two will run you $25 apiece.

Finally, if you want a little education with your beer, you may want to consider a tour at the Summit Brewing Company.  You can get a tour of the brewery over the holidays on Tuesday Dec 22 & 29 and Thursday Dec 31 at 1pm.  Call 651.224.BREW to get on that tour list.  Summit is Saint Paul’s largest functioning brewery located on Montreal Circle.  Get an inside look at how their brewery works from brewing to packaging to sending it out for purchase.  Taste their delicious brews after the tour.

So, I hope you have a chance to get out in Saint Paul to enjoy some brews to drowned those blues.  There are many unique places but remember drink responsibly and never drink and drive!  Happy Holidays.