Well, it's that time of year again. You know, sunset before 6:00 PM, the neighbors' leaves piling up in your front yard, atrocious Cleveland football... And how much is there really to look forward to when just over the horizon lies crowded shopping malls and snowfall? The thought of the latter gives me the same chills I get when I see a picture of Anthony Sowell. Is that an exaggerated statement? Not if you've lived in Cleveland all your life. But this cold, bleak city does, however, have at least one good thing to offer this time of year: the heavenly splendor that is Great Lakes Brewing Company's Christmas Ale.

If you're not keen to this nectar of the God's, then chances are you've lived under a rock somewhere or simply don't partake in a holiday swig. In either case, you're missing out. When Great Lakes tapped their first Christmas Ale keg of the year on October 27, there were some 30 patrons chomping at the bit to get inside the doors to get their first warm 7.5% ABV jolt of the holiday season. According to spokesman Peter Gerome, they've been packed ever since.

Now, this may sound extreme for any alcohol enthusiast, but this is Cleveland and many of us in this city live by the old mantra: if we're not working our asses off, we're getting drunk off of them. Need proof? Christmas Ale hit the stores on Oct 30 and by early this week, it was sold out most everywhere. But not without a price, you see. Last year, I recall a 6-pack of this cinnamon-spiced honey ale running a hefty $9. Just yesterday, though, I saw a price tag of $11 at my local grocery store.

Luckily, there are some outlets that won't cost you an arm an a leg for a drink. For suburbanites, Jocko's Bar & Grille (1100 W Royalton Rd in Broadview Hts) runs Tuesday night specials for $2.50 a pint while Scoundrel's at 826 Front Street in Berea has the same $2.50 deal on Wednesdays.

For the nightlife city-goers, The Blind Pig on 1228 West 6th St in the Warehouse District offers Christmas Ale on draft for $3 all day and all night every Thursday. The same deal can be found at the actual Great Lakes Brewing Company located on 2516 Market Ave in Ohio City. Just remember to have a designated driver -- I don't need some jerk riding my ass on the innerbelt bridge. That thing is enough of a death trap as-is.

"And the Christmas lights, they blew up / Now the 'lecky's all gone dead / I look like a coal miner and I've a pain inside my head" - Shane MacGowan