Martellina

Martellina feels like someone whispered spice into a clean, bright base rather than shouting it. You get cinnamon and maybe a hint of clove, but it's delicate—the kind of thing that makes you take a second sip to confirm what you just tasted. At 5.5% ABV, it drinks lighter than you'd expect for a spiced beer, which works in its favor if you're looking for something you can actually session. The 28 IBU keeps things soft; there's no bite, just a warm, almost comforting finish.

Mashsee Oma Lene Lebkuchen Ale

This one doesn't whisper. The lebkuchen spicing hits immediately—you're getting ginger, cinnamon, maybe some anise character—and it hangs around. There's real depth here from the 6.5% ABV; you can feel the malt supporting the spice rather than just getting out of the way. The 35 IBU adds a subtle drying quality that keeps it from becoming cloying, which is smart given how spice-forward the beer already is. It's almost dessert-adjacent but dry enough to function as a proper drinking beer.