The head brweer at Oak Creek Brwery, Jim Screlau, has reached back into the holiday traditions of Germany and Scotland to create two rich, limited-edition winter beers available on tap now at the Oak Creek Brewery and Grill.

The German Doppelbock is a medium-dark brew, with a strong taste of malt and roasted barley. The Scotch Ale is an ancient, robust beer that the Scottish used to make with malts dried on a peat fire. Screlau's recipe calls for an expert blend of seven different malts, producing subtle flavors such as caramel and woodsmoke.

Come in for the seasonal beers, of course, but also bring your appetite. If you look into the open kitchen, you will notice that chef Bill Albertz has reduced the number of fresh chickens in the rotisserie in order to make room for slow-cooked pork loin. This tender with an apricot glaze that avoids being overly sweet an even contains a little bite from jalapeno.

"The pork loin is just one part of an expanded menu for the new year", explains manager Belynda Green. "We get wonderful support and feedback from the local community, and it constantly inspires us to improve our offerings. Because of overwhelming demand, for example, we've brought back the fish and chips."

As much as Oak Creek's award-winning beers and savory food are a perfect remedy for the winter chill, the same holds true for its desserts. Chef Bill has created a wood-fired apple crisp nestled in buttery puff pastry, as well as a warm berry cobbler .

The Oak Creek Brewery and Grill. located in Tlaquepaque, is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For reservations call 928-282-3300.

The Oak Creek Brewery and Grill, now celebrating its second anniversary, has become a landmark in Sedona's picturesque Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. It has gained a great reputation for the friendly staff serving you in a family-oriented atmosphere.

The reputation of the Oak Creek beer, brewed on the premises, has gone national. In addition to winning awards in 2001 and 2002, this year the beers have won gold medals from both the North American Brewers' Association and the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

Chef Bill Albertz leads his talented staff in complementing the house brews with such culinary creations as a grilled shrimp cocktail, with chipotle cocktail sauce; cedar planked salmon, which is a fresh Atlantic salmon baked on a cedar plank in a wood-fired oven; and pan-seared mahi-mahi, accented with a lemon caper beurre blanc. People with the most discriminating palates also enjoy baby-back ribs, rotisserie chicken, specialty pizzas, scrumptious sandwiches, and fresh salads that are available for lunch or dinner.

Don't miss out on Oak Creek Brewery and Grill's weekend specials! You might encounter chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and prosciutto or beef tournedos with a brandy peppercorn sauce. The Oak Creek Brewery and Grill is open seven days from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For reservations, call 928-282-3300.