{"id":14657,"date":"2023-12-11T09:45:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T17:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/?p=14657"},"modified":"2023-12-18T07:12:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T15:12:23","slug":"best-christmas-beer-winter-beer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/article\/best-christmas-beer-winter-beer\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Best Christmas Beers, Winter Beers, & Holiday Beers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Christmas beer, holiday beer, winter beer\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter what you call it, all that matters is that it pairs well with a roaring fire and makes you feel cozy. Here\u2019s our updated list of the 13 best winter beers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best winter beers walk a line\u2014they don\u2019t taste like cider<\/a> or a gingerbread hard seltzer<\/a>, they taste like beer with a little something extra. We\u2019re talking pine, we\u2019re talking mulling spice, we\u2019re talking chocolate. That\u2019s what I was looking for when I sat down to a table of winter beers\u2014subtle flavors that added to the natural beer flavors, rather than simply covering them up. I definitely did not want something that tasted like eggnog<\/a> and called itself a brown winter ale, or something that promised a whisper of mint and tasted like carbonated toothpaste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After our most recent holiday beer taste test, I updated our list to include 11 seriously good winter beers. There\u2019s something for everyone here, whether you\u2019re a Christmas ale purist and will only drink biere de noel, or you\u2019re looking for something more unconventional. So, don your coziest, ugliest Christmas sweater, break out the peppermint bark<\/a>, and check out the best Christmas beers, winter beers, and general holiday beers to buy this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>\"Victory
\n

Best Wheat Beer<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Victory Merry Monkey<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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If you love a wheat beer and a sweet beer, then this is the best Christmas beer for you. The Belgian-style ale layers flavors of cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon, and nutmeg on top of the brand\u2019s Golden Monkey beer. The flavors show up but they don\u2019t hit you over the head\u2014it\u2019s not like you\u2019re drinking a Christmas candle from The Body Shop. But it definitely has the classic Belgian ale banana-bread undertone and it is certainly on the sweeter end of the spectrum. A good dessert Christmas ale. And at 10% ABV, it\u2019s a good way to cap off the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Deschutes
\n

Best Dark<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Deschutes Jubelale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This winter ale is dark but it\u2019s hop-heavy, with notes of raw, unsweetened cocoa. It\u2019s fascinating\u2014a real conversation beer. It\u2019s rich and heavy, a winter beer for mulling over thoughts and feelings. If you want a winter ale that\u2019s not overly themed, this is a good pick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Einstok
\n

Best Smoky<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Einstok Olgerd Icelandic Winter Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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If you\u2019ve ever wanted to taste Icelandic winter, this winter beer delivers the experience right to your mouth. Brewed with whiskey-cured spruce tips and smoked barley, it feels like a beer Santa might drink (after responsibly parking his sleigh for the night, of course). \u201cA real warm ya up beer,\u201d as managing editor Gwynedd Stuart<\/a> described it. It has a deep, sweet, smoky flavor. It has an umami quality with a touch of spruce-y bitterness at the finish. It\u2019s not a crushable beer at 8%, but if you\u2019re used to drinking double IPAs, this would be a good seasonal replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n
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<\/span>\"Two
\n

Best Biere de Noel<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Two Roads Holiday Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Two Roads<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Some folks want to drink a Christmas ale but they don\u2019t want something that tastes like Christmas. If that\u2019s you, try this seasonal biere de garde-style winter ale. You won\u2019t get any cranberries or chocolate here, just the malty, earthy, round, bready flavors you expect from a farmhouse ale. Biere de noel (Christmas beer, in French) is a type of biere de garde enjoyed in parts of France in the weeks before Christmas. So, it\u2019s still very festive\u2014even if it doesn\u2019t taste like a stocking stuffer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Two Roads<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Breckenridge
\n

Best for Stout Lovers<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Breckenridge Brewery Christmas Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Even though there\u2019s no fruit listed on the label, this Christmas ale smells like dark blackcurrants. To me, it even tasted a bit like mulled wine, too. It\u2019s dark and rich and low on carbonation. It\u2019s so close to being a stout, but not quite\u2014in fact, if you\u2019ve ever had a Guinness mixed with blackcurrant syrup, it\u2019s not far from that. It\u2019s an excellent dark holiday beer that nods to festive flavors without going overboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Sierra
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Best for IPA Lovers<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Drizly<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Hop haters can turn right around. This winter beer from Sierra Nevada is like an amped-up pale ale. It smells like the redwoods\u2014like damp bark on a cold, Northern California morning. As a NorCal native, this is what winter smells like to me, so I may be a tad biased. But if that sounds at all appealing to you, I absolutely recommend this beer. It\u2019s one of the best winter beers for people who don\u2019t want a holiday-flavored beer, they want a winter<\/em> ale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Shiner
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Best If It\u2019s Hot Outside<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Shiner Holiday Cheer<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Not everyone celebrates a cold Christmas or holiday. For those people, there\u2019s Shiner Holiday Cheer, a peaches and pecan-flavored brew. At first, we were all a little confused by the canned peach flavor. But then we kept sipping. \u201cI changed my mind and now I love it,\u201d Gwynedd said. \u201cI could drink a lot of that.\u201d The malt and hops come through, so it doesn\u2019t just taste like a soda. It\u2019s bright, it\u2019s refreshing, it\u2019s a different kind of holiday beer\u2014a Texas holiday beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Samuel
\n

Best with Cheese<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
gopuff<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This is what \u201cgood beer\u201d used to taste like in 2004, back before breweries were as prolific as coffee shops. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not still good. It has a dark, fruity flavor\u2014almost like it was aged in a Cabernet cask. That fruitiness makes it the best winter beer to pair with a cheese platter filled with aged cheddars<\/a> and funky blues. The label is bonkers. It\u2019s like someone just discovered clipart. But that\u2019s a bonus, for me. It\u2019s something to read while you\u2019re kicking back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"St.
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Best Fruity<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
World Market<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cYum, yum,\u201d I wrote in my tasting notes. \u201cYou see how dark it is and you think it\u2019s going to be heavy but it\u2019s nice and light,\u201d Gwynedd said, putting things a bit more eloquently. To me, this tastes like how Christmas is portrayed in A Christmas Carol<\/em>\u2014back when people in ascots and top hats decorated their dirty homes with strands of cranberries threaded onto a string and a dried cherry was a prized gift. It\u2019s darkly fruity and tangy and 9.8% ABV, so it packs a punch. It\u2019s one of the best winter beers to sip in your dressing gown and slippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine <\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Anderson
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Best Day Drinking Beer<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Cozy up around a campfire in a spruce forest with this winter ale. The resin-tinged flavor somehow captures the essence of a cold, fall evening in the woods, complete with soft, fallen leaves underfoot and the sense that rain is just around the corner. I want one right now. At 6.9% (I won\u2019t make a joke about that number, I promise), it\u2019s not a session winter ale, but you can certainly have more than one, and you are definitely going to want to do just that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Founders
\n

Best of the Best<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Founders The Cranfather<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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We have a new number one best Christmas beer this year. That\u2019s in part, that\u2019s because Anchor Brewing has stopped making<\/a> our previous number one (their Merry Christmas Happy New Year beer), but, honestly, this Christmas beer might have taken the top spot regardless. It\u2019s aged in bourbon barrels with cranberry, cherry, and orange peel, but it\u2019s not your standard fruity beer. It has a tangy, balsamic vinegar aroma, which carries through to the first sip. There are a lot of sweet dried cherry and cranberry notes, and it ends tart\u2014not sour. This holiday beer would be incredible with a slice of pecan pie<\/a> or some walnuts and stilton cheese. It\u2019s the best Christmas beer of 2023, and a special treat every of-age beer drinker must try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

10\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Other winter beers we tried: <\/strong>Brewdog Hoppy Christmas, Nice Chouffe, Left Hand Candy Cane Nitro (this one did earn an honorable mention\u2014it is really mild on the mint with some good, bitter, stout notes), Rogue \u201822 Santa Private Reserve (previously included but out of date), Anchor Brewing Co. Merry Christmas Happy New Year (previously included but no longer in production)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don your coziest, ugliest Christmas sweater!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[359,12,10,376],"tags":[],"articletype":[46],"coauthors":[387],"class_list":["post-14657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beer","category-seasonal","category-beverages","category-december-holidays","articletype-rankings"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/RANKING-UPDATE_CHRISTMAS-BEER_HEADER.jpg","posts_featured":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14657"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14657\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14657"},{"taxonomy":"articletype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articletype?post=14657"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=14657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}