Christmas Beers, Oh Christmas Beers ...

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

So, tell us what Christmas seasonals will find their way into your glass this year? Do you have a little somethin' special to pop open today or tomorrow?
For me, it's Birrificio Le Baladin Noel and Bogedal Bryghus #137.

We hope you have a hoppy and safe Christmas and a terrific New Year!

[Tim Nichols]

Saison Rue from the Bruery (rye saison w/brett yeast) for dinner, Petrus Winter Ale for desert, and lots of local Boundary Bay IPA (growler of course!) before and after!!

[Eric Alston]

The first seasonal I had this year was the quasi-quintessential Criminally Bad Elf. Probably the best seasonal I've had so far this year was a holiday collaboration between Nogne, Jolly Pumpkin, and Stone...downright delicious...

Although right now all I can think of is the Weyerbacher barrel-aged riserva (fortified with tons of raspberry puree) that I caved in to last night...I awoke thinking about its deliciousness...not quite a seasonal, but there you have it...the beers on my mind this Christmas Eve...

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

I too have partaken of the obligatory Ridgeway offerings ... I had the Insanely Bad Elf - an imperial red ale - several nights ago. Okay, just okay, as most of these are for me.

[Ralph Gant]

I loved this one, John Martin, Gordon Xmas, Belgium

[Henry Halff]

I'm not through yet, but thus far:

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron: not, strictly speaking a holiday beer, but it functions as one. I declare it the winner of the season.

Anchor Christmas Ale: Always good. Full of Christmas spices.

Shiner Holiday Cheer: A dunkelwiess flavored with peaches and pecans, tastes of the Texas hill country. Last year's winner and still good.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale: Tastes just like Sierra Nevada Pale. All Sierra Nevada beers taste the same.

Real Ale Shade Grown Coffee Porter: One of the few coffee porters and stouts that don't taste like they came from Starbucks. The coffee is there but it doesn't overpower the beer.

Full Sail Wassail: Well Balanced. It's hard to say that about most holiday beers.

Breckenridge Christmas Ale: Nice, understated. Lighter than I expected.

Still to try: Anchor Porter (which I know will be good) and Delerium Nöel.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Great! Someone else mentioned Spoetzl's (Shiner) Holiday Cheer. Way to go, Henry! I think this is a real holiday sleeper. Hard core beer geeks love to hate Shiner beer, it seems, but this is a dog gone good beer. I won't say it's great, but it has certainly taken up residence in my beer fridge on a couple of occasions so far this year. Tasty stuff!

[Henry Halff]

Yup. Lots of folks don't know that Shiner makes more than one beer. Try a Shiner 100 if you can find it. It's a great doppelbock that pulls out all the stops. And, even Shiner Bock, for its price, is a darned good beer. Here in Texas it goes head to head with the big boys (Bud, Miller, Heineken, Corona, and the like) and does pretty well against them.

[Ken Howes]

For Christmas, I'm drinking Sam Adams' Fezziwig Ale, a brown, slightly spiced, ale. The spices are less pronounced this year than in the past, but it remains distinctive and very good.

[Beer Diary...]

A hoppy xmas ale made from grain I malted myself. Happy New Year from all of us at:
www.backyardbrewer.blogspot.com

[Steve Hales]

I recently had St. Peter's Winter Ale at their (sole) pub in London, The Jerusalem Tavern. What a great beer. Unfortunately, it isn't available anywhere near me back home in PA. But I do have Troeg's Mad Elf to enjoy!

[Dan Leithauser]

My personal favorite, generally available, is Sierra Nevada Celebration. Personally, I do not think it is anything like their Pale Ale. It has more hops character and more alcohol. Then there is always Big Foot Barleywine, while not a true "holiday" beer, it is always a favorite with vintages going back to 2005 still in the refrigerator.

Not much of a fan of Anchor Christmas. Always seems understated to me. (but, Old Foghorn? Yum). For this general category, I would pick a Red Hook Winterhook over Anchor. Both benefit from warming up significantly from standard 40-50F.

Laurelwood Public House Vinter Varmer (Portland, OR distribution area) is a great amber brown concoction with balanced hoppiness, alcohol (6.5ABV), and nutty-malty-roasty character.

This years New Belgium Frambozen is excellent. Every year I have had it I have loved it, and generally I am not much on American fruit beers. The real raspberries and deep brown ale are rich in aroma and warm up to a soulful not too sweet brew --awesome with ham or poultry or pie. No hints of those kool-aid, cough syrupy notes I dislike.

I have not had any Bad Elf this year, but have a couple lined up for a tasting tonight!

Cheers.

[Chris Haselden]

It's going to be a bottle of Gouden Carolus Noel for me tonight for sure. Maybe some Boulevard Harvest Dance after that.

I had the Nogne/Stone/JP collaboration a few days ago and didn't care that much for it. I had a really hard time with the Juniper berries. And, as always, I've been working on my annual case of Great Divide Hibernation.