Best Holiday Beer?
Submitted by Jonny Fullpint on November 5, 2008 – 4:30 pm 82 Comments
Vote now for your favorite Holiday Beer.
If your favorite is not on the list share it with us by commenting at the bottom of this post. On the list are some classic, readily available holiday beers.
Best Holiday Beer?
- Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale (20%, 161 Votes)
- Sierra Nevada Celebration (20%, 158 Votes)
- New Belgium 2 Below (16%, 130 Votes)
- Avery Old Jubilation (12%, 97 Votes)
- Anchor Christmas (Our Special Ale) (11%, 90 Votes)
- I will hit the comment link and share my favorite Holiday Beer! (10%, 82 Votes)
- Deschutes Jubelale (7%, 60 Votes)
- Full Sail Wassail Ale (4%, 25 Votes)
Total Voters: 803
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Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper
Just looking at some old polls. Great Lakes Christmas Ale must be on the list next year. I’ve tried dozens of beers in the style and it is still my favorite, hands down.
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, I live CT and it is not sold here so my wife an I always order a case from a liquor store in NY to get us through the winter..
Insanely Bad elf
I’m surprised that Full Sail Wassail came in last place. That is one of my favorites for the year but my all time favorite winter warmer is Anderson Valley Winter Solstice. I really like that creamy and caramel flavor.
celebration without a doubt
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice by far
troegs mad elf without question.
2nd place: great lakes christmas ale
Long Trail Hibernator, one of my favorites for a long time, but also
Ommegang Double Chocolate Indulgence, my god is it delicious!!
Hmmm. Toss up between Shiner Holiday Cheer and Gordon Biersch Winter Bock with Pyramid’s Snow Cap right in there, too. Forced to choose one, I’ll go with Winter Bock from Gordon Biersch! Whew!
I think the best holiday beer would have to be LEINENKUGEL’S [FIRESIDE NUT BROWN].I had never even heard of leinengel before but i seen it at the gas stop and had to try.This stuff is brewed in wisconsin by the linenkugel family.Everyone please try this beer you’ll love it
The Abyss has been the most sought after beer at our bar (Davis Grad in Davis, CA). Also, the hop heads have been drinking up the Mendocino’s Imperial IPA. My personal fav this season has been Anchor Xmas. I never liked Anchor Steam or any of the Xmas beers before, but this one is my pick. Although Ten-Fidy from Oskar Blues arrives next week, so we’ll see at that point.
Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter is the most delicious thing I have ever put in my mouth.
Samiclaus and Samiclaus Helles are the best christmas beers handsdown and real christmas beers only brew one time year
Best beer marketed as a holiday beer is Troeg’s Mad Elf.
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout is the best winter seasonal beer hands down.
Great Divide Hibernation Ale
http://www.captainlawrencebrewing.com/beer_list.html
CANT WIT TILL CHRISTMAS EVE FOR THIS BADD BOY !!!!
The Anchor, by miles and miles.
Frambozen raspberry brown ale from New Belgium! So good I have to road trip from Oklahoma to KS, texas, or Colorado to get it every year!
Over the weekend, I had a pint of Full Sail’s “Wreck The Halls” at my favorite beer mecca here in Denver, The Falling Rock Tap House. A wonderfully rich drinking experience and a hoppy one, too.
WINTER ALE FEST #13
Finally tally of the tasting
1 Saranac Seasons Best
2 Southern Tier Old Man Winter
3 Southampton Christmas Ale
4 Insanely Bad Elf
5 Aventinus Doppelbock ~~~Outstanding !!
6 Grand Teton 20th Anniversary Double Wheat
7 GULDEN DRAAK VINTAGE ALE 2007 ****
8 Yulesmith
9 2006 Alaskan Smoked Porter
10 St.Bernardus Christmas Ale
11 Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer ***
12 ANCHOR OSA 2008
Southern Tier – Krampus. It is an Imperial Helles. Nicely balanced taste. Enough Alcohol to keep you warm.
You CAN’T beat the Shiner Holiday Cheer…..Brewed in Texas with pecans and Peaches………..YUMMMMM!!!!! Apperently, Their 100 year anniversary is upcoming and THAT ONE is VERY SPECIAL!!!!
Another vote for Sam Adams Old Fezziwig, with Lost Coast Brewery Winterbraun as runner up.
Happy to see Great Divide Hibernation Ale in this forum.. stumbled on that at Half Time Beverage outside Poughkeepsie, NY… haven’t found it in my neck (PA) o’ the woods yet. Perfect balance of hops and malt.
The Mad Elf is also outstanding.
BRRR is outstanding!! My new fav holiday seasonal 4 sure.
Boulevard Brewery’s Nutcracker Ale is great (Kansas City)
Hands down, Bridgeport Ebenezer. It’s like Christmas day when I find it one the shelf for the first time every year.
Some of our favorites: Alesmith Yule Smith. Port Santa’s Little Helper, Scaldis Noel, Full Sail Wreck the Halls, Affligem Noel, and Ridgeway Rudolph’s Revolt, almost everything at the holiday ale festival in Portland.
Great Divide Hibernation Ale.
I must say – SS WW is by far my least favorite of the list.
And props to NB Frambrozen!
love that sammy smith. we always come back to it every year.
Cascade Lakes – Santa’s Little Helper – Redmond, Oregon… Buy a growler full.
Port brewing Santas little helper is a fantastic imperial stout . It will keep you warm and happy on acold winters night.
Bell’s Winter White
Great Lakes Christmas Ale for sure.
“Snow Cap Ale” from the Pyramid Brewery is the best holiday beer.
Roots Epic
Winterbraun from Lost Coast Brewery is the bomb! Really yummy this year.
Great Divide Hibernation Ale keeps me warm in the winter!
I found a beer from Norway that is definetly worth mentioning . It is called nogne o Winter Ale
When I want something warm in my tummy….I reach for a Smith Winter Welcome.
By far the all time best holiday beer would have to be Samuel Smith Winter Welcome.
The Best Holiday Beer is the Sam Smith Winter Welcome. This beer is it
Anchors Christmas Ale. It is the oldest and “holiday-est” beer of all. But as with all the spiced or fruited beer they have a limited drinkability so I enjoy other beers for my holiday session choice. Sierra’s Celebration Ale is good for repeated gulps. I seen Duvel’s Noel listed ,a very nice choice as is so many Belgian holiday brews. My on-going holiday wish is to attend the Belgian Christmas/Holiday BeerFest.
John,
I am so glad you chimed in !!
The Jolly Roger is one that has been on my list forever to try !!!
I have been searching in vain for some AND the JOLLY ROGER FLAG
Any help would be most appreciated …Thanks,Bill
I have to say that, while I love almost all winter beers, far and away my favorite is Maritime Pacific’s Jolly Roger Christmas Ale. It’s rich and malty and ages really well. It doesn’t hurt that their brewery and taproom is only a couple miles from where I live in Seattle.
I host a annual Christmas Ale Fest every year.
Always end up with a few new ones that I have never had.Celebration by far is the MOST drinkable .The Belgian corked finished are the most decandant.Alaskan Smoked Porter should get a nod here also.New brews on deck for this years festival 3 Floyds Alpha Klaus, Troegs Mad Elf ,CAPT.LAWRENCE’S Nor’ Easter Winter Warmer 07 Batch 2.
LOVE ANCHOR OSA !!!!
The Sierra Nevada and the Bell’s Christmas ales are decent but the one that has really impressed me this season is the Great Lakes Christmas ale. Honey & cinnamon nuances that actually remind me of the holiday more than the other two I’ve tried this year so far.
Winter Warmer from Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN)
Shiner Holiday Cheer nuff said,
German Dunkelweiss maed with Tx peaches and roasted pecans
Tough choice between two Belgian favorites: De Dolled Stille Nacht, and N’Ice Chouffe.
Locally, have to give props to Southampton’s French Country Christmas, which is another favorite.
3 Floyds – Alpha Klaus Xmas Porter, Nice dark brown color w/ 2″ tan head, aromas of Chocolate, Roasted Malts, English Toffee with a nice bitter coffee finish. Perfect for winter drinking!
SANTA’S PRIVATE RESERVE ALE FROM ROGUE IS THE BEST HOLIDAY BEER! IT TASTES LIKE CHRISTMAS.
I’ll agree with Troeg’s Mad Elf. It’s a great brew for the cold winter months.
Scaldis Noel Premium for sure! St Bernardus and Gouden Carolus Noel close after. On the homefront, Yulesmith and Port Santa’s Little Helper are awesome!
Goose Island Christmas Ale!!!
My new favorite has to be Brrr from Widmer. It is high on the hops which is everything in a beer for me. My favorite befor this was Wreck the Halls from Full Sail, much better than the Wassail they produce in my opinion.
samiclaus!
Full Sail Wassail ROCKS!!!
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
It tastes like Christmas!
Butte Creek’s Cranberry Ale is my favorite!!!!
I also like their organic barleywine, TrainWreck!
So glad to see other Clevelanders listing GLBC Christmas Ale. I’m not allowed in my inlaw’s house unless I bring it to share for my brother in law in WV. But if I was not lucky enough to live in Cleveland..I would resort to Sam Adams Old Fezziwig..
PS Posted by the only girl on here – it seems..
REAL WOMEN DRINK BEER!!
Affligem Noel.
My Choice for 2008 is Widmer’s Brrr, a very hopped up red ale. Great taste.
Great Lakes Christmas Ale really should have been on the list. I’ll add another vote for that one.
New Belgium Brewing!!!
Damn Good!
[...] The Full Pint is having a fun and festive poll: best holiday beer. [...]
Great Lakes Christmas Ale – But hey, I love all things Cleveland.
Sam Adams Winter Lager
I second the Troeg brothers Mad Elf, at 11%abv and the surprisingly smooth taste of honey and cherries it was my 2007 winter warmer!
Full Sail Wreck the Halls is excellent!!!
what about Frambozen by New Belgium? That is their true holiday beer.
Chipper Dave,
What Holiday Porter do you speak of mang?
Don E. Gates
Troegs Mad Elf is the best holiday beer!!!!!!!!
I enjoy a Samuel Adams Holiday Porter or the occasional New Belgium Frambozen.
Schell’s Snowstorm, different every year. Delicious every year.
I really enjoy a lot of Christmas Ales but the one that sticks out every year is Sam Adams Old Fezziwig. Yum!
Goose Island Christmas Ale
Delirium Noel is hands down my alltime favorite Christmas beer! Then again…you can never go wrong with any of the Delirium beers! Cheers!
Frambozen raspberry brown ale from New Belgium… but I like 2 Below as well and gave that my vote. Great poll, CHEERS!
Schlafly Christmas ale, local beer from St. Louis. Awesome stuff.
Great Lakes Brewery Christmas Ale. Yeah, it’s regional, but it’s the best. Period.