The 8 Best Christmas Beers to Spread Holiday Cheer in 2021

Best Overall: Samichlaus Classic Bier

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An Austrian doppelbock from Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg, Samichlaus is an iconic Christmas beer that captivates enthusiasts every year. It's not the easiest to find, but you will not be disappointed when it crosses your path. 

Brewed on one day each December, it rests for ten months to gain the ideal complexity of roasted malt, caramel, and prunes. It's bottled at a wine-worthy 14 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), which amplifies the flavor wonderfully. At the same time, it is a lager, so Samichlaus also has the crispness that makes the bottom-fermented beers enjoyable. Don’t keep this one in the bottle either; pour it into your best tulip glass because its ruby color and luscious foam head deserve to be in the spotlight of any holiday celebration.

Best Winter Warmer: Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale

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Whether it's Christmas Eve or the coldest night in January, a bottle of Winter Welcome Ale from Samuel Smith is a toasty treat. It's been brewing top-notch beer in Yorkshire since 1758 using traditional stone “Yorkshire squares” for fermentation. A fixture in the British beer scene, the brewery’s oatmeal stout and nut brown ale can easily be found in beer coolers year-round, sometimes alongside other Samuel Smith bottles. Come late fall, they're joined by the unmistakable purple label of Winter Welcome that screams holiday cheer.

This is an ideal example of a winter warmer, with its rich maltiness perfectly balanced out by floral hops and inviting fruit and spice notes. It’s available in large 18.7-ounce bottles, a pleasant 6 percent ABV, and registered with the Vegan Society. Serve this cozy fireside brew slightly warm—around 51 degrees—in a chalice or snifter for the best experience.

Best Strong Ale: Avery Brewing Old Jubilation Ale

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A brilliant find from Boulder, Colorado, Avery Brewing Co.'s Old Jubilation Ale is, quite simply, a delicious beer. The winter warmer is an English-style old ale that uses no adjuncts for extra flavor. Instead, the magic is the result of five specialty malts that come together in perfect harmony. 

This strong 8.3 percent ABV ale makes its annual appearance starting in October to help you get into the holiday spirit early. Its inviting malty profile overshadows any hoppiness, while the mahogany color and hazelnut, mocha, and toffee notes encompass the feel of the season. It’s also an excellent beer for pairings, especially with rich comfort foods.

Best Belgian Ale: Brasserie Dubuisson Scaldis Noël

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Brasserie Dubuisson was founded in 1769 and continues the tradition of brewing authentic Belgian beers. In 1991, the release of this strong dark ale quickly caught worldwide attention, and its annual appearance comes with high anticipation. In the United States, this beer is found under the name Scaldis Noël. Elsewhere, it's available as Bush de Noël. No matter what the label says, it offers the taste of a classic Belgian dark ale.

This 12 percent ABV dark amber ale continues to delight beer aficionados with a warm, full malt accented by brown sugar and banana with a hint of pineapple to keep things interesting. It finishes off with bitter hops, though it weighs in at just 21 IBUs. It’s available in tall 750-milliliter (9.4 ounces) bottles that are ideal for holiday gatherings, though 330-milliliter (11.2 ounces) bottles are ideal for a cozy evening at home. 

Best Scotch-Style Ale: Bell’s Christmas Ale

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For a warm seasonal beer without the extra spice, turn to Bell's Christmas Ale. It's as warming as any other and a masterfully brewed Scotch-style ale. It’s not one of those peaty misinterpretations that are prevalent among American craft brewers, though. No, this one follows the traditional Scotch ale-style, with a complex and toasted malt brew and no Scotch whisky influence.

Bottled at 7.5 percent ABV, you'll enjoy toffee, caramel, and dark fruit flavors against an oakiness that melts in your mouth. Best served at cellar temperatures in a nonic pint, it’s the ideal beer for a snowy night. And, if you want to infuse beer into your baked goods or holiday dinner glazes, few brews will work as well as Christmas Ale. 

Best American Craft: Odell Brewing Isolation Ale

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While many winter warmers lean toward dark, rich malts, Odell Brewing's Isolation Ale takes a medium-bodied approach. The Colorado-based brewery also refrains from adding fruits and spices. Instead, it lets its house yeast strain four varieties of hops, and the roasted and caramel malts do the seasonal flavor work. 

This craft ale’s balance of sweet, nutty, malt, and crisp hops is perfect and offers drinkers a softer seasonal that doesn't sacrifice flavor. At 6 percent ABV and with 29 IBUs, it's very drinkable, and there is a nice bitterness that wakes up the palate. It will easily become one that you seek out each year.

Best IPA: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

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If IPAs are your thing, crack open a bottle of Celebration Ale and enjoy the hoppiest of holiday beers. Sierra Nevada started brewing it in 1981, and it was one of the original American-style IPAs that set off a revolution in craft brewing. After all these years, it remains a hit, especially among hopheads who also want to enjoy a holiday-worthy brew.

The primary difference between this and other winter seasonal beers is that it’s not sweet or spiced. Considered a classic in the American brewing scene, its familiar citrus and pine notes are attributed to the year’s first harvest of hops. Weighing in at 6.8 percent ABV and 65 IBUs, it does have the bitter aspect expected of this style, but it’s not too hoppy when compared to other IPAs. That balance is exactly why fans come back to it every year.