Must try holiday beers

Mothergoose is wise. can't believe it took that long down the thread to hit it!

 

One other thing to watch for this holiday season is I heard HeBrew was going to put out the Vertical Jewbelation variety pack again. (not the variety pack they did the last year or two with just their different shelf beers). They did it a few years back with 7-13. Great box set.

If you see that box, grab one.

 

Dark horse 4 elf
Shorts cup a joe
Celebration
Bells Christmas ale
Are some of my favorites. I would like to include include anchors special Christmas ale but it varies between great and mediocre for me

 

This year's is released. Not available in OH unfortunately, but I found it in KY. No single bottles though, so $20 for a four pack.

 

I'm drinking Penn St. Nikolaus Bock Bier right now and love it. I plan on getting 21st Amendment's Fireside Chat next. I only saw 1 case left. Hopefully nobody buys it!

Here are my favorites so far (in no particular order):
1. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
2. Tröegs Mad Elf
3. Harpoon Winter Warmer
4. Harpoon Chocolate Stout
5. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

 

Wow this one sounds great! Id love to get my hands on some hardywood gingerbread stout as well being a stout fan. Not too many "winter warmer" stouts out there that i know of.

So far this year i have had (best first IMO):

GLBC Christmas Ale
Market Garden Festivus
Dark Horse 4 Elf
Troegs Mad Elf
Rogue Santas Private Reserve

 

Drinking Ommegang Adoration right now. Pretty nice holiday brew.

 

I have a christmas party next week. Don't as me why so early. I decided to bring my own beer (don't mean to be that person but the idea of miller lite at a christmas party, doesn't seem festive). I decided to make my own six pack, probably buy a four pack also. What should I buy?

 

Mother Earth Silent Night, barrel aged imperial stout brewed with coffee and molasses.

 

Lindley Park, Event Horizion.

 

I had 12 dogs of christmas and GL christmas two nights in a row and I must say 12 dogs was better, by a good bit. GL is good but 12 dogs has a lot more sweetness and warmth with a better spice profile. I need to do a blind tasting with 2xmas, 12 dogs and GL CA.

Does anyone else think 12 dogs is under the radar a bit? I know it's expensive ($14.99) and doesn't have many reviews.

 

Look at all this SN love! And BA's say that SN is underrated... Bah

 

Celebration is a bit overrated as a holiday beer. It's fine, there's just very little about it that says "holidays" to me. Deschutes' Jubelale is a great example of getting those holiday flavors packed into a beer.

Don't get me wrong, Celebration is good, but other than the name and time of release it could just be chalked up as another good IPA. New Belgium's Accumulation is another example of this.

 

I agree! I buy extra each year and cellar it. Verticals at Christmas are great fun.

 

I just picked up a sixer of Jubalele the other day...man that's tasty beer. Wondering why I hadn't tried it before. And honestly, as holiday beers go, I think I like it more than Celebration Ale. The hops is more balanced...Celebration seems a bit to heavily hopped to me. And yes, I am aware that its supposed to be hoppy, being fresh hopped and all... but it just seems too much. I also really like Sam Adams winter lager. Well balanced, a little more spiced than some of the mainstays.

 

I've been trying to find all 3 of those. Where did you find them?

 

I also think the St. Bernardus Christmas is the best I've had. It has amazing flavor, and is so easy to drink (watch out for the alcohol wallop). Never had another that is this good. I bought a case last year, and have a few bottles left. Had 1 yesterday, and still amazing.

 

GL CA is pretty much at all the major spots here in NC. Check with whoever normally gets product in first for you and ask. 12 dogs had a pretty limited release, I only saw one place with it and I haven't seen 2xmas in NC this year yet.

 

Tried another fairly unique one..deserves Honorable mention.
Rogue's Santa's Private Reserve is pretty good. Lot different, growing on me the more I have it. Nice grapefruity bitter, malty lingering backbone.

 

Merry Christmas GOSE