When do you start drinking Christmas Ales?

I think I was about 11.

 

This joke is evergreen.

It shall never die while I live.

 

I don’t celebrate Christmas Ales…motion to rename them Holiday Nog.

 

Picked up a six-pack in honor of my brother (always one of his favorites) and I'm reminded that this beer is hoppier than I always remember.

I guess I'm expecting rich maltiness like a brown ale, but the piny hops (along with estery warm fermentation) really balance this into a rather crisp beer -- really hiding that 7% ABV, I'll add.

Pretty nice beer from a now macro-owned brewery.

 

Agreed that it is nice. The Old Chicago has it on draught and it's also nice(r)?

 

I'd like to try it on tap.

 

Never...you can keep those spices. Bah Humbug

 

They.don't.all.have.spices.

See the notes on Breckenridge above.

 

I picked up a sixer of Bell's Christmas Ale for $6 this week. Feels like a mistake.

 

Yeah -- did'ja tip toe out of the store?

Eleven bucks up this way.

 

I bought my Christmas cellar collection, despite the doctor's warning: my sugar level will rise again!

 

I always wait until December starts before drinking my Christmas/Holiday/Winter beers since I still have to finish the ones I bought for Halloween and Thanksgiving. The biggest pain is keeping SN Celebration Ale cold enough and long enough for it to still be hoppy when I do.

 

Only one that comes to mind is Celebration Ale

 

I took a flyer on it thinking it'd be sort of like a sweeter doppelbock, and instead it felt as if I had cough syrup thrown in my face. I exaggerate of course, but medicinal taste was very obvious. Checked the dates, which is a good idea there - they still have some Metropolitan cans in the fridge, but no, it's fresh.

 

You should have that checked.

 

A lot of the Belgian winter/Christmas/New Year ales are just spicy due to the yeast, but have no spices added to them.