Holiday Beers (2025)

I thought I'd interrupt this U.S. only forum with a cask offering from Everard's Brewery from Leicestershire in the U.K. A premium bitter with a festive theme

 

We're glad that you "interrupted" which wasn't an interruption at all. Everyone is welcome, and the more the merrier.

 

I drank a bit of Tiger back in the day

 

I didn't realize this was a beer the neighbors left for us from the Sierra Nevada winter pack. Also got part way through it before I realized it would fit in this thread - probably on point for yesterday's theme, definitely more than today.

I still haven't serviced my phone's camera, so the pic isn't as great (yesterday I used the GF's phone).

Anyhow, Snowed In winter warmer has a decent malt component, but the typical level of Sierra Nevada hops stretches the boundaries of the style a bit, in my opinion. It is a beautiful beer (not portrayed well in that pic), clear brown with a khaki head that covers the surface of the beer, even at the halfway point.

Some dark bread toast and some nuttiness turns into earthy as the hops add bitterness and maybe a little orange peel. I am quite enjoying it as a hoppy American brown.

 

Festive Pink Elephants are always a part of the season for me

Delirium Noel Brewery Huyghe, Belgium

 

Rock on, BA!

I've already gone through at least a case of Celebration so far. This one isn't as amazing as when it first came out, but still is damn tasty.

 

Starting ine day late, with plans to catch up…
Thank you @thebeers for hosting the celebration!

Delerium Noël - Huyghe

Notes from my review back in 2012 seems like a different beer altogether. My how time has changed my perception.

Appearance is more gem-like garnet when backlit, and the lacing is a torn curtain of delicate fabric. A pillar of fine carbonation is in constant motion from the nucleation site. Aromatic Christmas spicing and fruits allow space for subtle hops and sweet malts. It is quite sweet, and the bitterness has a sharpness, still the focus is squarely on the spice and fruity flavor. Cherries and currents are forward while bitterness hangs with the finish. Texture of flowing satin, alcohol has a mild warmth and carbonation is ample and fluffy. Yeah, the more likely change here resides within myself. It’s a delightful beer on a cold snow globe of an afternoon. Check it out with one of our new trees as a Christmas backdrop.

 

Starting this afternoon off with a long time Christmas favorite - Delirium Noël:



Mild spice; light clove. I like! I should have got the gift box recently so I could get the Noël glass!

Cheers y’all and Happy Holidays!

 

Another of my holiday favorites: Scaldis Noël from Brasserie Dubuisson, a Belgian Dark Strong Ale. The taste really opens as it warms. It starts almost cider-like with fresh apple and pear but its balanced by caramel, coriander, clove, and pepper. There are also notes of of brown sugar and and earthy, roasted malt. I had trouble finding it this year and was fortunate to get the last pack in the store. The Elves Hans and Franz approve. Santé!

 

Dear holiday beer mavens, I am having DAD, by Rhinegeist. A hoppy amber ale that I believe is underrated. It's a fine enough beer that leans a tad into Celebration Ale territory without the feel of being an attempted clone. I imagine this beer and pine syrup may be closely related. Sorry, I didn't scoop up any imports yet.

 

Beautiful!

 

Brasserie Dupont (Belgium) ‘Avec Les Bons Voeux’

My favorite bartender laid this Holidays fave on me. Fresh, fragrant, funky, malty, lightly sweet, 9.5% abv. Fulfills all the senses. Hohoho! Yeah!

Dupont says:

Nothing beats seeing in the new year with the best wishes (“bons vœux” in French) of the Brasserie Dupont.
The “Bons Vœux” was born in 1970. Back then, if you were lucky enough to taste some on New Year’s Day, you must have been a very loyal customer! Exclusive and highly sought after, this beer was brewed in limited quantities. It would be pre-ordered months in advance by its most passionate fans.
It is now available to buy in shops… because it has to be said, best wishes are only worth something if they are shared!

 

Awesome to see Alesmith still makes this. It was a favorite back in the early days of my journey!

Since i do not have any Belgian brews this year, i am getting into Great Divide's Hibernation.

I bought an aged can the first time i had it many years ago and i was hooked. This was as annual staple in the fridge in the PHX years and i generally aged it up to 5 years, one of the few beers IMHO that improves over time and generally would drink them with 2-3 years on them. The can i am enjoying was canned in October 2025 and it is a little rough around the edges in terms of the hop bitterness and roast with my initial sips. I'll have another and we'll see how the palate acclimates.
Cheers!
Tom

 

I was personally invited by our host. I will not fail him. This is my favorite holiday beer.

 

Thank you kindly! I go to the extreme with the decorations, so much that we’ve run out of surfaces to display things. By the time it all gets put out, it’s almost Christmas Day. So it often stays out until February.

 

Still catching up with the festivities. May only reach half my allocation due to dehydration yesterday and a dropped bottle today which was not broken but leaking beer, so I had to audible saving the 12.3% strong stout. This one is also strong for a wheat beer, perhaps for the season.

Allagash Ski House

3.79/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75



Full review linked above. Feels like a stronger wheat beer, but did not get the ginger or spices noted in the can description. Stronger than a typical wheat beer, I am enjoying this, but would prefer an Allagash White over this if given the option. Still glad I picked this up for a try.

I have one Christmas beer for certain slated for tomorrow, and if bold perhaps a local "Winter beer" to seal the deal.