Holiday Beers You Wait for Every Year?

Stone Xocoveza (Shokoveza, Cocoveza, Chocoveza)

 

Descutes Jubelale
Red Hook's Winter Hook
SN Celebration
Widmer Brrr
Pyramid's Snow Cap

There is a ski area in the Cascade mountains of Washington called Stevens Pass, which I frequent every winter. In the Pacific Crest lodge there is a cozy little bar upstairs that serves Snow Cap on tap. I like to sneak up there a time or two during my ski time and have one or two.
Isn't that what winter warmers are all about?

 

I just had some tasty Bell's Christmas Ale.

 

Some seasonal brews come and go, but these remain in the rotation...

Anchor Our Special Ale (since 2009)
Great Lakes Christmas Ale (since 2011)
Stone Xocoveza (since 2015)
Samuel Adams Winter Classics (since 2009, but may not be on the docket this year)

 

Along with many of the brews already mentioned, I've been having a tradition of buying a Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper each year dating back to 2012 and drinking it 2 years after on Christmas Eve, so drank my 2013 last year, will drink my 2014 this year, have a 2015 sitting until next year, and will buy one this year for 2017.

 

Seasonal not Christmas/Holiday, but Pinchy Jeek is still my favorite gourd beer and I get excited when it comes out.

 

WOW!!! So much love for SN Celebration...include me!
Celebration -'cause it looks like a holiday beer
Xocoveza [my first this time-awesome beer]
Old Fezziwig-'cause it's like that crazy uncle you only see once a year
Anchor Winter Wheat-haven't found it yet-it's not all gone I fear..

 

Stille Nacht.
Struise Tsjeeses.
St Bernardus Christmas.

 

Hardywood Gingerbread Stout, by far. Any and all variants.

 

Schlenkerla Oak Double Bock

 

I like Great Lakes Christmas, Anchor Christmas, Deschutes Jubelale and recently Stone Xocoveza.

 

Well said, and I guess it is possible to get Sierras that are not already three months old by the time it hits the distributor.

 

Alaskan Brewing Winter Ale. I love those spruce tips!

 

Well if hibernation counts than that would be the one. I always just thought of that as a winter seasonal. It's a killer old ale especially with some age.

 

BCBS
The Abyss
Founders Backwoods Bastard

All are closer to Thanksgiving, but they surround the holiday season nonetheless...

 

In Past:
Mad Elf - Troegs
Brown Shugga' - Lagunitas
Double Bastard - Stone

As of this year (2016):
Brown Shugga' - Lagunitas
Stille Nacht - De Dolle Brouwers
N'ice Chouffe - Brasserie D'Achouffe

Why no Mad Elf? I absolutely hate the new artwork and the fill levels of the 12oz bottles were very, VERY questionable and varied greatly.
Why no Double Bastard? I prefer it on draught and I was never able to source this year...so I abstained.

New seasonals I hope to try this year:
Scaldis Noel - Brasserie Dubuisson
Gouden Carolous Noel - Brouwerij Het Anker
Delirium Noel - Brouwerij Huyghe

Brown Shugga' being the (hoppy) exception, I'll take the Winter Warmers courtesy of those who have centuries of brewing history to offer me an authentic taste of Christmas.

 

I love Celebration and Mad Elf but my #1 is Avec Les Bons Voeux

 

SN Celebration and FBS

Overall I enjoy winter to break out the Imperial Stouts and Quads. Going to be a great xmas to NYE week for me to drink some of my cellar stash

 

Anchor Christmas
Great Lakes Christmas
Sam Adams Old Fezziwig
Sam Adams Holiday Porter (unfortunately an increasingly rare occurrence)
Port City Tidings
Trader Joe's/Unibroue Vintage Ale

Just to name a few.

 

By definition, all Christmas beers are seasonal. But, then, not all seasonals are holiday beers. If it's sitting on the shelf surrounded by Christmas brews, it can pick up the tag by sheer osmosis.