Must try holiday beers

FFF - Alpha Klaus
Fat Heads - Holly Jolly
Great Lakes - Xmas Ale
Shiner - Cheer
Troegs - Mad Elf
Hopin Frog - Frosted Xmas

 

Alpha Klaus is out now...

 

New Holland Cabin Fever anyone?
Celebration
Fireside Chat

 

Hate to go all "Ohio-Homer" on you....but these are some good ones; all local to me....

Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog and BA FF - yum
FatHeads - Holly Jolly ale
Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Xmas and BA version
Great Lakes - overhyped Christmas Ale
Christian Moerlein Christkindl ale
Black Box - Cleveland Christmas Ale
Rocky River Santa's Little Helper
" " Punch in the Nuts
Indigo Imp Winter Solstice
------------------------------------------- is Ohio the Christmas brew capital or what?

Also,
Anchor Our Special Ale (have past 6 years - should make for a nice vertical tasting!)
SN Celebration
Abita Christmas Ale
Anderson Valley Winter Solistice
Sly Fox Christmas
Trader Joe's Holiday ale (great value also!)
Penn Brewing St Nicholas Dbl Bock
Southern Tier 2XMas
Full Sail Wassail
21st Amendmt Fireside Chat

 

Samichlaus
New Belgium Frambozen
Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout, if that counts (it comes out at the beginning of Dec)

 

Seconded. It's quietly one of the finest and most enormously beautiful ales mankind has ever seen, and will ever see. How it rates below abt12 on here is one of life's deepest mysteries.

 

I was pleasantly surprised last year when I tried it. Has those nice Xmas spices with a nice hop kick. I'll pick up another sixer this year.

 

Great Lakes Christmas Ale (love this beer - ages well for one year as well)
Highland Cold Mountain (I don't know if everyone considers that a "Christmas ale", but I do.
Unibroue/Trader Joe's Vintage Ale (fantastic brew for a great price (of which Kell50 got me on to a few years back))
Three Floyd's Alpha Klaus (but honestly I've only had it once)
The Bruery's 12 Days of Christmas series (I'm kind of surprised I didn't see a mention of these - I know they aren't amazing, but I enjoy them)

 

Amen, brother, amen.

 

Not much into winter warmers and such. I had a few Celebrations on tap and liked it a lot as I always do, seems not so stunningly bitter as I remember. Better IMO. i would like to try the Fat Heads winter ale.

 

Had Bell's Winter White Ale today... Wasn't expecting much but it pleasantly surprised. I'd at least rate it a little higher than it is on this site.

I'd have to say...

Celebration
GL Christmas Ale
Mad Elf
Old Fezziwig
Bell's Winter White

 

No they make SA Winter Lager that is a bock and Old Fezziwig is their winter warmer and an ale.

 

Just popped a 4 Elf from Dark Horse last night. I've never seen it on shelves before and was pleasantly surprised with the purchase!

 

yea I know , It think someone else posted that info. But its cool. I like to keep it straight. thanks!

 

Mad elf.
And screw your no warmers rule... I love Cold Mountain.

 

lol another one that never read all the posts, lol. I said that it was just a joke to make some look,,,,

 

Affligem Noel
Leffe Christmas

 

Southern Tier "2Xmas is really good, my personal favorite.

 

Bringing nothing new to the table and essentially echoing the other replies:

(FFF Alpha Klaus is a porter and doesn't fulfill your request of Ales only, nor does considering Sam Adams Merry Mischief (now Merry Maker), and Hardywood Gingerbread Stouts as Christmas beers and for your list)

otherwise
my absolute favorite
Hoppin' Frog - Frosted Frog and Barrel-Aged Frosted Frog

then in no particular order
Revolution - Fistmas is a pleasant hop-forward take on the style
Thirsty Dog - 12 Dogs
St.Bernardus - Christmas Ale
Great Lakes - Christmas Ale (I feel is criminally overrated. I'm from Ohio too, so this could border blasphamous)
and Southern Tier 2XMAS and Dark Horse 4 Elf are alright

 

1. Highland Cold Mountain
2. Great Divide Hibernation Ale
3. Great Lakes Christmas Ale
4. Trader Joe's Vintage Ale
5. Ommegang Adoration Ale