Christmas Beer Review

Now that Christmas has come and gone, we figured it would be a perfect time to take a break from playing with our toys and sit back and relax with a Christmas beer. Seasonal beers have become extremely proper and the Christmas season is one of the most profitable for brewers. The Brewers Association has recently launched http://www.seasonalbeerandfood.org/, which is as website dedicated to seasonl beer and food.

Thefullpint.com recently did this review of Christmas beers.

Mike Danahey of Chicago's Courier News wrote this article on his twelve favorite beers for Christmas. Danahey listed Anchor's Christmas Ale as his favorite.

This NPR article lists Don Russell's top ten Christmas beers. RealBeer.com recently reprinted Russell’s top fifty Christmas beers from his new book, Christmas Beer. Twenty-Four of the top fifty are from the United States. It is interesting to note that Russell goes with two different top 10 lists in the two articles.

Mad Elf Ale; Troegs Brewing, Pennsylvania
Avec les Bons Voeux; La Brasserie Dupont, Belgium
Samichlaus Bier; Schloss Eggenberg, Austria
Stille Nacht; Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers, Belgium
Our Special Ale; Anchor Brewing, California
Celebration Ale; Sierra Nevada Brewing, California
Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale; The Old Brewery at Tadcaster, England
Winter Solstice; Anderson Valley Brewing, California
Old Jubilation; Avery Brewing, Colorado
Ringnes Julebokk; Ringnes Bryggeri, Norway
Delirium Noel; Brouwerij Huyghe, Belgium
Baladin Noel; Birrificio Le Baladin, Italy
Gouden Carolus Noel; Brouwerij Het Anker, Belgium
La Binchoise Reserve Speciale; Brasserie La Binchoise, Belgium
Corsendonk Christmas Ale; Brouwerij Corsedonk, Belgium
Mahr’s Christmas Bock; Brauerei Mahr, Germany
Affligem Noel; Brouwerij Affligem, Belgium
Hibernation Ale; Great Divide Brewing, Colorado
Santa’s Private Reserve Ale; Rogue Ales Brewery, Oregon
Smuttynose Winter Ale; Smuttynose Brewing, New Hampshire
Alpha Klaus; Three Floyds Brewing, Indiana
Winter-Traum; Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg, Germany
Scaldis Noel; Brasserie Dubuisson Freres, Belgium
Winter White Ale; Bell’s Brewery, Michigan
2° Below Ale; New Belgium Brewing, Colorado
La Dragonne; BFM Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes, Switzerland
Ebenezer Ale; BridgePort Brewing, Oregon
La Choulette de Noel; Brasserie la Choulette, France
St. Nikolaus Bock Bier; Pennsylvania Brewing, Pennsylvania
St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel; Brasserie St. Feuillien, Belgium
Jenlain Noel; Brasserie Duyck, France
Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale; Kiuchi Brewery, Japan
Doggie Claws; Hair of the Dog Brewing, Oregon
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale; Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Belgium
Heavy Seas Winter Storm; Clipper City Brewery, Maryland
Goose Island Christmas Ale; Goose Island Beer, Illinois
Petrus Winterbeer; Brouwerij Bavik, Belgium
Longfellow Winter Ale; Shipyard Brewing, Maine
Kerst Pater; Brouwerij Van den Bossche, Belgium
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig; Boston Beer, Massachusetts
Alaskan Winter Ale; Alaskan Brewing, Alaska
Geary’s Winter Ale; D.L. Geary Brewing, Maine
Snow Goose Winter Ale; Wild Goose Brewery, Maryland
Pere Noel; Brouwerij De Ranke, Belgium
Old Man Winter Ale; Southern Tier Brewing, New York
‘t Smisje Kerst; Brouwerij De Regenboog, Belgium
Young’s Winter Warmer; Wells & Young’s Brewing, England
Snow Cap; Pyramid Breweries, Washington
Nutcracker Ale; Boulevard Brewing, Missouri
Monchshof Weihnachtsbier; Kulmbacher Brauerei, Germany

Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale from California has been a perinnial favortie of The Foaming Head. In the next week or so you can check back on this blog for our comparison of this year's version compared to last years, which has been againg in our cellar for twleve months.