Yesterday, over at Real Beer’s Holiday Blog, with Don Russell’s permission I posted his choices for the World’s 50 Best Christmas Beers, taken from his new book, Christmas Beer. It’s a fun list, with some fine beers on it. Just over half the beers on the list are from abroad. Most I agree with; only a couple I would not have put on the list and there are only a few I think are missing. I figured he wouldn’t mind if I posted them here as well. What do you think of the list? What would you have done differently in compiling such a list?
World’s 50 Best Christmas Beers, as Selected by Don Russell a.k.a. Joe Sixpack
- 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
Though I’m not sure where, I would have included Lagunitas’ Brown Shugga, perhaps craft beer’s happiest accident, He’Brew’s Jewbelation, Marin’s Hoppy Holidaze, and Port Brewing’s Santa’s Little Helper. As for what I’d displace to make room for these, well that’s obviously trickier. Though I must confess that I’m not a fan of Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice. I find the vanilla flavors waaaay to overpowering so that would be the first to go.
Excerpted from Don Russell’s wonderful new book, Christmas Beer, the season’s most ideal stocking stuffer. Pick up a copy for every beer lover on your shopping list at Amazon or buy one directly from the author.
I agree mostly, but I can’t believe Our Special Ale; Anchor Brewing, California to be #5. That beer is WAY overrated and IMO only good for packaging…not very interesting.
It beat out:
Gouden Carolus Noel; Brouwerij Het Anker, Belgium
St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel; Brasserie St. Feuillien, Belgium
Celebration Ale; Sierra Nevada Brewing, California
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale; Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Belgium
srsly? I think not.
Have a great holiday!
I would definitely say Sierra’s Celebration Ale goes in before either Anchor’s or AVB’s.
Beers (other than those listed above) that were unfairly left out in the cold:
De Struise Tsjeeses – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15237/34310
Bink Winterkoninkske – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3313/7715
New Belgium 2 Below – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/26542
Oops. New Belgium’s was in there already. My bad.
I have to say that I hated Santa’s Private Reserve, although I like a lot of Rogue’s stuff. I don’t think that I’d classify Samiclaus as really being seasonal…I’ve seen it year round wherever I’ve seen it. Granted that I’ve only had about half of these beers, I would like to see Boulevard Nut Cracker Ale a little higher on the list. However, it is not widely available, which is ironic if you consider that many of these beers are from very long distances. The same is true of Bell’s brewery. I do like their Winter White, even though I think that Stouts are really Bell’s niche (despite Oberon’s popularity). I guess you have to put in your time and pay your dues in order to be more respected.
what I would add to the list, although it can’t be found in bottles anywhere, is Magnolia’s Winter Warmer. this is the best example of Xmas in a glass I had this year. outstanding.
I had a Struise Tsjeeses Reserva yesterday because we need to taste what we sell right 😉 Aged for 6 months in oak, 10 abv… just one hell of a great Xmas Ale, very balanced, sugary but just enough to please, a pleasure to the senses. I would put it on my number 1 – 2008 Xmas ale. Thanks info@thebelgiangeershop.com