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

1. Mad Elf Ale; Troegs Brewing, Pennsylvania
2. Avec les Bons Voeux; La Brasserie Dupont, Belgium
3. Samichlaus Bier; Schloss Eggenberg, Austria
4. Stille Nacht; Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers, Belgium
5. Our Special Ale; Anchor Brewing, California
6. Celebration Ale; Sierra Nevada Brewing, California
7. Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale; The Old Brewery at Tadcaster, England
8. Winter Solstice; Anderson Valley Brewing, California
9. Old Jubilation; Avery Brewing, Colorado
10. Ringnes Julebokk; Ringnes Bryggeri, Norway
11. Delirium Noel; Brouwerij Huyghe, Belgium
12. Baladin Noel; Birrificio Le Baladin, Italy
13. Gouden Carolus Noel; Brouwerij Het Anker, Belgium
14. La Binchoise Reserve Speciale; Brasserie La Binchoise, Belgium
15. Corsendonk Christmas Ale; Brouwerij Corsedonk, Belgium
16. Mahr’s Christmas Bock; Brauerei Mahr, Germany
17. Affligem Noel; Brouwerij Affligem, Belgium
18. Hibernation Ale; Great Divide Brewing, Colorado
19. Santa’s Private Reserve Ale; Rogue Ales Brewery, Oregon
20. Smuttynose Winter Ale; Smuttynose Brewing, New Hampshire
21. Alpha Klaus; Three Floyds Brewing, Indiana
22. Winter-Traum; Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg, Germany
23. Scaldis Noel; Brasserie Dubuisson Freres, Belgium
24. Winter White Ale; Bell’s Brewery, Michigan
25. 2° Below Ale; New Belgium Brewing, Colorado
26. La Dragonne; BFM Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes, Switzerland
27. Ebenezer Ale; BridgePort Brewing, Oregon
28. La Choulette de Noel; Brasserie la Choulette, France
29. St. Nikolaus Bock Bier; Pennsylvania Brewing, Pennsylvania
30. St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel; Brasserie St. Feuillien, Belgium
31. Jenlain Noel; Brasserie Duyck, France
32. Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale; Kiuchi Brewery, Japan
33. Doggie Claws; Hair of the Dog Brewing, Oregon
34. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale; Brouwerij St. Bernardus, Belgium
35. Heavy Seas Winter Storm; Clipper City Brewery, Maryland
36. Goose Island Christmas Ale; Goose Island Beer, Illinois
37. Petrus Winterbeer; Brouwerij Bavik, Belgium
38. Longfellow Winter Ale; Shipyard Brewing, Maine
39. Kerst Pater; Brouwerij Van den Bossche, Belgium
40. Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig; Boston Beer, Massachusetts
41. Alaskan Winter Ale; Alaskan Brewing, Alaska
42. Geary’s Winter Ale; D.L. Geary Brewing, Maine
43. Snow Goose Winter Ale; Wild Goose Brewery, Maryland
44. Pere Noel; Brouwerij De Ranke, Belgium
45. Old Man Winter Ale; Southern Tier Brewing, New York
46. ‘t Smisje Kerst; Brouwerij De Regenboog, Belgium
47. Young’s Winter Warmer; Wells & Young’s Brewing, England
48. Snow Cap; Pyramid Breweries, Washington
49. Nutcracker Ale; Boulevard Brewing, Missouri
50. 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.