Dec 14, 2019
Sampling a dozen Christmas beers as we talk holiday beer history and traditions
Christmas is a wonderful time for beers. As the temperatures dip brewers release a variety of spiced stouts, piney IPAs, and Belgium sends out some amazing offerings. This is definitely one of our favorite episodes we do each year. The premise is pretty simple, we sample a dozen Christmas beers and pick our favorites. Along the way we discuss some of the history and traditions of holiday brews, share what we like to see in a Christmas beer, and learn about a 12th century law that required households to brew a beer for Christmas. (Credit to larsblog for the story on 12th century Norwegian brewing laws.)
Sampling through all these brews in an hour is a bit of a task for two people so we invited our friend Brij Patel from Sprayberry Bottle Shop to help us out. Sprayberry offers an awesome selection of craft beer, whiskeys, and wine and has placed in our Best of Georgia Beer competition every year. If you're near Marietta, GA make sure to stop in and check them out.
Because Brian struggles with counting while sober our 12 Beers of Christmas became 13, which we found out as we got the bottles together for the last round of tasting. Way to go, Brian.
Our 12 13 Beers of Christmas
- 21st Amendment Fireside Chat (Winter Ale)
- Abita Christmas Ale (Winter Ale)
- Bell's Christmas Ale (Scotch Ale)
- Anchor Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale) (2019) (Winter Warmer)
- Brasserie d'Achouffe N'Ice Chouffe (Winter Ale)
- Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Winter Ale)
- Delirium Noël (Winter Warmer)
- Samuel Adams White Christmas (Witbier)
- Prairie Christmas Bomb! (Stout - American Imperial / Double)
- Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA 2019 (IPA - American)
- Shiner Holiday Cheer (Dunkelweizen)
- Slaapmutske / Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap (Winter Ale)
- St. Bernardus
Christmas Ale
(Winter Ale)
Craft Beer News
- A Brewery Was Forced To Change A Beer Label Depicting Reindeer Kama Sutra
- The Brewers Association Has Released Their Year In Beer for 2019
- In 12th Century Norway, It Was Illegal To Not Brew A Beer For Christmas
More to Listen To
Check out some of our other great episodes: