What Makes a Christmas Beer?

Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome, a UK flagship winter seasonal or "winter warmer" ale, hails from Yorkshire's historic Samuel Smith Old Brewery. Made in classic open fermentation vats that are lined with slate from a nearby quarry, this malty English ale arrives in festive, vintage-dated bottles each winter and offers delightful notes of caramel, toffee, stone fruits and hints of apple. There's no better holiday beer to complement a plate of roast turkey, cranberry sauce and sage dressing.

Other UK holiday standouts include Ridgeway Brewery's Bad Elf - a 6% ABV malty ale with biscuit notes and UK hops. In need of more naughtiness this holiday season? Ridgeway also bottles Very Bad Elf, Seriously Bad Elf, Criminally Bad Elf and Insanely Bad Elf - each with increasing ABV levels upward to 11%. Also seek out the dark, malty Fuller's Old Winter Ale from London that embraces toffee, chocolate, licorice and ripe fruit complexity.

As most brewers in Germany still abide by the Reinheitsgebot beer purity law of 1516 that recommends all German beers include only water, malt, hops and yeast, most winter seasonal beers in the country are simply based on recipes with extra malt and alcohol. Brawny doppelbocks range from dark gold to deep brown in color and possess intense levels of toasty German malt complexity and alcohol warmth, highlighted by a clean, lager fermentation. No beer pairs better with sausages and apple strudel in front of a fireplace on a winter evening. Check out examples such as Paulaner Salvator, Ayinger Celebrator, Tröegs Troegenator, EKU 28 and Smuttynose S'muttonator.

Belgians are mad about their Christmas beers. Since many core Belgian ales already possess an impressive alcohol content, most Belgian Christmas ales rank as extra-powerful and somewhat reminiscent of cordials and liqueurs. There are complex, flavorful examples like the boozy, spicy Gouden Carolus Noël; the fruity, rich St. Bernardus Christmas; Kasteel Winter, with its chocolately, vanilla character; and the spicy St. Feuillien Cuvée de Noël and Delirium Christmas.

Belgian Christmas ales are extra-powerful, complex and somewhat reminiscent of cordials and liqueurs.