- MaxyM // Shutterstock
100 best winter warmer beers for the holiday season
With winter upon us, ‘tis the season for spending time indoors with family and friends—and for keeping warm with a few favorite libations. Chief among these are winter warmer beers; a distinctive class of malty, sweet brews marked by full-bodied flavor, deep and rich color (from brownish-red to black), and delightfully balanced overtones.
These robust brews celebrate the season with words in their names like “fireside,” “Christmas,” and “bonfire.” English varietals often come unspiced, while others carry traditional “wassail” flavors like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Stacker scoured the Beer Advocate to curate the 100 best winter warmer beers for this holiday season. For the purposes of this list, only winter warmer beers with 50 or more ratings were considered, and ties were broken by the number of rankings available. Check out this slideshow to see if you’re favorites are among it—and to find a few new varieties to try before spring.
- 1 / 100Unknown // Pyramid Brewing Facebook
#100. Snow Cap
Brewery: Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.51
Ratings: 874 - 2 / 100break.things // Flickr
#99. Fireside Chat
Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery
ABV: 7.9%
Score: 3.51
Ratings: 1,327 - 3 / 100Sonnett // Flickr
#98. Blitzen Holiday Ale
Brewery: Maumee Bay Brewing Company
ABV: 7.7%
Score: 3.52
Ratings: 74 -
- 4 / 100Eddie~S // Flickr
#97. Dundee Festive Ale
Brewery: Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.
ABV: 6.2%
Score: 3.52
Ratings: 162 - 5 / 100Breckenridge Brewery // YouTube
#96. Christmas Ale
Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
ABV: 7.1%
Score: 3.52
Ratings: 1,126 - 6 / 100Bernt Rostad // Flickr
#95. Young's Winter Warmer
Brewery: Wells & Young's Ltd
ABV: 5.0%
Score: 3.53
Ratings: 243 -
- 7 / 100magerleagues // Flickr
#94. Hoppy Holidaze
Brewery: Marin Brewing Company
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.55
Ratings: 108 - 8 / 100walknboston // Flickr
#93. Wassail Ale
Brewery: Woodstock Inn Brewery
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.56
Ratings: 104 - 9 / 100nick.amoscato // Flickr
#92. Great Lakes Winter Ale
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewery
ABV: 6.2%
Score: 3.56
Ratings: 121 -
- 10 / 100Sebago Brewing // YouTube
#91. Slick Nick Winter Ale
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
ABV: 7.2%
Score: 3.58
Ratings: 136