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.

Unknown // Pyramid Brewing Facebook

1 / 100

#100. Snow Cap

Brewery: Pyramid Breweries, Inc.
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.51
Ratings: 874

break.things // Flickr

2 / 100

#99. Fireside Chat

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery
ABV: 7.9%
Score: 3.51
Ratings: 1,327

Sonnett // Flickr

3 / 100

#98. Blitzen Holiday Ale

Brewery: Maumee Bay Brewing Company
ABV: 7.7%
Score: 3.52
Ratings: 74

Eddie~S // Flickr

4 / 100

#97. Dundee Festive Ale

Brewery: Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.
ABV: 6.2%
Score: 3.52
Ratings: 162

Breckenridge Brewery // YouTube

5 / 100

#96. Christmas Ale

Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
ABV: 7.1%
Score: 3.52
Ratings: 1,126

Bernt Rostad // Flickr

6 / 100

#95. Young's Winter Warmer

Brewery: Wells & Young's Ltd
ABV: 5.0%
Score: 3.53
Ratings: 243

magerleagues // Flickr

7 / 100

#94. Hoppy Holidaze

Brewery: Marin Brewing Company
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.55
Ratings: 108

walknboston // Flickr

8 / 100

#93. Wassail Ale

Brewery: Woodstock Inn Brewery
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.56
Ratings: 104

nick.amoscato // Flickr

9 / 100

#92. Great Lakes Winter Ale

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewery
ABV: 6.2%
Score: 3.56
Ratings: 121

Sebago Brewing // YouTube

10 / 100

#91. Slick Nick Winter Ale

Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
ABV: 7.2%
Score: 3.58
Ratings: 136

Steven Wetherill // YouTube

11 / 100

#90. Red Nose Winter Ale

Brewery: Natty Greene's Pub & Brewing Co.
ABV: 6.8%
Score: 3.58
Ratings: 190

Total Wine & More // YouTube

12 / 100

#89. Redhook Winterhook

Brewery: Redhook Ale Brewery
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.58
Ratings: 948

The Draught // YouTube

13 / 100

#88. Atwater Lebkuchen Christmas Ale

Brewery: Atwater Brewery
ABV: 6.2%
Score: 3.60
Ratings: 61

Chasqui (Luis Tamayo) // Flickr

14 / 100

#87. He'Brew Hanukkah, Chanukah: Pass The Beer

Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.60
Ratings: 168

lynnfennell // Flickr

15 / 100

#86. Never Summer Ale

Brewery: Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub
ABV: 6.5%
Score: 3.60
Ratings: 573

lynnfennell // Flickr

16 / 100

#85. The First Snow Ale

Brewery: RJ Rockers Brewing Company
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.61
Ratings: 199

Channel C // YouTube

17 / 100

#84. Winter Ale

Brewery: Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.62
Ratings: 140

fourbrewers // Flickr

18 / 100

#83. Festivus

Brewery: Full Pint Brewing Company
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.62
Ratings: 155

Scottb211 // Flickr

19 / 100

#82. Powder Hound Winter Ale

Brewery: Big Sky Brewing Company
ABV: 7.2%
Score: 3.62
Ratings: 538

Foodista // Flickr

20 / 100

#81. Barrel Aged Brrrbon (Brothers' Reserve Series)

Brewery: Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
ABV: 9.4%
Score: 3.62
Ratings: 588

Jessie Pearl // Flickr

21 / 100

#80. Winter Warmer

Brewery: Hangar 24 Brewing
ABV: 7.8%
Score: 3.63
Ratings: 64

David Pursehouse // Flickr

22 / 100

#79. Jubilation Ale

Brewery: Baird Brewing Company / Fishmarket Taproom
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.64
Ratings: 75

lynnfennell // Flickr

23 / 100

#78. Rosey Nosey

Brewery: George Bateman & Son / Batemans Brewery
ABV: 5.0%
Score: 3.64
Ratings: 83

Oppig√•rds Bryggeri // YouTube

24 / 100

#77. Oppigårds Winter Ale

Brewery: Oppigårds Bryggeri AB
ABV: 5.3%
Score: 3.64
Ratings: 128

bandita // Flickr

25 / 100

#76. Ebenezer Ale

Brewery: BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub
ABV: 6.4%
Score: 3.64
Ratings: 447

Flickr

26 / 100

#75. Winter Ale

Brewery: Mt. Carmel Brewing Company
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.66
Ratings: 79

Zanatpike // Wikimedia Commons

27 / 100

#74. Pike Auld Acquaintance Hoppy Holiday Ale

Brewery: Pike Brewing Company
ABV: 5.5%
Score: 3.66
Ratings: 133

lynnfennell // Flickr

28 / 100

#73. Winter Welcome Ale

Brewery: Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.67
Ratings: 2,272

Sly Fox // YouTube

29 / 100

#72. Christmas Ale

Brewery: Sly Fox Brewing Company
ABV: 6.5%
Score: 3.68
Ratings: 425

BOC Guys // YouTube

30 / 100

#71. Frostnipper Winter Warmer

Brewery: Aviator Brewing Company
ABV: 7.3%
Score: 3.69
Ratings: 72

Authentic Michigan // YouTube

31 / 100

#70. 3 Scrooges

Brewery: Griffin Claw Brewing Company
ABV: 6.5%
Score: 3.69
Ratings: 74

JerryDAndrews // Flickr

32 / 100

#69. Diamond Knot Ho! Ho! Winter Ale

Brewery: Diamond Knot Brewery
ABV: 8.5%
Score: 3.69
Ratings: 85

Olivier boit des bi√®res // YouTube

33 / 100

#68. 25 Dodici

Brewery: Birra Del Borgo
ABV: 9.5%
Score: 3.69
Ratings: 102

Public Domain

34 / 100

#67. Schlafly Christmas Ale

Brewery: The Schlafly Tap Room
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.69
Ratings: 562

AdamsCraftBeerChannel// YouTube

35 / 100

#66. Poacher's Choice

Brewery: Badger Brewery, Hall and Woodhouse
ABV: 5.7%
Score: 3.70
Ratings: 63

sashafatcat // Flickr

36 / 100

#65. Mogul Madness Ale

Brewery: Rogue Ales
ABV: 6.6%
Score: 3.70
Ratings: 335

emileifrem // Flickr

37 / 100

#64. BiFrost

Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company
ABV: 8.3%
Score: 3.70
Ratings: 543

Kingfox // Flickr

38 / 100

#63. Batch 666

Brewery: Appalachian Brewing Company
ABV: 7.7%
Score: 3.71
Ratings: 90

o_sam_o // Flickr

39 / 100

#62. Winter Warmer Ale

Brewery: No-Li Brewhouse
ABV: 7.5%
Score: 3.72
Ratings: 60

mastermaq // Flickr

40 / 100

#61. Vertical Winter Ale

Brewery: Tree Brewing
ABV: 5.0%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 50

chrisscott // Flickr

41 / 100

#60. Wasatch First One Down

Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative
ABV: 7.1%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 55

radiobread // Flickr

42 / 100

#59. Father John's Winter Ale

Brewery: Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 69

PeterKraayvanger // Pixabay

43 / 100

#58. Winter Warmer

Brewery: The Brew Kettle Taproom & Smokehouse / Production Works
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 148

radiobread // Flickr

44 / 100

#57. Winterbraun

Brewery: Lost Coast Brewery and Cafe
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 446

cursedthing // Flickr

45 / 100

#56. Summit Winter Ale

Brewery: Summit Brewing Company
ABV: 6.1%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 588

Sam Cavenagh // Flickr

46 / 100

#55. Nutcracker Winter Warmer Ale

Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Co.
ABV: 7.8%
Score: 3.73
Ratings: 920

Tyler Monroe // YouTube

47 / 100

#54. Elevator Winter Warmer Ale

Brewery: Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus
ABV: 8.6%
Score: 3.74
Ratings: 59

IsabellaO // YouTube

48 / 100

#53. Fish Tale Winterfish

Brewery: Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub
ABV: 7.5%
Score: 3.74
Ratings: 182

amberdegrace // Flickr

49 / 100

#52. Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Brewery: Hoppin' Frog Brewery
ABV: 8.6%
Score: 3.74
Ratings: 416

Love the wind // Shutterstock

50 / 100

#51. Casco Bay Winter Ale (Old Port Ale)

Brewery: Casco Bay Brewing Co.
ABV: 7.3%
Score: 3.75
Ratings: 84

nan palmero // Flickr

51 / 100

#50. Old Bat Rastard

Brewery: Freetail Brewing Company
ABV: 9.1%
Score: 3.75
Ratings: 97

QuesterMark // Flickr

52 / 100

#49. Winter Warmer

Brewery: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
ABV: 8.5%
Score: 3.75
Ratings: 233

Venture Vancouver // Flickr

53 / 100

#48. Lions Winter Ale

Brewery: Granville Island Brewery
ABV: 5.5%
Score: 3.75
Ratings: 260

Sam Cavenagh // Flickr

54 / 100

#47. Festivus Holiday Ale

Brewery: Black Raven Brewing Co.
ABV: 7.6%
Score: 3.76
Ratings: 50

Sam Cavenagh // Flickr

55 / 100

#46. Bonfire Ale

Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.76
Ratings: 158

patruby83 // Flickr

56 / 100

#45. Prelude

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Company
ABV: 6.7%
Score: 3.76
Ratings: 581

Natalya Okorokova // Shutterstock

57 / 100

#44. Winter Ale

Brewery: Telegraph Brewing Company
ABV: 7.1%
Score: 3.77
Ratings: 81

Sarah McDevitt // Flickr

58 / 100

#43. Brrr

Brewery: Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
ABV: 7.2%
Score: 3.77
Ratings: 968

lynnfennell // Flickr

59 / 100

#42. Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
ABV: 5.9%
Score: 3.77
Ratings: 3,715

5chw4r7z // Flickr

60 / 100

#41. Christian Moerlein Christkindl Winter Warmer

Brewery: Christian Moerlein Brewing Company
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.78
Ratings: 123

Oakshire Brewing // YouTube

61 / 100

#40. Ill-Tempered Gnome

Brewery: Oakshire Brewing
ABV: 6.8%
Score: 3.78
Ratings: 127

West Sixth Brewing // YouTube

62 / 100

#39. Christmas Ale

Brewery: West Sixth Brewing Company
ABV: 9.0%
Score: 3.79
Ratings: 100

Sam Howzit // Flickr

63 / 100

#38. Winter Warmer

Brewery: Columbus Brewing Company
ABV: 7.5%
Score: 3.79
Ratings: 112

Sarah McD // Wikimedia Commons

64 / 100

#37. Fa La La La La

Brewery: Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom
ABV: 7.6%
Score: 3.80
Ratings: 90

Dark Horse Brewing Co// YouTube

65 / 100

#36. Dark Horse 4 Elf

Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Company
ABV: 8.8%
Score: 3.80
Ratings: 845

wickenden // Flickr

66 / 100

#35. Avalanche

Brewery: Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company & Taproom
ABV: 6.8%
Score: 3.81
Ratings: 51

Nrbelex // Flickr

67 / 100

#34. Sweetwater Festive Ale

Brewery: SweetWater Brewing Company
ABV: 7.7%
Score: 3.82
Ratings: 816

Adam Jones, Ph.D. // Wikimedia Commons

68 / 100

#33. Full Sail Wassail

Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Company
ABV: 7.2%
Score: 3.82
Ratings: 876

Garrison Brewing // YouTube

69 / 100

#32. Winter Warmer

Brewery: Garrison Brewing Company
ABV: 6.8%
Score: 3.83
Ratings: 63

Brewheads Entertainment // YouTube

70 / 100

#31. Winter Ale

Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.84
Ratings: 204

o_sam_o // Flickr

71 / 100

#30. Cabin Fever Ale

Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
ABV: 6.3%
Score: 3.84
Ratings: 337

RCH Brewery // YouTube

72 / 100

#29. Ale Mary

Brewery: RCH Brewery
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.86
Ratings: 78

Bernt Rostad // Flickr

73 / 100

#28. Frosted Frog Christmas Ale - Barrel-Aged

Brewery: Hoppin' Frog Brewery
ABV: 8.6%
Score: 3.86
Ratings: 159

Erik Wood // YouTube

74 / 100

#27. Stir Crazy

Brewery: Indeed Brewing Company
ABV: 6.5%
Score: 3.86
Ratings: 225

nyuhuhuu // Wikimedia Commons

75 / 100

#26. Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

Brewery: Anderson Valley Brewing Company
ABV: 6.9%
Score: 3.87
Ratings: 1,847

Bernt Rostad // Flickr

76 / 100

#25. Bestefar

Brewery: HaandBryggeriet
ABV: 9.0%
Score: 3.88
Ratings: 145

o_sam_o // Flickr

77 / 100

#24. Vinter Varmer

Brewery: Laurelwood Public House & Brewery
ABV: 6.4%
Score: 3.89
Ratings: 85

LeeKeoma

78 / 100

#23. Fuller's Old Winter Ale

Brewery: Fuller Smith & Turner PLC
ABV: 5.3%
Score: 3.89
Ratings: 106

fourbrewers // Flickr

79 / 100

#22. Winter Ale

Brewery: pFriem Family Brewers
ABV: 7.5%
Score: 3.90
Ratings: 51

Christopher Brown // YouTube

80 / 100

#21. First Frost

Brewery: Fullsteam Brewery
ABV: 8.8%
Score: 3.90
Ratings: 83

Fil.Al // Flickr

81 / 100

#20. St. Peter's Winter Ale

Brewery: St. Peter's Brewery Co Ltd
ABV: 6.5%
Score: 3.90
Ratings: 264

Time4Hemp // YouTube

82 / 100

#19. Double Diamond Winter Ale

Brewery: Dick's Brewing Company
ABV: 7.5%
Score: 3.91
Ratings: 77

Mike Tigas // Flickr

83 / 100

#18. Odell Isolation Ale

Brewery: Odell Brewing Company
ABV: 6.0%
Score: 3.92
Ratings: 816

cogocogo // Flickr

84 / 100

#17. Special Holiday Ale - Nøgne Ø / Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales / Stone Brewing Co.

Brewery: Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S
ABV: 8.5%
Score: 3.93
Ratings: 260

peteSwede // Flickr

85 / 100

#16. Jubelale

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
ABV: 6.7%
Score: 3.93
Ratings: 2,843

Intrigue Media // YouTube

86 / 100

#15. Iron Duke

Brewery: Wellington County Brewery
ABV: 6.5%
Score: 3.94
Ratings: 89

Public Domain

87 / 100

#14. Brewer's Art St. Festivus Holiday Ale

Brewery: The Brewer's Art
ABV: 8.0%
Score: 3.95
Ratings: 74

Dark Horse Brewing Co// YouTube

88 / 100

#13. Rum Barrel Aged 4 Elf

Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Company
ABV: 8.8%
Score: 3.95
Ratings: 100

The Cleveland Kid // Flickr

89 / 100

#12. Christmas Ale

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
ABV: 7.5%
Score: 3.95
Ratings: 3,163

ThisisCLE // YouTube

90 / 100

#11. 12 Dogs Of Christmas Ale

Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Company
ABV: 8.3%
Score: 3.96
Ratings: 768

Boundary Bay Brewery // YouTube

91 / 100

#10. Cabin Fever Winter Ale

Brewery: Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
ABV: 8.5%
Score: 3.97
Ratings: 82

Pittsburgh Ale Trail // Flickr

92 / 100

#9. Snow Melt Winter Ale

Brewery: East End Brewing Company
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 3.99
Ratings: 147

CohenSBHS // Pixabay

93 / 100

#8. Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale

Brewery: Highland Brewing
ABV: 5.8%
Score: 4.01
Ratings: 806

Adam Jones, Ph.D. // Wikimedia Commons

94 / 100

#7. Lead Dog Olde English Ale

Brewery: Yukon Brewing Company
ABV: 7.0%
Score: 4.02
Ratings: 69

CartonBrewingCompany// YouTube

95 / 100

#6. Decoy

Brewery: Carton Brewing Company
ABV: 12.0%
Score: 4.02
Ratings: 115

cogocogo // Flickr

96 / 100

#5. God Jul

Brewery: Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S
ABV: 8.5%
Score: 4.08
Ratings: 334

QuesterMark // Flickr

97 / 100

#4. Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer

Brewery: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
ABV: 8.5%
Score: 4.08
Ratings: 423

ThisisCLE // YouTube

98 / 100

#3. Barrel Aged 12 Dogs Of Christmas

Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Company
ABV: 10.0%
Score: 4.12
Ratings: 111

Firkin Awesome // YouTube

99 / 100

#2. Wintervention

Brewery: Peticolas Brewing Company
ABV: 10.0%
Score: 4.20
Ratings: 61

Hopstories // YouTube

100 / 100

#1. Coffee Cinnamon B-Bomb

Brewery: Fremont Brewing Company
ABV: 13.0%
Score: 4.57
Ratings: 943