Holiday Beers

There is no time like the holidays to go shopping for beer. This doesn't mean running out to pick up a six-pack or stocking up by buying a case. This means breaking out the credit card and visiting the largest package store around, preferably one that supplies its customers with shopping carts. The profusion of specialty beers available at this time of year is unsurpassed, with many of the countries small breweries and even some of the larger ones brewing a batch especially for Christmas. One of the reasons for the resulting variety of products is that there is no real definition for what a Christmas beer should be. Unlike other specialties such as Oktoberfest or Maibock these holiday beers have developed more from the general conviviality of the season than from a specific origin. As such, the style is most commonly defined by the individual brewer, it may be top or bottom fermented, it may be a maerzen, a bock or a spicy ale. The only general similarities are that most are amber to dark, a bit stronger than average beers and a bit maltier.

Many beers developed specifically for the holiday season have evolved into regular beers, examples include Catamount Porter, Anchor Liberty Ale and Fuller's ESB (originally called Winter Bitter). This loose definition of style allows brewers to experiment and this results in scores of different products. As with other seasonal specialties these beers will not be available for long, usually from late November until late January or early February. One additional aspect of holiday beers that is appealing is the label art. Many bottles sport scenes of Winter wonderlands, Christmas trees, Santas or snow covered landscapes; they devote more time to detail and color than most other labels. Bearing this in mind it should be easy to spot the holiday beers when you go shopping.

Checking out the import market first you may find that there are not that many available but this is simply because not that many are imported. Germany, Belgium and Norway all have long-standing traditions of brewing special beer for Christmas, these are variously labeled as Holiday or Fest Beers. Some particular ones that may be available include the Aass brewery's Jule Ol from Norway and Samiclaus from the Hurlimann Brewery in Zurich. Samiclaus (Santa Claus) is brewed only once a year on December 6, after a short fermentation it is lagered until the next year and then marketed. Originally available in both a Pale and a Dark the Pale was discontinued several years ago but the Dark is still easily found. This distinctive brew is one of the strongest in the world with alcohol content around 14% by volume.

One of the few English seasonal specialties imported to the United States is Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome which, like all of their products, is wonderful. Although the microbrewery movement is largely responsible for resurrecting specialty beers in this country it was not so long ago that they were still available. The old Ballantine Brewery of Newark produced a strong Christmas beer in the fifties but like so many other brewing traditions it seems to have fallen by the wayside in the sixties and seventies.

The Anchor Brewing Co. is celebrating more than twenty years for its Christmas beer. This beer is always special and is brewed differently every year. In the past it has been noted for its use of nutmeg and spruce essence, these spices give it an unusual and complex flavor. Another brew from out West is Pete's Wicked Winter Brew; the recipe for this beer came from the winner of last years national homebrew competition, it is a light ale flavored with nutmeg and raspberry. The Wild Goose Brewing Co. of Cambridge, MD introduced its entry into this market two years ago with Snow Goose. This is a strong, assertive and fairly malty amber ale. Samuel Adams has been making a Winter Lager for about six years now and it is always among the best, its strong malty flavor compliments the season well.

Some other holiday brews you may find include; Oldenberg, Catamount, Saranac, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada (Celebration Ale), and New England. Purchasing a six-pack of each holiday beer necessitates great wealth, but picking up singles is affordable. This is also great way to determine which ones you like the best, then you can buy six-packs or even a case. By keeping some extra on hand you can entertain and fascinate your guests with a wonderful and delicious holiday beverage.

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© C. Renegar Jr.