top 5 christmas beers

My list of the "Top 5 Christmas Beers" are defined as the first 5 beers I drink...No matter what flavor.

More in tune with New Years than Christmas, we've got a 1/2 barrel of Great Lakes Commodore Perry laid in and (provided I haven't pissed David or Roger off in the past week) I'll pick up a 1/6th barrel of Hoptimus sometime later this week.

That is a pretty horrid list. Leinenkugal and all...Well, I shouldn't say horrid, but it has a very obvious east-coast bias. I know clipper city makes good brews.

It leaves out one of the best, in my opinion:

De Dolle Still nacht

Also, I'd include Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada ( I think they have that)

and

Anchor Christmas Ale (a classic - different recipe every year)

Those are my top three....

I know I am up pretty early but I'm a bit confused? I don't see any Leinenkugel's yet I do see Celebration? On top of that there is a picture of A-B's horrible, horrible "bourbon" beer in the picture but not the list. Are we clicking on the same link?

It is a shame we can't get Troegs here in Kentucky. They make some great beer. As an alternative to the Mad Elf I would suggest Three Philosophers from Ommegang. They also have a new seasonal called Adoration which makes my top 5 holiday beers.

My list would be:

1. Affligem Noel
2. Samichlaus
3. Ommegang Adoration
4. Fuller's Vintage Ale
5. Anchor Christmas

My list of the "Top 5 Christmas Beers" are defined as the first 5 beers I drink...No matter what flavor.

More in tune with New Years than Christmas, we've got a 1/2 barrel of Great Lakes Commodore Perry laid in and (provided I haven't pissed David or Roger off in the past week) I'll pick up a 1/6th barrel of Hoptimus sometime later this week.

I don't know why you'd buy that "imported" beer when the Louisville breweries all make great stuff and your money stays in the community.

(Better get that Hoptimus soon, we are closed 24 & 25 December)

That is a pretty horrid list. Leinenkugal and all...Well, I shouldn't say horrid, but it has a very obvious east-coast bias. I know clipper city makes good brews.

It leaves out one of the best, in my opinion:

De Dolle Still nacht

Also, I'd include Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada ( I think they have that)

and

Anchor Christmas Ale (a classic - different recipe every year)

Those are my top three....

I second the De Dolle Stille Nacht. Great beer from an awesome brewery. I toured the brewery a few years ago. The tours are guided by the octogenarian Mother of the brewer.

Hey David, will a growler of Hoptimus stay fresh until Christmas Day if I get it tomorrow and don't open it?

My list of the "Top 5 Christmas Beers" are defined as the first 5 beers I drink...No matter what flavor.

I don't know why you'd buy that "imported" beer when the Louisville breweries all make great stuff and your money stays in the community.

David,

I love the local stuff but my Buckeye roots run deep.

BTW, here's a good one...A six pack of (any) Great Lakes product is $2 dollars more expensive in Ohio than it is in KY. Taxes maybe ?

Hey David, will a growler of Hoptimus stay fresh until Christmas Day if I get it tomorrow and don't open it?

Yes. Keep it cold.

Sweet. My uncles will LOVE it. I may have to get two.

My list of the "Top 5 Christmas Beers" are defined as the first 5 beers I drink...No matter what flavor.

I don't know why you'd buy that "imported" beer when the Louisville breweries all make great stuff and your money stays in the community.

David,

I love the local stuff but my Buckeye roots run deep.

BTW, here's a good one...A six pack of (any) Great Lakes product is $2 dollars more expensive in Ohio than it is in KY. Taxes maybe ?

Probably. I hear those buckeye trees don't have any branches

I know I am up pretty early but I'm a bit confused? I don't see any Leinenkugel's yet I do see Celebration? On top of that there is a picture of A-B's horrible, horrible "bourbon" beer in the picture but not the list. Are we clicking on the same link?

It is a shame we can't get Troegs here in Kentucky. They make some great beer. As an alternative to the Mad Elf I would suggest Three Philosophers from Ommegang. They also have a new seasonal called Adoration which makes my top 5 holiday beers.

My list would be:

1. Affligem Noel
2. Samichlaus
3. Ommegang Adoration
4. Fuller's Vintage Ale
5. Anchor Christmas

Yeah, it is there. Here is their #5 (a three way tie) : " #5 – Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome Ale, Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown, and Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale. "

Hey David, will a growler of Hoptimus stay fresh until Christmas Day if I get it tomorrow and don't open it?

Adam, the key to growlers is keep them in the fridge (as David said) and also -importantly- do not open them. When they are filled, they should be "capped on foam," meaning you just have beer and a "blanket" of CO2 on top of it. If you open it, and drink a little, then you allow a lot of oxygen in, which rapidly increases the aging process (oxidation).

If you keep it cold and unopened, you should have a good quality week, maybe even two. (not sure how NABC bottles their growlers, but it should be done with a plastic tube from the tap to the bottom of the growler, filling from the bottom up, minimizing exposure to air. I know some places just fill straight from the tap, which adds a lot of oxygen, which would lead to a much shorter shelf life.

Cheers

Cheers

(not sure how NABC bottles their growlers, but it should be done with a plastic tube from the tap to the bottom of the growler, filling from the bottom up, minimizing exposure to air. I know some places just fill straight from the tap, which adds a lot of oxygen, which would lead to a much shorter shelf life.
Cheers

We fill from the bottom up with stainless steel, thank you. No plastic for us.

The fact that they tied Samuel Smith Winter Welcome with Leiny and the bourbon monstrosity from AB pretty much loses all credibility going into this list. Sam Smith is a classic version of the winter warmer, while the other two are shells of the styles they are trying to emulate.

One more question David, is Hoptimus still available at Whole Foods here in Louisville? I ask because I'm working long hours the next two days and may not be able to make it to New Albany by tomorrow.