10 Christmas Beers Worth Trying

Move over, pumpkin spice, the holiday season is in full swing and that particular flavor just seems so last month.

The chance to visit with friends and family in one reason everyone loves Christmas, but when it comes to Christmas parties, you may need a few beers here and there to loosen things up. In reality, the holidays are great, but they can also be insanely stressful. And stress is nothing that a great beer won't fix!

If you're going to drink during the holidays, we suggest you embrace the season and try a sipping on a seasonal beer. The different beers available are festive, fun, and versatile, so we can say with confidence that there's a Christmas-inspired brew for everyone.

Many brands — like Anchor Brewing Company and Goose Island Beer Company — provide an annual, festive blend that changes every year. Most of them are only available from November through mid-January, though, so try them while you can!

Read on for 10 Christmas brews that are worth sampling this season.

For 41 years, The Anchor Brewing Company has released its Christmas Ale as an annual tradition. Like a Christmas present, the recipe is kept a secret and changes every year. The only thing Anchor Brewing Company discloses about the Christmas Ale is its availability, which usually starts early November and ends in mid-January.

Unlike many Christmas-inspired brews, Bell's Beer Christmas Ale doesn't contain any spices. Instead, it has a dry, toasted flavor, with subtle toffee blends and a hoppy aftertaste. Combined with 100 percent Michigan-grown barley, these notes create a smooth, earthy beer that will soothe your holiday stress and please your taste buds. 

Every year, Goose Island brews a unique brown ale to celebrate the holidays. The 2015 blend features dark fruit malt and caramel flavorings, along with a creamy aftertaste. In the words of Goose Island, "May your holidays be filled with Festivity."

Cinnamon, honey, and ginger flavors come together to create this refreshing Christmas blend. Not only does this full-bodied beer feature the taste of sweet honey, it's also a six-time World Beer Championship award winner. We'll cheer  to that, Great Lakes!

Santa's Little Helper is a seasonal imperial stout by Port Brewing Company. This blend offers roasted coffee and cocoa scents, making it the perfect beverage to enjoy with all those leftover holiday sweets.

Rogue Brewing Company is no stranger to seasonal brews. In fact, they're best known their one-of-a-kind beer flavors, such as the Beard Beer and the Chipotle Ale. The brewery's Christmas beer is a double-hopped red ale, which features a malty, roasted flavor and a thick, hoppy finish.

The only thing that could be better than making a gingerbread house is drinking one in the form of beer. Luckily, the Samuel Adams Merry Maker allows you to do just that. This gingerbread stout includes cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger flavors that provide a fun, satisfying spin-off of your average seasonal brew. Stop admiring gingerbread houses from afar and enjoy them as a beverage instead.

First brewed in 1981, the Celebration Ale is best known for its intense pine and citrus aromas. Featuring Centennial, Cascade, and Chinook hops, this Sierra Nevada beer has a bold taste. Finally, and most importantly, the Celebration Ale was one of the first American-style IPAs. In our opinion, that's something to celebrate.

If you lean towards more intense, dark beers, this our seasonal pick for you. The SweetWater Festive Ale is a rich, malty beer that includes a small pinch of cinnamon. According to SweetWater Brewery, this strong, but delicious beer is sure to keep you warm through the end of December.

Ripened cherries, cocoa, and raw honey come together to make Tröegs' Mad Elf Ale. Featuring clove, cinnamon, and allspice, this ruby-red beer resembles any of your favorite cider recipes, without all of the prep. Cheers to the holidays with this spicy but refreshing drink.