The Best Winter Beers of the Season Ranked & Reviewed
Winter warmers, christmas beers, holiday ales…whatever you want to call them they are among the more distinctive seasonal categories that we look forward to each year. But what if you pitted them against each other? The New School did just that, in a tasting review panel of 21 winter seasonals comprising both classics and new entries into the wide sub-category. Because winter beers are not a single style of beer they often break down into three types: spiced, slightly strong/malty IPA, or dark and strong. You see those patterns repeated here, with a few outliers that try something different.
For this tasting review panel New School contributors Nicole Kasten, Don Sch, Neil Ferguson, Bill Night, and Ezra Johnson-Greenough each one by one drank through all 21 beers and wrote down our tasting notes to share. We then each scored the beers on a 1-10 scale, at the end we added up the scores to settle on a Top 10 beers and a best of show Top 5. Here are the results!
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
STYLE: Winter Red ABV: 6.9%
“I would describe this as a spiced amber ale that seems to take inspiration from soda pop. I get sweet cherry, vanilla, cinnamon bark, and maybe some bitter nutmeg or allspice that give a light acrid earthiness to balance out the unmistakable Coca-Cola-like spices.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Tons of spices on the nose with almost no hops to be detected. Overall this has a very weird flavor that brings to mind a vintage soda. Nothing special.” - Neil Ferguson
“It’s a simple beer base with “winter,” spices. The can says, “Natural Flavors Added,” and in 2021 that doesn’t cut it.” - Nicole Kasten
“My first impression was that it is like a sweeter, less hoppy Jubelale. Then I re-tasted Jubelale, and Winter Solstice is just not in the same league. I don't recommend it.” - Bill Night
Double Mountain Brewing Fa La La La La
STYLE: Winter IPA ABV: 7.2%
“This is just a straight up Northwest IPA from the 2010’s and will satisfy anyone who enjoys the semi-clear IPA style where a little crystal malt goes a long way with some orangey, weedy, slightly onion-garlic hop flavors and bitterness.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Very hoppy and malty and the malt profile is off-putting. Once again, this is a classic winter beer that tastes a little dated and may have shined ten years ago but doesn’t do much for me now.” - Neil Ferguson
“Recognizable Double Mountain aroma, with good maltiness and toffee on the nose. Over carbonated with slight oxidation. This would be good paired with Double Mountain pizza.” - Nicole Kasten
“Another nice hoppy red, and a perennial favorite. Not quite as good as Brrr this year, but close. The hop finish is really long, tailing off into an aspirin bitterness, in a good way.” - Bill Night
Fort George Magnanimous IPA
STYLE: West Coast IPA w/ Grand Fir Tips ABV: 7%
“This is a love it or hate it beer for most, depending on how you like spruce tips in a beer. They undoubtedly throw off all sorts of Christmas tree nostalgia, but also are seriously minty fresh and spicy which does play off the hops nicely but can be too much. Honestly I am on the fence on if I like it or not, but either way it achieves what it set out to do.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to drink a Christmas tree, this beer is for you! Super piney and Christmas-y, there is a strangely pleasant sweetness from the fir tips that interacts nicely with the hops. This beer only confirms my belief that fir tips in IPA are supremely underrated if done right.” - Neil Ferguson
“The fir tips work well with the hops. Slight pine stays on the palate making you want more. I would order a second pint of this.” - Nicole Kasten
“This tastes like a car air freshener. People often describe IPAs as "piney", but this is ridiculous. It's too sappy, like a super aromatic cedar beer. I don't recommend it.” - Bill Night
Hopworks Urban Brewery Winter Ritual Cold IPA
STYLE: Cold IPA ABV: 6.7%
“A solid entry into the Cold IPA game, clean and crisp but shows it’s alcohol. The hops have some nice and unusual apricot, northwest woodsy herbaceous notes and fresh grassy weeds.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Not sure why this is a winter beer other than a that it is a “cold” IPA. Overall a fine straightforward West Coast IPA.” - Neil Ferguson
“It’s got the, “lager,” flavor on lockdown. Drinks light and isn’t complicated. An overall bold choice to be a ritual.” - Nicole Kasten
“Is this beer available in stores? It's not very seasonal, apart the name. Drink it if you want a hoppy lager while you put the toys together.” - Bill Night
Hopworks Bourbon Barrel Aged Abominable
STYLE: Barrel-Aged Double IPA ABV: 11.3%
“With the wallop of alcohol, hops, bourbon soaked oak, and toffee-like sweetness on the nose you would think this is a Barleywine. It has syrupy sugar notes but it is very much not a heavy beer in body or mouthfeel, which tends to reveal some of the alcohol warmth but resists the urge to be too hot. Citrusy, tangy hops with a boozy mouthfeel and oak spices on the finish. Hard to make heads or tails of this one” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Barley wine hits right on the nose with the booze seriously punched up compared to the OG version. Fittingly, the taste is more barley wine with the hops taking a bit of a backseat. Nice alcohol warmth and a strong whiskey finish with lots of wood coming through. If you’re looking for a big winter warmer at a decent price point, this is a worthy purchase.” - Neil Ferguson
“Big sweet, barleywine aroma. Turns a little smoky as you keep going. The body is very thin so be careful because this 11.5% ABV beer drinks quite smooth and doesn’t have much alcohol warmth in the finish. Deceptive.” - Nicole Kasten
“I didn't care much for this. It's a bit oxidized, and the flavors don't totally meld. I taste the hops, I taste the malt, the age, the vanilla (not much bourbon per se), but they are all separate notes, more like a traffic jam than a string quartet. Maybe a couple of years in the cellar would help.” - Bill Night
Almanac Beer Ugly Sweater LOVE Hazy IPA
STYLE: Hazy IPA ABV: 6.1%
“Coconut and creamsicle flavors swirl in the glass, unmistakably hazy with a pungent fruity hop aroma, caramel, alcohol warmth, grapefruit juice, and more of that signature toasted coconut and lotion flavor associated with Sabro hops. Hazy IPA fans will love this, nothing screams winter about it though.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Make no mistake about it, this is a summery tropical beer in a cute Christmas sweater. Big wallop of pineapple on the nose and a creamy punch of mango and citrus. This might be the the most festive label but this is a standard hazy IPA, and a very solid one at that. In other words, if you want to look like you’re embracing the holidays but would rather stick to your haze bois, this is the beer for you.” - Neil Ferguson
“Cool label, nice work. The expected Sabro notes, like coconut, come out in the nose, but don't translate to the flavor. Well made tropical tasting hazy IPA with a soft mouthfeel, hoppiness throughout and the body you would expect.” - Nicole Kasten
“I'm sorry, the only thing winter about this is the holiday sweater on the can. This is an adequate hazy IPA. You know what those taste like. If that's what you like, drink one.” - Bill Night
Full Sail Brewing Wreck the Halls
STYLE: Double IPA ABV: 8.1%
“Amber orange in color, this is very much like an old school 2000’s Double IPA. Only problem is it tastes a little old and oxidized, perhaps cheesy hops, but the crystal malt and grapefruity hop character still shine through.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Hoppy, malty booze bomb that is almost an antique tasting IPA. There is a mish mash of Centennial hops that serve mostly to crank up the IBUs and tone down the malty sweetness, making this a beer that feels dated but may be satisfying if that’s what you’re after.” - Neil Ferguson
“Malty, old and boozy. A vegetal note on the nose, it tasted as if it had been on the shelf for a while. The recipe seemed dated and maybe could be considered traditional, but this was simply old tasting.” - Nicole Kasten
“My memory of this is from years past is of a more balanced beer, but this is really a hop bomb. Nose is a little weird (vegetal). Taste a bit thin, with a ton of hops. Drink it if you want your hops undiluted.” - Bill Night
Cascade Brewing Double Dutch
STYLE: Sour Porter ABV: 9.2%
“I wanted to like this more than I did, perhaps because I was expecting to get more of a hot cocoa, brownie, fudge thing going on but instead the chocolate is hard to find under Cascade’s typical high level of sour acidity. Instead I get more of a Flanders Brown-style thing going on, not a lot of cacao or carmel but plenty of wet wood, vinous wine notes, and sour milk.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Sour but not enamel blasting with that signature Cascade profile. This is one of the most unique takes on a porter and the cocoa powder makes it dessert-y, yet the sour profile blasts out the sweetness. The only criticism I have is that there is barely any trace of vanilla, which is surprisingly considering how strong a flavor that can be. For lovers of dark beers, sours and even chocolate, this is a beer well worth your time.” - Neil Ferguson
“Face squishingly dry. I could get into the flavor profile, but why? Just read the label. It delivers on everything listed and is good for people that like an old school NW sour beer.” - Nicole Kasten
“If you blindfolded me, I would guess this is a nice local Oud Bruin. Tons of depth, not outrageously tart, interesting fruit flavors that I guess I can tease a little bit of apple out of. To their credit, they didn't call it a winter ale. One of my favorites of the evening. Drink it if you want something sour at this time of year.” - Bill Night
Cascade Brewing Baked Apple Sour
STYLE: Sour Wheat ABV: 5.2%
“I love this fresh fall take on a spiced winter warmer. Tart sweet green apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice greet the nose and tastebuds like fresh baked apple pie. Yes it’s sour, but not so much that it takes away from the distinct impression that you are drinking a tart apple cobbler.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Festive AF with huge punch of apples, cinnamon, maple that is the liquid equivalent of strolling through an orchard as the leaves fall around you. It also imparts nostalgia that brings to mind kids apple juice or perhaps that bottle of Martinelli’s cider you got to pour into a wine glass at the Thanksgiving table to pretend you were cool. For my tastes, this is too sweet and might as well be a cider, but you certainly can’t knock Cascade for crafting a truly festive beverage.” - Neil Ferguson
“Baked apple pie aroma that makes you immediately want to drink it. Velvety mouthfeel that delivers on what it says. Not overly sweet and highly drinkable. The best Cascade beer I have had in years.” - Nicole Kasten
“Not crazy about this one. It's too sweet. I think it's a stretch to call it a winter beer, it's kind of pandering to the holiday sentiment with its apple-pie flavors. Call it the pumpkin spice latte of beer.” - Bill Night
Widmer Brrr
STYLE: NW Red ABV: 7.2%
“Red ales can be underwhelming if you are looking to be smacked around, this one proves that a handful of hops can really make the malt go down smooth when in the right balance. Unsurprisingly it’s one of the best technically flawless beers of this group with a lingering off-white creamy head over top a clear tan/red color and a toasty finish.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Mostly bitter, a little sweet but ultimately insipid. For a hoppy offering from Widmer, it’s not terrible.” - Neil Ferguson
“Tastes a lot better than it smells. It is what it says it is…..a Hoppy Red. It is safe and balanced for the style. You don’t have to think too hard to drink this one.” - Nicole Kasten
“Classic Portland winter red (oh how I miss you, New Old Lompoc). Well-balanced, totally surpasses Wreck the Halls, and a little better than Abominable. Old-school C-hops on a huge malt base. The best Winter IPA we tried.” - Bill Night
Occidental Brewing Lucabrator
STYLE: Doppelbock ABV: 6.7%
“Much lighter flavor and body than I was expecting from this dark blood red colored beer. Somewhat sweet, with a touch of roasty hops and carmel malts, but why am I reminded of Root Beer? It’s almost like a spiced cinnamon, cherry, vanilla thing going on but as far as I know this aint spiced.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Not very hoppy at all and a nicely crushable doppelbock despite the slightly higher ABV. Figgy and sweet but not cloying. This Lucabrator is indeed a proper lubricator.” - Neil Ferguson
“Sweet, toffee aroma. Dark fruit and black tea flavors and drinks boozier than the advertised 6.5% ABV.” - Nicole Kasten
“Where will this madness end? Doppelbock is specifically a Lenten (springtime) ale, not a winter beer. I love doppelbocks, but this one is a bit too sweet. And the finish wasn't quite right. Maybe it could lager a bit longer?” - Bill Night
TOP 10
Deschutes Brewery Jubelale
STYLE: Amber/Red/Brown ABV: 6.7%
“I describe this as a nutty Amber Ale, nearly a brown ale. It’s very mild for a winter ale, dark red in color, crystal carmel malts in the flavor but is not really sweet, slightly bitter roasted malt and floral hops are there but are used sparingly and even handed. I get a little bing cherry flavor in there but overall leaves me a little disappointed.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Notes of fruit cake coalesce with a slight hop bitterness that doesn’t overwhelm the festive flavor, making this a real classic that still tastes fresh year after year.” - Neil Ferguson
“Nutmeg & toasted caramel on the nose. It's lightly carbonated, adding to a velvet mouthfeel. Hop presence throughout. I prefer this beer on nitro, but will settle for the bottle.” - Nicole Kasten
“Jubel was my first Oregon beer crush when I moved here in the early 2000s. We would say things like "This is a good year for Jubel", or "I liked last year's better". Quality control is improved and it hasn't varied much for ten years or more. It's awesome. Drink a lot of it while it's here.” - Bill Night
Hopworks Abominable Ale
STYLE: Winter IPA ABV: 7.3%
“The color of butterscotch candies, with a classic piney and grapefruity burst of hops on the nose. Sweet caramelly but with a robust punch of resinous hops. A modern classic winter IPA.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Compared to previous years where this was a gloriously malty monster, this year’s edition is tropical and fruit-forward, and the hop bitterness almost makes this more of a standard Northwest IPA. Those who might have been overwhelmed by the big malty profile in past years will be pleasantly surprised at the brightness of this beer.” - Neil Ferguson
“Very little aroma. Almost creamy with a balanced finish. Good for a person that likes a classic NW flavor, but with a small winter twist.” - Nicole Kasten
“Really nicely balanced, in the sense of "more malt, more hops". I do feel like this beer still varies a bit year-to-year, and this is a good year. Drink it if you like the Winter IPA genre.” - Bill Night
Bale Breaker High Camp
STYLE: Winter IPA ABV: 7.3%
“A winter IPA that could pass for just a slightly maltier West Coast IPA is not a bad thing when it’s this well executed! Amber orange color matches the Mandarina Orange flavors in this beer that is slightly sweeter than most modern clear IPA’s with a recognizable savory hop funk flavor and solid bitterness.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Mosaic gives it that berry note and a nice bite from the experimental hops interacts nicely with the Simcoe. Don’t let the golden brown color fool you as this lovely beer drinks like a modern Northwest IPA. A worthy purchase.” - Neil Ferguson
“Citrus and overall summer feel. Drinkable and airy making it a good alternative for people who want a seasonal release, but not necessarily a, “winter,” beer. A well composed IPA.” - Nicole Kasten
“Very clean IPA -- you could read someone's Covid card through a glass of this. Nice malt body but not quite in balance with the massive amount of hops. Is it a winter ale? I wouldn't call it that, but if you want a ton of hops, and paler malts, give it a try.” - Bill Night
pFriem Family Brewers Belgian Christmas
STYLE: Dubbel ABV: 8%
“For a beer this dark brown/red it sure has a lot of bright lemony notes like a frosted scone with cocoa swirls. The Belgian yeast is front and center giving off notes of chocolate banana bread, animal cookies and sponge cake with a malty/nutty finish.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Almost like an old fashioned with spices. Orange fruitiness right up front makes this a decent take on Belgian. Spices are nice and there’s almost a hint of funk. This is decent but you are better off seeking out other pFriem offerings with less adjuncts.” - Neil Ferguson
“Typical, “holiday,” aroma with nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and a little orange. It gives you the cozy sweater holiday feeling. Drinks slightly lighter than the stated 8% ABV. This is a good sharing beer to bring to dinner.” - Nicole Kasten
“Every few years I've bought the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, and I'm always kind of happy with it and kind of disappointed with it. Like, this is classy, but why didn't I just buy the Abt 12? Pfriem nailed that feeling (why am I drinking this instead of Pfriem Strong Belgian Dark?). It's a serious strong Belgian, but a little goes a long way with me. It would go well with a meal, or as a palate cleanser at a holiday bottle share.” - Bill Night
Anchor Christmas Ale OSA
STYLE: Spiced Winter Warmer ABV: 7%
“I always look forward to this beer even if I dont love it. This year falls into the ‘decent’ camp and retains that signature dark nutty malt character of every year with some bitter and peppery spices, this year may be a bit more fruity, seeded-berry and bakers cocoa.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Very herbal and a flavor that hints at raspberry and cocoa but we can’t be sure. There is almost a medicinal flavor and a lingering note of numbing spice, but I promise that’s not a bad thing. This year is a bit dialed down from last year but this is always one of the finest winter beers you can get.” - Neil Ferguson
“Dark fruit, spicy, minty and a little chocolaty on the nose. Fairly thick body and will be well liked by, “dark beer,” drinkers.” - Nicole Kasten
“A classic. Drink it if you want a spicy, mulled grog. Not a knockout this year, but still recommended.” - Bill Night
TOP 5
Fremont Brewing Winter Ale
STYLE: Strong Ale ABV: 8%
“Very little info is available about this beer, including the base style. But it has a milk chocolate head and a soft woody aroma and a dark pale wood color leads me to think of a strong Brown Ale. It’s nutty, peppery, lightly roasty and creamy with a peppery hop bite and a taste of bark. Reminds me of Anchor Christmas Ale but with less (maybe none) spices.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Lots of chocolate and rich and roasty caramel notes. There is almost a touch of peat despite there being seemingly no contact with a barrel. Real nice lingering burn from the alcohol makes this extra comforting. All that being said, this would make a great addition to Fremont’s barrel-aged repertoire, so let’s hope they threw a nice batch into barrels.” - Neil Ferguson
“The aroma was malty without being overly sweet with pleasant hints of cocoa. Easy drinking, light caramel flavor and is super clean throughout. This is a great beer to drink in winter without being boozy or spiced like a lot of winter beers.” - Nicole Kasten
“Intensely roasty. Rich, chocolatey, and also pleasantly bitter. This is something like Sleigh'r plus roast. If that sounds as good to you as it does to me, drink it up.” - Bill Night
Firestone Walker Cinnamon Dolce
STYLE: Milk Stout ABV: 6%
“Smells like a pastry beer and has all the best attributes of one, but drinks far more quaffable and balanced. Big cinnamon on the nose and in the flavor, but mellowed out by creamy vanilla ice cream notes, surprisingly not very sweet and certainly not cloying or thick like a pastry stout. Instead it’s creamy but light bodied, like a cocoa coffee horchata in your glass. Love it.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Cinnamon and chocolate on the nose and Mexican hot chocolate vibes with a hint of horchata. Anyone who doesn’t enjoy cinnamon may want to avoid, but those that do will be huge fans. There is also a nice vanilla balance and the best part is that this beer is not at all sweet, so you thick bois don’t get to call it a pastry stout. If the brewers at Firestone Walker are reading this, I beg of you to make a barrel-aged version of this and maybe even through some pepper into the mix.” - Neil Ferguson
“Smells like cinnamon. A slight vanilla and almond aroma which brightens the cinnamon. Crushable thin body with a big roasty finish. It sounds more desserty than it is. Impressively restrained with good balance.” - Nicole Kasten
“Wow. A smooth, drinkable stout, and the the cinnamon adds an unexpected aromatic note. It's like a roasty horchata. It's full-bodied but not too boozy. One of the best of the night.” - Bill Night
Ninkasi Brewing Sleigh’r
STYLE: Dark Double Alt ABV: 7.2%
“It’s been awhile since I had a Sleigh’r and I like it much more now than I used to. Mahogany color, brown sugar and molasses malt flavors in a soft and full body with plenty of hops to round it off. Bitter, burnt barley and a herby hop finish. Sweet, big, bitter, chewy, everything you want in a semi-dark and strong winter warmer. Satisfying.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“Another Pacific Northwest standard with a dank smokiness and plenty of toastiness that is hoppy enough to make it take a few sips to realize this is actually a double alt. Lovely light chocolate color should seal the deal in that regard. This isn’t something you want to drink more than one of in a sitting but a it’s decent sipper.” - Neil Ferguson
“Extra sweet brown sugar aroma knocks you back a bit. Smooth drinking with a passive walnut flavor. I liked this beer more than I expected. Definitely has a high level of QC behind it.” - Nicole Kasten
“Sleigh'r is a faithful imitation of revered German brewer Uerige's "Doppelsticke" double alt. That is quite a feat, and hats off to Ninkasi for acheiving it. I quibble a bit with calling it a holiday beer: it's a Christmas name, not a Christmas beer. If you want something potent yet dry, dark yet not overly roasty, drink it up. Recommended.” - Bill Night
Pelican Brewing Bad Santa CDA
STYLE: Cascadian Dark Ale ABV: 7.5%
“I would describe this as a British take on a Black IPA/CDA with a brown malt color, moderate to medium roasted barley notes, and a herbal-flowery hop bite and flavor. This is nicely bittersweet, slightly hoppy pungent, more balanced than most CDA’s in the roast to hop bitterness ratio, and altogether very pleasant to drink.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“First time canned and we are oh so grateful. For skeptics of the Cascadian Dark Ale, this is a perfect starting point as it’s super balanced and not too hoppy and not too roasty. For being a dark winter ale that may also fall into the IPA category, this beer checks all the boxes and is surely to satisfy everyone. It definitely doesn’t feel 7.5% ABV so tread lightly.” - Neil Ferguson
“Toasted nut aroma, with a roasty and hoppy flavor. Still a perfect CDA and this year didn’t disappoint. The consistency of this beer is amazing. If you haven’t had it in awhile, it’s not a hoppy porter, but a true CDA.” - Nicole Kasten
“Again I will cavil at calling this a holiday beer. Take away the name, and what is wintry about a CDA? But... this is an amazingly drinkable beer. Beautiful balance between the malt and the hops. Creamy and satisfying. Drink it if you like this style.” - Bill Night
Sierra Nevada Celebration
STYLE: West Coast IPA ABV: 6.8%
“One of my seasonal favs, but also a beer that proves you don’t have to do anything special to become a winter ale classic. Perhaps a touch maltier than most NW IPA, it has a slighly candy-like jolly rancher note and fresh puffs of resinous piney hops in bitterness, flavor and aroma.” - Ezra Johnson-Greenough
“My favorite thing about this beer is that it’s not at all a fresh hop ale nor is it a holiday ale, but the label basically says that it’s both. It’s always perplexing to wonder what Sierra Nevada is getting at with the marketing of this beer, but it doesn’t matter because it’s so fucking good.” - Neil Ferguson
“Balanced, but hoppy enough that you know exactly what you are drinking. Year after year, this beer delivers and this year is no different. Most years this beer is great, but this year, the fresh version is drinking at its best. It will be a go to beer for me at least through the end of the calendar year.” - Nicole Kasten
“The archetype hoppy red Christmas beer. This is a classic, even if it is not "a fresh hop ale" as the label says. Have one to celebrate the season, then decide if you like this or Brrr better.” - Bill Night