[kgs]

Seconding Celebration, which this year seems exceptional, especially for a beer that can be had for $1/bottle (by the case at CostCo) or at least $7.99/sixpack. I don't know what the difference is, but it feels exceptionally fresh and hoppy and malty and... mmmm.

My Christmas Eve tradition of exactly two years is to have a glass of Maredsous on draught at a place nearby, either that afternoon or early evening, before or after the 5 pm church service. Most of the year it feels too big for the weather or whatever I'm up to next, but on Christmas Eve it even tastes better than Scaldis Noel.

[redbeerman]

+1 on the Celebration Ale.  Always enjoyable.  My favorite Christmas beer, the one in my hand.

[erockrph]

Tried Samichlaus for the first time last night. I figured it would be a fitting choice for a Christmas beer. It was definitely a bit rough around the edges even though they age it for 10 months before bottling. I think I'll try sitting on it an extra year or two the next time I get some.

[The Professor]

The only two commercially  made Christmas beers I truly enjoy and will go out of my way to stock up on are Celebration and Samichlaus.  There are  a  few others I find "pretty good", but these two I've mentioned are the only ones I find to be as satisfying as a good homebrewed one.

Regarding Samichlaus, one year I found  a bottle I had unintentionally tucked away...it was in a corner of a basement cupboard for more than 7 years (and possibly as much as 10).   It was in remarkable shape and smooth as  silk.  I don't think I would intentionally buy Samiclaus to cellar it  since I enjoy it quite a bit in its original bottling year, but it was interesting to discover how well a filtered strong beer can hold up after so many years.

[Pinski]

I used to look forward to the release of Jubelale every year.  The past couple years it just hasn't done anything for me. Searching for a new holiday favorite, enjoying the research.

[denny]

I thought this year's Jubelale was really pretty good.  More hop forward than the last few years without losing the wonderful toasty malt character.

I admit that I WAY overimbibed the last couple days.  Thank goodness I have today off to recover!

[bluesman]

I usually pick up a mixed sixer of assorted varieties depending on the mood I'm in at the time. This year I picked up a Stone Sublimely SR, SN Celebration, The Bruery Saison de Lente, North Coast Old Stock Ale, Smuttynose Robust Porter and a Green Flash Hop Head Red.

Variety is the spice of life!

Happy Holidays! 

[bluesman]

I admit that I WAY overimbibed the last couple days.  Thank goodness I have today off to recover!

We'll let you off the hook this time Denny.   

[denny]

I admit that I WAY overimbibed the last couple days.  Thank goodness I have today off to recover!

We'll let you off the hook this time Denny.   

I appreciate that, Ron!    I'm finding that it doesn't take nearly as much as it used to for me to wind up like this.  I think that yesterday I have maybe 4-5 beers over the course of 14 hours.  Of course, that included Delerium Noel and Duvel, but still....

[realbeerguy]

The only two commercially  made Christmas beers I truly enjoy and will go out of my way to stock up on are Celebration and Samichlaus.  There are  a  few others I find "pretty good", but these two I've mentioned are the only ones I find to be as satisfying as a good homebrewed one.

Regarding Samichlaus, one year I found  a bottle I had unintentionally tucked away...it was in a corner of a basement cupboard for more than 7 years (and possibly as much as 10).   It was in remarkable shape and smooth as  silk.  I don't think I would intentionally buy Samiclaus to cellar it  since I enjoy it quite a bit in its original bottling year, but it was interesting to discover how well a filtered strong beer can hold up after so many years.

I've got Celebration from the late '90s and Sammy from 2000 +.

It's a lot of fun doing a vertical tasting seeing how the recipe has changed, and when the accountants got ahold of it.

[rbclay]

why would you want to cellar a fresh hopped IPA? that makes no sense to me. Celebration is one of my favorite beers- to be drunk each season during that season. would you drink a 10+ year old version of your own fresh hopped IPA?

[realbeerguy]

why would you want to cellar a fresh hopped IPA? that makes no sense to me. Celebration is one of my favorite beers- to be drunk each season during that season. would you drink a 10+ year old version of your own fresh hopped IPA?

Celebration just recently is fresh hopped.  Older versions were not.

[ccfoo242]

I look forward to Sierra Nevada's Celebration every Christmas. I not only stock up on theirs, but try to brew a couple batches of a "clone" of it.

Man I love Celebration.

Another than I don't know if it's a Christmas beer but is available after October is Lagunitas Brown Shugga. Heaven in a bottle...