Christmas Beer

see317

So, long story short, I've been volunteered for beverage duty for this christmas family gathering. (Not a problem, it keeps me out of the kitchen which is best for all involved and allows me to contribute something so I'm not a complete parasite)
I've got the soda sorted out, but figured I'd want to snag a couple of six packs of beer since a cold one is appreciated by pretty much everyone.

Problem is, I have no idea about beer.
So, any suggestions for a quality brew for a family christmas? I've got a half dozen liquor stores within easy drive, not counting the grocery stores that stock beer.

nuka

Right now I'm drinking Ebenezer Ale.
It's pretty good! Nice and smooth.

Khavall

I know you asked for beer, but cocktails with Gin in them will always have a nice Christmas-y feel to them due to the Juniper.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

Where do you live?

deschutes Jubelale (winter seasonal) is also pretty good, and if you can get bridgeport you can probably get it

see317

Dyscord wrote: »

Where do you live?
deschutes Jubelale (winter seasonal) is also pretty good, and if you can get bridgeport you can probably get it

Aurora, Colorado.

Newton

The Bridgeport seasonal is good. Winterhook and Jubelale are also good, although I don't know what availability is like outside of the northwest. If you're buying for a group, you should look at getting two or three different styles of beer. I love winter seasonal beers, but they aren't for everyone. Get some dark beer, something lighter like a hefeweizen or a lager, and a 6-pack of bud light or something. That should cover the tastes of just about anybody. Figure about three beers/person on average and make adjustments if you have a lot of heavy or light drinkers.

Also, don't forget wine. Some people don't like beer for some reason.

Edit: If you're in Colorado, you should look into New Belgium beers. Their 1554 is a good black ale and they have 2 Below for their winter seasonal. Both would be good choices. Their Fat Tire is a good, too, and lighter than winter seasonals.

Elin

It's not a "Christmas" beer per se, but Sam Adams Cherry Wheat is a good choice, IMO. It appeals to a wide range of people and is pretty tasty.

KyleWPeterson

Boulevard has a wonderful Chrismtas beer out right now. What part of the country do you live in?

Smurph

I would say get a case of something common but not too shitty like Labatt's Blue or Yuengling and then a six pack or two of a good microbrew (which other people have already suggested). Not everyone is going to like the specialty beer and buying enough microbrew for a large family will get expensive.

Omnicron9999

Speaking of the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, they make a Winter Pack that has 6 different beers, most of which are "Christmas-y". Specifically the "Old Fezziwig", that stuff just tastes like Christmas.

Many other brewers make similar 12 packs. They're also a great opportunity to try some new beers, and you aren't stuck with a ton of the same thing if no one likes it.

matt has a problem

Goose Island makes a Christmas Ale that's pretty nice too, but I don't know if you can find it in Colorado.

Slagmire

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Goose Island makes a Christmas Ale that's pretty nice too, but I don't know if you can find it in Colorado.

Goose Island isn't all that rare, especially if you go to a somewhat respectable liquor store (I know several places around me in Cincy where I can get it with no problems, including grocery stores). Great Lakes' Christmas Ale isn't bad and I heard Rogue's Santa's Little Helper is pretty damn good.

John Matrix

While I do believe in seasonal beers, I support drinking what you like when you like. A good lager like Red Stripe or Warsteiner is always welcome, but I'd stay away from porters if the people in your house aren't regular beer drinkers. A decent stout like Murphy's or Guinness would probably work, but again if the people in your house aren't seasoned drinkers don't by Guinness extra stout.

matt has a problem

Slagmire wrote: »

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Goose Island makes a Christmas Ale that's pretty nice too, but I don't know if you can find it in Colorado.

Goose Island isn't all that rare, especially if you go to a somewhat respectable liquor store (I know several places around me in Cincy where I can get it with no problems, including grocery stores). Great Lakes' Christmas Ale isn't bad and I heard Rogue's Santa's Little Helper is pretty damn good.

Yeah, but Cincinnati is a little closer to the brewery than Colorado is.

Monolithic_Dome

Celebration Ale is delicious
2 Below is awesome, and made in your home state.
Santa's Private Reserve I wasn't a big fan of, something about the hops they used just doesn't sit right with me. But that label is so awesome it just about makes up for it.

Also, hard cider makes for an excellent holiday libation. I like Sam Smith and Crispin, though both are a bit more spendy than they should be.

Slagmire

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Slagmire wrote: »

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Goose Island makes a Christmas Ale that's pretty nice too, but I don't know if you can find it in Colorado.

Goose Island isn't all that rare, especially if you go to a somewhat respectable liquor store (I know several places around me in Cincy where I can get it with no problems, including grocery stores). Great Lakes' Christmas Ale isn't bad and I heard Rogue's Santa's Little Helper is pretty damn good.

Yeah, but Cincinnati is a little closer to the brewery than Colorado is.

Oh right - my mistake, I misread what was being said. Goose does have a locator option on their website, but it's looking like he might be SOL there.

Dark_Side

What kind of people are going to be drinking the beer at the party? Young people? Older yuppyish boomers? I would only buy dark winter beers for a group of people that I knew were into beer, because most of the general beer drinking public sticks almost solely to the American style pilsner (shudder) or even worse shit like Corona Light, and would turn their nose up at something like a barleywine christmas ale.

Usually what I do for situations like this is split the beers I buy into thirds. I buy a common generic american beer like a 24 of Bud light, then something a little better like Dos Equis or Sam Adams, and then a Six or 12 of something really nice, which usually hardly gets touched. And that's fine by me since I love beer and that means more good beer for me.

EskimoDave

http://www.oxfordpress.com/lifestyle/food-and-recipes/holiday-cheer-in-the-form-of-beer-453821.html?showComments=true

Deadfall

see317 wrote: »

Dyscord wrote: »

Where do you live?
deschutes Jubelale (winter seasonal) is also pretty good, and if you can get bridgeport you can probably get it

Aurora, Colorado.

Hi5. I'm in Arvada.

I'm going to second the suggestion of the Sam Adams Holiday 6 Pack. I get it every year.

Pheezer

okay so are you in Canada or not

My #1 is Small Pints' Burly Wine. But if you're not in Canada (or in Manitoba even), you don't have good odds of procuring it.

Sipex

This is really up in the air, I don't know how open the drinkers in your family are or how much you want to spend.

My best bet is, if you don't know this either and are picking up a couple packs then pick up different types of beers. Maybe one light (ie: yellowish, see through, MDG or Corona) and one dark (most brown bottle beers) at the least.

thisisntwally

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Slagmire wrote: »

matthasaproblem wrote: »

Goose Island makes a Christmas Ale that's pretty nice too, but I don't know if you can find it in Colorado.

Goose Island isn't all that rare, especially if you go to a somewhat respectable liquor store (I know several places around me in Cincy where I can get it with no problems, including grocery stores). Great Lakes' Christmas Ale isn't bad and I heard Rogue's Santa's Little Helper is pretty damn good.

Yeah, but Cincinnati is a little closer to the brewery than Colorado is.

cleveland

milehigh

If you're in Colorado pick up some Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer. It's been one of my favorites (it has cocoa and honey) and you should have no problems finding it around here.

Backstop

Smurph wrote: »

I would say get a case of something common but not too shitty like Labatt's Blue or Yuengling and then a six pack or two of a good microbrew (which other people have already suggested). Not everyone is going to like the specialty beer and buying enough microbrew for a large family will get expensive.

This! Get something seasonal for the actual beer people and then round it out with lawnmower beer for the people that don;t branch out.

LaPuzza

Quick counter-suggestion: Buy "regular" beer. If you want to get a sixer of imported ale, good for you, but there are plenty of beer drinkers that don't want a 40 proof beer thick enough to chew with hints of nutmeg and black truffle. Buy beer like you'd buy soda for a party: You may buy some orange Fanta, but you wouldn't get it INSTEAD of Coke.

I like to try new beer here and there (we did a nice French beer "blanc" for Thanksgiving) but Bud and Miller Lite don't sell well for nothing. Don't try so hard to impress people that you put them off.

For nationally available brands, I'd suggest something just a bit off the beaten path for the "normal" beer - like perhaps Killian's Irish Red or Michelob Golden. For the special beer for the adventurers, don't discount the suggestion of your liquor store clerk.

see317

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.
Right now it looks like I'm picking up a 6 of Sam Adams Light (was requested by the host), One of the Sam Adams holiday 6 packs, and possibly a 6 pack of of the Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer, as it sounds interesting.