Choosing the perfect beer for the festive season can be tricky — especially when it comes to telling the difference between a winter beer and a Christmas beer. Here's a clear explanation to help you understand the subtle but important differences between these two seasonal styles.
What Is a Christmas beer?
Christmas beer is a traditional style popular in France and Belgium, rooted in a centuries-old practice brought back by the Vikings from Scandinavia. These beers are brewed exclusively for the holiday season and are typically stronger, richer, and spicier than regular beers, designed to warm you up during the cold winter months.
Brewed in limited batches for Christmas, these beers often feature a blend of spices and specialty malts. The exact ingredients vary by country and brewery, but the goal is always the same: to deliver a unique, festive flavour.
Some standout examples include:
- Bush de Noël – Offers caramelised flavours and dried fruit aromas, perfect for Christmas celebrations.
- Einstök Winter Ale – An Icelandic beer with notes of caramel, wood, and rye bread, ideal for colder evenings.
What Is a Winter beer?
Winter beer is a broader seasonal category that includes various beer styles enjoyed during the winter months. These beers are typically bold, warming, and complex, and the category includes Stouts, Porters, Belgian Strong Dark Ales — and even Christmas beers themselves.
Winter beers can be enjoyed throughout the colder season, often up until March depending on the country. They are brewed to offer comforting flavours and higher alcohol content to help beat the chill.
Examples include:
- Bière des Bons Vœux from Brasserie Dupont – A strong Belgian ale with spicy notes of coriander.
- Any rich and roasty brew from our Stout beer selection – perfect companions for winter nights.
Is there really a difference between Christmas beer and Winter beer?
The distinction between Christmas beer and winter beer is subtle. Essentially, Christmas beer is a subcategory of winter beer. The main difference lies in branding and seasonal intent. Christmas beers are often released with festive labels, seasonal marketing, and spice-forward profiles. Meanwhile, winter beers include a wider range of styles made to be enjoyed throughout the cold season.
Today, many brewers are also adapting traditional styles — such as IPAs or lagers — into festive brews by adding winter spices and holiday-themed packaging, further blurring the lines between the two categories.
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