Christmas Beer Advent calendars are helping craft beer lovers to count down to Christmas. This year there are several Advent calendars pre-loaded with Christmas and winter brews. I’ll share a few. If you can’t find one, you can make your own. I’ll show you how.
Advent is the season that begins four Sundays prior to Christmas, some time between November 27th and December 3rd. Most Advent calendars avoid this date variation and begin December 1st and continue until Christmas Eve. This practice rings true with craft beer fans because the number of days equals a holy beer number – twenty-four. Exactly one case. Perhaps the Divine reason for a case being 24 bottles.
Beer Advent Calendars In The United States
It’s surprisingly difficult to get a beer Advent calendar in the United States. This is due to complex and antiquated laws regarding shipping alcohol from state to state. When will this madness stop!
Costco has a Beer Advent Calendar that is an all German line-up. (The photo above). It’s available at Costco locations in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Northern and Southern California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
With fabulous Christmas beers available throughout the United States, make your own beer Advent calendar. Instructions are below.
Beer Advent Calendars In Canada
In Canada, Craft BeerAdvent® Calendar claims to be the original since 2012. “In this year’s 2015 Edition, we invite you to explore the taste of 24 Remarkable Craft Beers ‘From Coast to Coast’ Canada and United States. Craft beer drinkers across Canada will be able to enjoy 24 craft beers not presently available in stores. In fact, most of the beers are being specifically brewed for the Craft BeerAdvent® Calendar 2015 Edition!”
In Vancouver, British Columbia, the Craft Crossing Calendar is the second holiday pack Central City Brewers and Parallel 49 Brewing Company have collaborated on, this year incorporating 12 brand new holiday beers and 12 tried and true classics. “The response from last year’s collaboration was tremendous and this year we injected even more holiday cheer with 12 new unique brews,” says Gary Lohin, Brew Master at Central City Brewers and Distillers. “These holiday brews can only be found in the Craft Crossing Calendar and the beers in the 24-pack will remain a mystery until you open them, just like you would with a traditional chocolate advent calendar.”
Beer Advent Calendars In Europe
Best of British Beer Advent Tree
Best Of British Beer has the best looking beer Advent calendar, in my opinion. It’s shaped like a Christmas tree and filled with 24 33oml bottles of British beer, some exclusive to them.
Another company in the UK has a Craft Beer Advent Calendar boxed set available for £74.99 delivered in the UK. Several of the beers are from the USA. The company describes it as, “a glorious festive season full of superb saisons, stouts, pilsners and ales from the likes of Flying Dog, Brooklyn Brewery, Anchor and Camden. Wrap up cosy and experience a hug starting from the inside with Brooklyn Brewery’s luxuriously dark Black Chocolate Stout or hang out with a Raging Bitch and get your Christmas on Flying Dog stylee – it’s all there for the taking.”
Another UK company, Ales By Mail features an Advent calendar featuring mostly Multi Award winning UK beers including the CAMRA Champion beer of Britain. It’s £66.99 delivered in the UK.
In Germany, BierDandla.de a craft beer trader from Munich offers two craft beer Advent calendars filled with top notch brews from Germany and Europe. They also appear to be the supplier for Costco’s German beer Advent calendar.
Make Your Own Beer Advent Calendar
For those without one of these ready-made beer Advent calendars available, you can make your own. It’s not difficult.
- Pick up a box that holds 24 bottles. Choose a case for larger 22 oz bottles if you want to include larger bottles or a mixed set. Make sure it has an sturdy cardboard insert that divides the bottles.
- Cut off the flaps from the top of the box.
- Paint the box or cover it with wrapping paper to give it a Christmas feel.
- Purchase Christmas Beer, Winter Ales, and other treats to fill your beer Advent calendar. Use reviews from Christmasbeer.net to choose some winners. Have a friend pick a few without you knowing to add to the surprise.
- Load the beer into the case. I prefer to ask someone else to do this so I’m surprised. If you include De Dolle’s Stille Nacht, make that #24 for Christmas Eve.
- Make a cover for the top of the box. This can be from heavy paper. Using the insert divider as a guide, number it 1 – 24. You will cut through the paper each day to retrieve your bottle for the day.
- Store your beer Advent calendar in a cool place.
- On December 1, let the celebration begin!
Whether you purchase a pre-filled set or make your own beer Advent calendar, it’s a wonderful way to anticipate Christmas while enjoying your new and favorite Christmas beers.
Question: What Christmas beer would you like in your Advent calendar? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
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