Although the weather gods don’t appear to be in much of a Christmas mood right now – Sweden is currently suffering from the biggest lack of snow for this time of year for over a century – the Systembolaget is stepping up and doing its bit to create some seasonal cheer with its annual launch of Christmas beers.
This year no less than 43 (!) beers are hitting the shelves (and there’s even more to be had if you look a little harder) so if you want to try them all it’s just as well there’s still 41 days until Christmas (or 42, if you’re English).
For me there are two good things about Christmas. Firstly there’s Christmas beer itself, which doesn’t actually really exist. You see Christmas beer from the beginning was little more than a cynical ploy from large Humbug breweries looking to fill their profit stockings by taking one of their standard beers, shoving a scrooge-size dollop of sweetness, booze and colour in it, slapping a Santa on the bottle/can and calling it something ‘Christmasy’.
The good news is that in recent years the lack of any real stylistic definition of Christmas beer has led to several breweries making up their own rules, which for us beer drinkers is good news indeed as we can now enjoy everything from a bock and Belgium strong ales to an old ale and even a beer that you can warm up.
The second great thing about Christmas beers is that, like Christmas itself, they come around every year. This means that over the two years BeerSweden has been around I’ve already managed to taste my way through a majority of the beers going on sale today. So here’s a complete list of the 2011 Christmas release in the ordinary assortment at the monopoly together with links to my videos, photos and beer reviews. Remember that there can be some variation in vintages so just because I didn’t personally like a beer in 2009-2010 doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t change my mind this year.
Abita Christmas Ale, USA, 355 ml, ABV 5.5% 24.9 SEK
Anchor Christmas Ale, USA, 355 ml, ABV 5.5% 25.5 SEK
Ayinger Winter-Bock, Germany, 500 ml, ABV 6.7% 29.9 SEK
Brewdog There is no Santa, UK, 330 ml, ABV 4.7% 19.9 SEK
Corsendonk Christmas Ale, Belgium, 250 ml, ABV 8.5% 20.9 SEK
Eriksberg Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.6% 6.9 SEK
Falcon Julöl, Sweden, 330ml, ABV 5.2% 11.9 SEK
Falcon Julöl, Sweden, 500ml, ABV 5.2% 16.9 SEK
Falcons Julmumma, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.2% 17.9 SEK
Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale, USA, 355 ml, ABV 7.4% 25.8 SEK
Fuller’s Old Winter Ale, UK, 500 ml, ABV 5.3% 22.9 SEK
Gouden Carolus Christmas, Belgium 330 ml, ABV 10.5% 29.5 SEK,
Great Divide Hibernation Ale, USA, 355 ml, ABV 8.7% 29.9 SEK
Grebbestad Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.2% 20.9 SEK
Jacobsen Golden Naked Christmas Ale, Denmark, 750 ml, ABV 7.5% 55 SEK
Jólabjór, Iceland, 330 ml, ABV 6.5%, 28.9 SEK
Jämtlands Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 6.5% 26.8 SEK
Liefmans Glühkriek, Belgium, 750 ml, ABV 6% 57 SEK
Mariestads Julebrygd, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.8% 17.5 SEK
Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper, Denmark, 375 ml, ABV 9.1% 43.5 SEK
Mysingen Midvinterbrygd 2011, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 6% 31.4 SEK
N’Ice Chouffe, Belgium, 750 ml, ABV 10% 56.9 SEK
Nils Oscar Julöl 2011, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 7.7% 49.9 SEK
Nils Oscar Kalasjulöl, Sweden, 330 ml, ABV 5.2% 19.5 SEK
Nisse Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.3% 26.6 SEK
Nøgne Ø Underlig jul, Norway, 500 ml, ABV 6.5% 45.9 SEK
Oppigårds Winter Ale, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.3% 26.5 SEK
Pistonhead Chimney Sweeper, Sweden, 330 ml, ABV 5.8% 13.9 SEK
Pripps jul, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5% 15.9 SEK
S:t Eriks Barley Wine God Jul 2011, Sweden, 330 ml, ABV 8.5% 21.9 SEK
Samuel Adams Winter Lager, USA, 355 ml, ABV 5.5% 17.5 SEK
Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 7% 28.9 SEK
Sigtuna Midvinterblot, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 10.1% 32.9 SEK
Sigtuna Vinterlager, Sweden, 330 ml, ABV 5.2% 19.9 SEK
Snowblind Strong Ale, Sweden, 330 ml, ABV 7.5% 24.9 SEK
Sofiero Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.2% 13.9 SEK
Spendrups Julbrygd , Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.3% 15.9 SEK
St Peter’s Winter Ale, UK, 500 ml, ABV 6.5% 26.9 SEK
The Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, USA, 650 ml, ABV 5.9% 34.8 SEK
Three Hearts Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.3% 15.9 SEK
Wisby Julbrygd, Sweden, 330 ml, ABV 6% 18.8 SEK
Åbro Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 5.2% 15.9 SEK
Åbro Sigill Julöl, Sweden, 500 ml, ABV 6% 18.9 SEK
I’m not going to be reviewing any of these beers this month but will be saving them up and revealing the most interesting 25 of them in BeerSweden’s Advent Beer Calendar 2011, starting live right here on December 1st (and hopefully making it all the way to December 25th). This year no expense is being spared and BeerSweden Trev is, with the help of his little elves, currently hard at work building our Christmas studio. Can’t say too much more right now but I can reveal there will be candles, there will be jingle bells, there will be silly hats, Ho-Ho-Hos and polyester Santa beards. Don’t miss it!






Beer Geek Brunch Weasel – an imperial porter brewed by Mikkeller at Nøgne-Ø in Norway using coffee containing the droppings of the weasel-like
Brewdog Paradox Isle of Arran – an imperial stout matured in selected Islay malt whisky casks. Expect this 10% ABV monster to be huge, with smoke, vanilla, chocolate and peaty notes.Not for the faint-hearted.
Fuller’s Vintage Ale – An annual classic that’s always worth waiting for. Some years it can be exceptional, other years ‘merely’ a great English strong ale. It’s worth buying more than one bottle so you can keep some in the cellar for a couple of years.
Hog Heaven is a robust barley wine beer from Avery Brewing Company in the USA with an insanely hoppy aroma and sweet, sweet caramel malts. Avery recommends cellaring this beer for up to three years. A real treat at the Christmas table when the cheese is passed around.
Norwegian Wood is an ale from Haandbryggeriet in Norway that is a throwback to a time when malts were fire-kilned and therefore beers traditionally tasted smokey. Flavoured with juniper berries too. Fascinating stuff.


