Prairie Artisan Christmas Bomb 12OZ

Prairie Artisan Christmas Bomb 12OZ is a 13% ABV imperial stout brewed with espresso, chocolate, ancho chile peppers, and Christmas spices. Scoring 92 points on BeerAdvocate across more than 2,000 ratings, this seasonal variant of Prairie's flagship Bomb! stout has earned a devoted following among craft beer enthusiasts for its layered complexity and deceptive drinkability.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13%  |  IBU: 65  |  Origin: Krebs, Oklahoma  |  Style: Spiced Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales

Production & Heritage

Prairie Artisan Ales operates out of Krebs, Oklahoma, and built its national reputation largely on the original Bomb! imperial stout. Christmas Bomb takes that base beer — a dense, full-bodied stout brewed with espresso beans, vanilla beans, chocolate, and ancho chile peppers — and layers in seasonal spices: cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The result is a limited seasonal release that amplifies the warmth and complexity of the original while steering it into distinctly holiday territory, with an IBU of 65 providing a firm bittering backbone against the residual sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The pour appears nearly black, revealing deep ruby red when held to light. Intense cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove rise first, followed by layers of vanilla, espresso, roasted malt, and medium caramel, with a subtle thread of chile heat lingering beneath.

Taste: The entry delivers rich dark chocolate and roasted malt, settling into a mid-palate of espresso, vanilla, and graham cracker with a nutty undertone. As the beer warms, cinnamon and baking spices assert themselves more fully, and ancho chile heat builds gradually toward the back of the palate without overwhelming the sweeter components.

Finish: Medium-full body gives way to a long, warming finish where the chile pepper spice emerges most clearly. Lingering notes of roast, caramel, and holiday spice persist, making each sip feel surprisingly layered for a beer that drinks well below its 13% ABV.

How to Drink Christmas Bomb

Christmas Bomb is best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a snifter or tulip glass that concentrates its aromatic complexity. Pouring it too cold mutes the spice character — let it warm slightly in the glass to unlock the full spectrum. For a decadent dessert serve, try a Stout Float by adding a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, which tempers the chile heat and amplifies the vanilla and chocolate. A Christmas Bomb Affogato — poured over a shot of fresh espresso and a small scoop of gelato — doubles down on the coffee character. It also works beautifully in a Beer Cocktail Flip, shaken with a whole egg, a barspoon of maple syrup, and a dash of Angostura bitters for a rich, frothy holiday nightcap.

Best For

• Holiday beer tastings and seasonal bottle shares
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward bold, high-ABV stouts
• After-dinner sipping on cold winter evenings as a dessert substitute
• Side-by-side comparisons with the original Bomb! to explore how Christmas spices transform the base beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Christmas Bomb taste like? Christmas Bomb delivers rich dark chocolate, espresso, and vanilla on a roasted malt backbone, with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger adding holiday warmth and ancho chile peppers contributing a slow, sneaky heat in the finish. Despite its 13% ABV, it drinks with surprising smoothness.

How does Christmas Bomb compare to Hardywood Christmas Morning? Both are high-ABV, spiced imperial stouts built for the holiday season, but Christmas Bomb leans heavily into ancho chile heat and espresso intensity, while Hardywood Christmas Morning is known for its gingerbread cookie character and coffee-forward profile. Christmas Bomb tends to finish drier and spicier, with more pronounced pepper warmth.

Is Christmas Bomb good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its complexity and full body make it ideal for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature. The interplay of chocolate, spice, and chile heat reveals new layers as the beer warms in the glass.

Where is Christmas Bomb made? Christmas Bomb is brewed by Prairie Artisan Ales in Krebs, Oklahoma. The brewery has become one of Oklahoma's most recognized craft producers, distributing its Bomb! family of stouts nationally as seasonal and limited releases.

What foods pair well with Christmas Bomb? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and espresso notes. Pecan pie mirrors the nutty, caramel sweetness. Barbecue brisket with a spicy rub echoes the ancho chile heat. Blue cheese balances the residual sweetness with sharp contrast. Gingerbread cookies reinforce the cinnamon-nutmeg spice profile.

What sizes does Christmas Bomb come in? Christmas Bomb is widely available in 12oz bottles, which is the standard single-serve format for this seasonal release.

Is Christmas Bomb worth the price? Christmas Bomb positions as a premium seasonal craft stout, and its 13% ABV, complex ingredient list, and 92-point BeerAdvocate score place it firmly in the upper tier of the spiced imperial stout category, delivering strong value for its class.

Why Christmas Bomb?

What separates Christmas Bomb from the crowded field of seasonal stouts is its foundation: the original Bomb! is already one of the most acclaimed American imperial stouts, and the addition of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg amplifies that proven recipe rather than masking it. The 92-point BeerAdvocate rating and more than 72,000 Untappd check-ins — with a 4.1 average — speak to consistent quality across multiple vintage years. The ancho chile pepper heat, a signature of the entire Bomb! lineup, gives Christmas Bomb a distinctive edge that separates it from sweeter, pastry-forward holiday stouts. For drinkers who want a seasonal beer that delivers genuine complexity rather than novelty, this remains one of the benchmarks.