Begyle Christmas Ale 4Pk

Begyle Christmas Ale 4Pk is a 7.0% ABV spiced winter warmer from Chicago's Begyle Brewing, sold as a four-pack. What distinguishes this seasonal release from the crowded field of holiday ales is its uncommon use of bay leaves alongside cinnamon and sassafras — an herbal twist that earned it an 85 score on BeerAdvocate and a 3.7 rating across more than 4,700 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.0%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Spiced Winter Warmer  |  Brewery: Begyle Brewing

Production & Heritage

Begyle Brewing operates out of Chicago's Ravenswood Industrial Corridor, a stretch of the city's North Side affectionately known as "Malt Row" for its concentration of craft breweries. The Christmas Ale is built on a foundation of European-style malts fermented with an American ale yeast, giving it a malty, bread-forward base that reads almost like an English old ale. The spice bill — bay leaves, cinnamon, and sassafras — is layered on top of that malt backbone, with the bay leaf addition being a deliberate departure from the ginger-nutmeg-allspice combinations that dominate the winter warmer category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Caramel and toasted malt lead, followed by warming cinnamon and a savory, herbal note from the bay leaf. Light peppercorn lingers beneath the spice.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-driven, with rich brown bread and caramel sweetness establishing the mid-palate. Cinnamon emerges alongside a subtle orange character, while the bay leaf weaves an earthy, herbaceous thread through the spice. The malt does the heavy lifting here, supporting the spices rather than competing with them.

Finish: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the finish lands slightly sweet with lingering caramel and a gentle fade of warm spice. It avoids the cloying sweetness that plagues many holiday ales, staying balanced and drinkable.

How to Drink Christmas Ale

Serve at cellar temperature — around 50°F — to let the spice aromatics open fully without muting the malt complexity. A tulip glass or snifter concentrates those bay leaf and cinnamon notes nicely.

• Hot Toddy Riff: Gently warm a pour and add a thin slice of orange — the ale's existing spice profile mimics a traditional toddy without needing additional seasoning.
• Beer Float: Pour over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a rich, dessert-style treat where the cinnamon and caramel shine.
• Shandy Variation: Mix with spiced apple cider at a 2:1 ratio for a sessionable autumn-to-winter crossover drink.

Best For

• Holiday dinner parties where a spiced ale replaces wine at the table
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who collects seasonal releases
• Fireside sipping on cold winter evenings
• Pairing with a Christmas or Thanksgiving spread

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Begyle Christmas Ale taste like? It drinks like a malty English-style ale layered with cinnamon, caramel, and a distinctive herbal note from bay leaves, finishing slightly sweet with moderate body.

How does Begyle Christmas Ale compare to Great Lakes Christmas Ale? Great Lakes Christmas Ale leans more heavily into gingerbread-cookie sweetness and pours lighter, while Begyle's version is darker, more bread-forward, and trades those baking-spice flavors for a more savory, herbal spice profile driven by bay leaf. Both sit at similar ABV ranges, but the Begyle expression rewards drinkers looking for something less conventional.

Is Begyle Christmas Ale good for sipping neat? Yes — at 7.0% ABV it is sessionable enough to enjoy across an evening yet complex enough to reward slow, attentive drinking, especially when served slightly below room temperature.

Where is Begyle Christmas Ale made? It is brewed at Begyle Brewing in the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor on Chicago's North Side, a neighborhood known as "Malt Row" for its dense cluster of independent craft breweries.

What foods pair well with Begyle Christmas Ale? Roasted turkey or ham benefits from the ale's malt sweetness and herbal spice. Sharp cheddar or aged Gouda complements the caramel notes. Gingerbread or spice cake echoes the cinnamon without overwhelming it. Roasted root vegetables mirror the earthy bay leaf character. Pecan pie bridges the malt sweetness and warm spice finish.

What sizes does Begyle Christmas Ale come in? It is available as a four-pack, which is the standard format for this seasonal release.

Is Begyle Christmas Ale worth the price? It positions as a craft seasonal release at a mid-range price point, and the distinctive bay leaf spice profile and solid malt backbone deliver genuine complexity that justifies its place among premium winter warmers.

Why Christmas Ale?

In a category flooded with gingerbread-forward holiday beers, Begyle's Christmas Ale carves out its own lane with bay leaves — a spice rarely seen in winter warmers. That single ingredient choice transforms what could be a predictable seasonal into something genuinely distinctive, adding an herbal depth that balances the expected cinnamon warmth. The European-style malt base gives the beer real structure, reading more like a contemplative English old ale than a sugary holiday novelty. With an 85 on BeerAdvocate and nearly 5,000 Untappd ratings confirming its consistency, this is a Chicago seasonal that has earned a loyal following for good reason.