Bell's Christmas Ale 6Pk

Bell's Christmas Ale 6Pk is a 7.5% ABV Scotch ale (wee heavy) from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. What separates this seasonal release from the crowded field of holiday beers is a notable absence: it contains no spices whatsoever, relying entirely on malt character for its warm, wintry complexity. The beer holds an 88 score on BeerAdvocate and has accumulated over 60,000 ratings on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Kalamazoo & Comstock, Michigan  |  Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy  |  Brewery: Bell's Brewery

Production & Heritage

Bell's Brewery, founded in 1985 by Larry Bell in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is one of the oldest craft breweries in the Midwest. Christmas Ale is brewed with 100% Michigan-grown barley that is custom malted by Briess Malting, paired with a blend of hops sourced from Michigan and the Pacific Northwest. The brewery's house ale yeast ferments the beer, and the recipe deliberately avoids cinnamon, nutmeg, or any other spice additions—every toasty, toffee-like note in the glass is the direct result of malt selection and kilning.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich toffee leads the nose, followed by toasted malt and bready yeast. Subtle dark fruit and a faint caramel sweetness round out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is chewy and malt-forward, delivering layers of caramel and treacle across the mid-palate. As the sip develops, toasted grain and soft toffee dominate, with earthy yeast undertones and a whisper of dark fruit adding depth. A gentle warmth from the 7.5% ABV emerges without becoming boozy.

Finish: Medium-long with a lightly bitter, dry close that balances the sweetness. Lingering notes of toasted malt and warm caramel fade gradually.

How to Drink Bell's Christmas Ale

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at around 50–55°F to let the malt complexity open fully; this is a beer designed for slow, contemplative drinking. While it shines on its own, the Scotch ale style also works well in beer cocktails: try a Boilermaker paired alongside a dram of bourbon, where the toffee notes in both drinks amplify each other; a Black Velvet variation, combining the ale half-and-half with dry sparkling cider for a festive holiday twist; or a Beer Flip, shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and a dash of nutmeg for a rich, nog-like wintertime drink.

Best For

• Holiday dinner pairings where you want malt richness without spice overload
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates traditional Scotch ales
• Fireside sipping on cold winter evenings as an alternative to heavy stouts
• Building a seasonal beer tasting flight alongside spiced and barrel-aged winter releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bell's Christmas Ale taste like? It delivers rich caramel, toffee, and toasted malt flavors with subtle dark fruit undertones, finishing dry and lightly bitter. Despite being a holiday seasonal, it contains no spices—all warmth and complexity come from the malt.

How does Bell's Christmas Ale compare to spiced winter warmers? Most holiday ales rely on additions like cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger for seasonal character, whereas Bell's Christmas Ale achieves its toasty, toffee-driven warmth entirely through its 100% Michigan-grown barley and custom malting process. This makes it a cleaner, more malt-focused alternative for drinkers who find spiced beers overpowering.

Is Bell's Christmas Ale good for sipping neat? Absolutely—poured into a tulip glass at cellar temperature, the layered malt profile reveals itself gradually, making it one of the more contemplative seasonal releases available. The 7.5% ABV provides warmth without heaviness.

Where is Bell's Christmas Ale made? Bell's Christmas Ale is brewed at Bell's Brewery, which operates facilities in Kalamazoo and Comstock, Michigan. The barley used in the recipe is grown exclusively in Michigan and custom malted by Briess Malting.

What foods pair well with Bell's Christmas Ale? Roasted lamb or beef benefits from the ale's caramel sweetness cutting through rich, savory fat. Aged cheddar or Gruyère mirrors the toffee notes. Pecan pie or sticky toffee pudding creates a harmonious malt-and-caramel echo. Smoked ham pairs naturally with the toasted grain character, and hearty stews or French onion soup match the beer's body and warmth.

What sizes does Bell's Christmas Ale come in? The standard retail format is a 6-pack of 12 oz bottles, which is the most widely distributed packaging for this seasonal release.

Is Bell's Christmas Ale worth the price? Bell's Christmas Ale positions as a mid-range craft seasonal, and the use of 100% Michigan-grown barley with custom malting places it a step above mass-produced holiday lagers in terms of ingredient quality and flavor complexity. Its 88 BeerAdvocate score reflects solid critical standing in the Scotch ale category.

Why Bell's Christmas Ale?

In a season flooded with cinnamon-bombed warmers and pumpkin-spiced everything, Bell's Christmas Ale takes the opposite approach: zero spice additions, total malt commitment. The decision to source 100% Michigan-grown barley and have it custom malted by Briess is not marketing window dressing—it directly produces the toffee, caramel, and toasted grain character that defines the beer. With over 60,000 Untappd check-ins and an 88 on BeerAdvocate, the reception has been consistently strong across multiple vintages. For drinkers who want a holiday beer that tastes like exceptional malt rather than a spice rack, this Scotch ale stands in a category nearly by itself.