100 best winter warmer beers for the holiday season

With winter upon us, ‘tis the season for spending time indoors with family and friends—and for keeping warm with a few favorite libations. Chief among these are winter warmer beers; a distinctive class of malty, sweet brews marked by full-bodied flavor, deep and rich color (from brownish-red to black), and delightfully balanced overtones.

These robust brews celebrate the season with words in their names like “fireside,” “Christmas,” and “bonfire.” English varietals often come unspiced, while others carry traditional “wassail” flavors like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Stacker scoured the Beer Advocate to curate the 100 best winter warmer beers for this holiday season. For the purposes of this list, only winter warmer beers with 50 or more ratings were considered, and ties were broken by the number of rankings available. Check out this slideshow to see if you’re favorites are among it—and to find a few new varieties to try before spring.