Belgian Christmas Beers 2026: History, Styles and Our Favorites

As the days grow shorter and the first frost arrives, the season for a very special type of beer begins in Belgium: Christmas beer. Dark, spicy, robust, and often with a little surprise in the glass. The new brews hit the shelves in October, and at TheCrafts.ch, we have selected them just for you.

What exactly is a Christmas beer?

The short answer: there is no official beer style. "Christmas beer" (Kerstbier in Dutch, bière de Noël in French) is a seasonal specialty created by a brewer for the festive season. Typical features include:

• Color: from amber and copper to deep ruby brown
• Strength: usually 6 to 10% ABV, a beer for savoring and sharing
• Aromas: caramel, dried fruits, spices like coriander, cinnamon, star anise, or licorice
• Character: round and warming, with the bitterness staying in the background

From Yule to Cuvée de Noël: a brief history of Christmas beers

1. Midwinter festivals and beer tradition

Long before Christianity, people in Northern and Central Europe celebrated the winter solstice with grand feasts, which included beer and mead. With Christianization, these customs were absorbed into the Christmas festival. Medieval Norwegian records indicate that legal provisions even required farmers to brew beer for Christmas. The festive beer was therefore not a luxury, but an obligation.

2. Monasteries and the art of strong beer

In Belgium, monasteries shaped the art of brewing for centuries. Monks brewed rich beers that could sustain them through fasting periods, and it was only natural to serve the best from the brew kettle on major feast days. This abbey tradition lives on today in brands like St-Feuillien, Corsendonk, or Gouden Carolus.

3. Brewing in the rhythm of the seasons

Without modern refrigeration, brewing was safer and more predictable in the colder months. Robust beers brewed in the autumn would mature until the holidays. This rhythm has been preserved in some breweries: Gouden Carolus Christmas, for example, is brewed as early as August and matures for several months before it reaches glasses in the winter.

4. Belgium in the 20th century: from household custom to specialty

As independent bottled beers, Christmas beers gained prominence in Belgium primarily in the 20th century. A pioneer is the St-Feuillien brewery in Le Roeulx, Hainaut. According to the brewery, its first Cuvée de Noël was brewed on July 20, 1969, the day of the first moon landing. A 2009 report by the Belgian newspaper La Libre describes it as a pioneer in Wallonia, with volumes accounting for around 10% of the total annual production. In 2001, according to the brewery, it was the first Belgian Christmas beer to be exported to Denmark. Since then, St-Feuillien has launched the Cuvée every year in October as the starting signal for the festive season.

5. Today: variety instead of rules

Modern brewers play with tradition: with Liège syrup, speculoos, whiskey, or six different herbs. This very variety is what makes Belgian Christmas beers so exciting, and it is the reason why it is worth trying several of them.

Overview of our 2026 Christmas beers

We have ordered the beers by strength, from light to robust. This way, you can quickly find the right one for yourself or as a gift.

Peak Christmas, 6.0%: the easy-drinking introduction

The Peak Blonde in festive form: speculoos is added directly during brewing, giving the beer a copper hue. Gentle spice, round and pleasantly light, ideal for those trying Christmas beer for the first time. View Peak Christmas (33 cl, CHF 4.20)

Noël from Brasserie Grain d'Orge, 7.2%: beer meets whiskey

An amber-colored Christmas beer infused with "Barley Grain" whiskey. For the curious who are looking beyond the classics. Pairs well with aged cheese or nuts. View Noël with whiskey refinement (CHF 5.90)

Satan Père Noël, 8.0%: the cult classic

Deep amber-red, caramel, dried fruits, and winter spices, top-fermented and bottle-conditioned. A beer with high recognition value. View Satan Père Noël (33 cl, CHF 4.20)

Corsendonk Christmas Ale, 8.5%: coriander and licorice

Red-brown, brewed from roasted specialty malts and rounded off with a hint of coriander. Spicy, dry finish. View Corsendonk Christmas Ale (33 cl, CHF 6.50)

Kompel Christmas, 8.5%: Liège syrup

A dark, warming beer from Limburg. The Liège syrup gives it a round, slightly sweet note; powerful but not heavy. View Kompel Christmas (33 cl, CHF 4.50)

La Binchoise Spéciale Noël, 9.0%: cinnamon and star anise

Amber-colored, unfiltered, and bottle-conditioned. Notes of caramel, cinnamon, licorice, and sweet orange on the nose, surprisingly light on the palate. View La Binchoise Spéciale Noël (33 cl, CHF 4.80)

St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël, 9.0%: the classic since 1969

Deep ruby brown, compact foam, and aromas of caramel, dried fruits, and spices. A recipe that has accompanied Christmas for over 50 years. View St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël (33 cl, CHF 4.90)

Gouden Carolus Christmas: the Imperial Brew

Brewed in August and aged for several months: six herbs and three hop varieties provide notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and licorice, with a hint of anise on the finish. View Gouden Carolus Christmas

You can also find all Christmas beers collected in our Christmas collection.

How to properly enjoy Christmas beer

• Temperature: not too cold; 8 to 12 °C brings out the aromas and spices best.
• Glassware: a goblet or tulip glass that concentrates the aromas.
• Pouring: For bottle-conditioned beers, pour slowly and either leave the sediment in the bottle or enjoy it intentionally.
• Storage: cool, dark, and upright.

What pairs well with it?

• Game, stews, and Belgian carbonnade for the robust, dark beers
• Wild mushrooms, terrines, and pâtés for beers with spicy notes
• Aged or pungent cheese for whiskey and herb-infused beers
• Chocolate cake, tiramisu, or crêpes for dessert

Which Christmas beer is right for whom?

• For beginners: Peak Christmas or Satan Père Noël
• For spice fans: La Binchoise Spéciale Noël or Corsendonk Christmas Ale
• For explorers: Noël with whiskey refinement or Kompel Christmas
• For connoisseurs and as a gift: St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël or Gouden Carolus Christmas

Would you like to try several varieties? With our 24 Belgian & Swiss rarities in the beer advent calendar, the pre-Christmas season becomes a journey of discovery.

Alcoholic beverages; sale only to persons aged 18 and over. Please enjoy responsibly.