Beers similar to Christmas Ale

Strong Ale·United Kingdom·7% ABV·One of 27 Strong Ales in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Christmas Ale's full-bodied and caramel character. Copper-coloured, smooth, fruity and full-bodied, with toffee and caramel aromas, Christmas fruits and spices. This seasonal ale weighs in at 7.0 % ABV and won Gold at the European Beer Challenge in 2026. It comes from a brewery that has been at work since 1996 beside a moated hall in Suffolk, and it exports to more than 20 countries.

Similar beers ranked by flavour match rather than popularity.Similar beers ranked by flavour, not popularity.

caramelfruityfull-bodied

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10 beers like Christmas Ale

Old Master Hen

Old Speckled Hen

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 7%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

87%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Alongside Christmas Ale on spiciness and richness: adds citrus notes, drops fruit notes.

What carries overcaramelfull-bodiedsmoothdark fruitsweet

Structure: very close

Compared to Christmas Aleberrycitrusyfruity

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

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Christmas Crackers

Spitting Feathers Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 5.8%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

81%

FLAVOUR MATCH

As with Christmas Ale, same fruit notes and spiciness; adds clove notes, a notch softer, no sweetness.

What carries overcaramelfruityspicyfull-bodiedsmooth

Structure: a notch softer

Compared to Christmas Aleclovesweetdark fruit

Structure: Very close — a touch less body, a touch less sweetness.

Structure: a notch softer

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Abbot Reserve

Greene King Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6.5%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

81%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Same sweetness and fruit notes as Christmas Ale, adds tropical notes, but without the caramel notes.

What carries overfruityfull-bodiedmaltyrichsweet

Structure: very close

Compared to Christmas Aletropicalbitterfloralcarameldark fruit

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

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Broadside Strong Original

Adnams Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6%

81%

MATCH

Mirrors Christmas Ale's fruit notes and sweetness — plus chocolate notes, a notch softer, minus spiciness.

Structure: a notch softer

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Dithmarscher Maibock

Dithmarscher Brauerei

Germany · Maibock · 6.8%

80%

MATCH

Like Christmas Ale on fruit notes and spiciness — adds hop character, but without the sweetness.

Structure: very close

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Strong Suffolk Dark Ale

Greene King Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 6%

79%

MATCH

A touch more oak notes, a notch softer, no sweetness — fruit notes and richness as with Christmas Ale.

Structure: a notch softer

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Marston's Owd Rodger

Marston's Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 7.4%

79%

MATCH

Keeps fruit notes and richness like Christmas Ale, adds dryness, drops sweetness.

Structure: very close

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Old Freddy Walker

Moor Beer Co.

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 7.3%

77%

MATCH

Shares richness and dark fruit notes with Christmas Ale; adds roasted notes, lighter-bodied, but drops fruit notes.

Structure: a touch lighter, less bitter

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Frank's Integrity

Hall & Woodhouse

United Kingdom · Strong Ale · 7%

77%

MATCH

Same richness and dark fruit notes as Christmas Ale, adds chocolate notes, but without the fruit notes.

Structure: very close

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Lorton Ale

Jennings Brewery

United Kingdom · Strong Imperial Ale · 8.4%

76%

MATCH

Stronger — same sweetness and spiciness as Christmas Ale, adds orange notes, a notch stronger, but without the fruit notes.

Structure: a notch stronger

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