Every year, many of Australia’s craft breweries release limited-edition brews for key celebratory occasions throughout the calendar year. These present a unique opportunity for retailers and venues looking to tailor their ranging to key holiday and festive occasions including Christmas, encouraging beer consumers to shop up to potentially more premium offerings within the category.
Here is a summary of some of the Christmas brews released by Australian independent breweries ahead of Christmas 2024.
Slow Lane Red Nosed Reinbeer Belgian Xmas Red
For 2024, Slow Lane has released a Belgian Christmas red ale directly inspired by the origins of Christmas beers in Belgium. In contrast to the now-popular Belgian Christmas ale styles mostly known today, most of the Christmas ales drunk in Belgian in the 1900s were imported Scotch Ales.
Slow Lane says they took particular inspiration from the Gordon Xmas Ale, which originated in Scotland in the 1930s and is still brewed in Belgium today. Expect Red Nosed Reinbeer to display a malty and rich profile, with spices and dark fruity flavours imparted from Belgian yeasts.
Slow Lane’s 2024 Christmas release has an abv of 8.8% and retails at $37 per 4-pack.
Working Title Xmas Scrooged '24 XMAS Variety Pack
After starting off as a gypsy brewery in 2021 ahead of opening their own brewpub in Newstead, Brisbane, in early 2023, Working Title has earned a reputation for producing experimental and unique brews that push the limit of the sector.
For this Christmas, Working Title released four unique Christmas brews as part of its Scrooged ‘24 Christmas mixed pack.
First in the lineup is the Hive Sparkling Mead, which was made using locally sourced honey infused with passionfruit, strawberry, blueberry, and lactose, and canned at 5%.
Next, the 6% All is Bright Toasted Native Pine Cali IPA features dense pine and resin flavours, balanced with subtle caramelised marshmallow and a mix of sandalwood-esque spices.
Third is the Angel’s Share Shiraz Barrel Aged Belgian Tripel. Canned at 9%, the Tripel is entirely barrel-fermented, resulting in rich, fruity Belgian yeast notes with soft berries and a dry oaked finish.
Totally Baked, the final beer in the pack, is a 11% Speculaas Triple Red Ale, and is described as biscoff in a glass.
Collectively, the four 500ml limited-edition cans retail at $55. Only extremely limited quantities were made.
Red Hill Brewery Christmas Ale 2024
Mornington Peninsula’s Red Hill Brewery has unveiled its annual Christmas brew. A strong Belgian abbey styled ale, the Red Hill Christmas Ale 2024 underwent a long maturation process and dry-hopping using Hallertauer & Tettnanger hop flowers, resulting in a strong spicy hop aroma balanced by a deep malty finish.
Red Hill Christmas Ale 2024 was bottled at 8.3% abv in 330ml bottles and retails at $55 per 8-pack and $158 per case of 24.
Fox Friday All The Trimmings
A brewery that has undergone rapid expansion over recent years, this Christmas release was brewed at Fox Friday’s third and most-recently opened Perth taproom.
A West Coast IPA hopped with Cryo Mosaic, El Dorado, Azacca and Simcoe, All the Trimmings is canned at an abv of 7.4% and retails at $13.50 per 440ml can.
Sunday Road Cherry Sour
Located in southern Sydney’s Kirrawee, Sunday Road has released a Christmas-themed Cherry Sour ahead of the upcoming festive season. Pitched as a relatively simple-styled sour, expect a refreshing sour ale with a dash of cherry flavour bottled at 4.8%.
Made in small batches, Cherry Sour retails for around $10 per can.
Share the content
