Top 12+ must-try Christmas, holiday craft beers from Louisville breweries

Louisville's many craft breweries are getting into the holiday spirit, releasing a variety of seasonal beers just in time for Christmas.

You'll find a Christmas Ale at Gallant Fox Brewery, an Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels at Against the Grain Brewery, a Cream Ale at Hometown Brewing Company that is named after the classic Christmas movie, "Die Hard," and many more.

No matter your taste, there's something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.

Here are 12 holiday and winter beers to try at Louisville craft breweries this year:

Holiday, seasonal winter beers to try at Louisville breweries

3rd Turn Brewing

Seasonal beer: Hi Bank Vanilla Brown, ABV: 5.6%, Style: American Brown Ale

3rd Turn Brewing in Kentucky is releasing Hi Bank Vanilla Brown, a seasonal American Brown Ale, ahead of the 2025 holiday season. ABV: 5.6%

"The stream that runs through the property supplies the water for the area and is the very water that is the base for this beer," its description on the website states. "Brewed with noble hops and nice earthy tones, Hi Bank Brown is finished with copious amounts of vanilla."

The beer, which contains lactose, also comes in coffee and maple variations.

LOCATION: 10408 Watterson Trail, Louisville; 6300 Old LaGrange Road, Crestwood

HOURS: Jeffersontown: Tuesday-Wednesday, 4-10 p.m., Thursday, 3-10 p.m., Friday 3-11 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Crestwood: Wednesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday, 4-11 p.m., Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.

Against the Grain

Seasonal beer: Bo & Luke, Imperial Smoked Stout, ABV: 10%, Style: Imperial Stout

There’s nothing ordinary about Bo & Luke, a barrel-aged imperial smoked stout from Against The Grain Brewery. This big, bourbon barrel aged stout takes its cue from Kentucky’s favorite flavors — using barley, rye, corn, and beechwood-smoked malt to craft a rich, full-bodied stout that’s both bold and refined.

Bo & Luke is a barrel-aged imperial smoked stout from Against The Grain Brewery, which takes its cue from Kentucky’s favorite flavors — using barley, rye, corn, and beechwood-smoked malt to craft a rich, full-bodied stout that’s both bold and refined.

After brewing, it spent three months resting in 8-year-old Larrikin Bourbon Co. barrels. The result is a rich, complex stout layered with caramel, vanilla and baking-spice notes, and a subtle smokiness that nods to the state’s bourbon heritage. At 10% ABV, it’s as complex as it is smooth — a sipper built for slow winter evenings.

“Bo & Luke is an iconic Louisville beer. This year’s version is special, we recommend you grab a bottle of Larrikin Bourbon and enjoy these two delicious treats side by side. Trust me, It beats all you ever saw," said Against The Grain co-owner Sam J Cruz.

Earlier this year, Against the Grain announced it would be shuttering its location at Louisville Slugger Field, which it has operated for 14 years. The pub's last day of operations on Main Street will be Dec. 23. Be sure to stop by and get Bo & Luke in person while the downtown location is still open.

HOURS: Monday-Thursday, noon to 8 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.

Apocalypse Brew Works

Seasonal beer: Chocolate Mint Stout; ABV: 6.5%, Style: Stout; Seasonal beer: Dark Chocolate and Cherry Stout, ABV: 6.5%, Style: Stout

This holiday season, the team at Apocalypse Brew Works will have two different brews — a chocolate mint stout and a dark chocolate and cherry stout.

This holiday season, the team at Apocalypse Brew Works will have two different brews — a chocolate mint stout and a dark chocolate and cherry stout.

You'll find flavors of dark chocolate and a hint of caramel with a light touch of minty coolness for the first and the flavors of a chocolate covered cherry in the second, said head brewer Leah Dienes.

"A bit of roasty malts remind you of winter and bundling up for the weather," she added.

The seasonal brews are available in the taproom, known as the Fallout Shelter.

"We are also planning on having a new holiday hard cider, come and visit and see what's on tap," Dienes added.

HOURS: Monday 4-8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 4-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-10 p.m., and Sunday 2-8 p.m. Closed Tuesday.

Gallant Fox

Seasonal beer: "Sh*tter's Full Christmas Ale," ABV: 7.5%, Style: Christmas ale

This is the sixth annual release of Sh*tter's Full and every year it sells out. The beer, made with sweet orange, cinnamon, ginger, and honey, plays on the holiday nostalgia of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." 

Gallant Fox's Sh*tter's Full Christmas Ale is brewed with enough Sweet Orange, Honey, Ginger and Cinnamon to smack you in the face with holiday cheer.

This beer was named after a famous quote from the movie and gives customers great holiday memories and "feels," Gallant Fox co-founder Roger Huff previously told the Courier Journal.

The Christmas ale is available on draft in both taproom locations, and at other locations around the city.

"There's no better beer to pull out at your Christmas party ... Not only is the beer outstanding, but it really brings out the festive mood in everyone," Huff previously said.

HOURS: Hours vary by location

Hometown Brewing Company

Seasonal beer: Yippee-ki-yay Cream Ale, ABV: 4.7%, Style: Cream Ale

Hometown Brewing Company in Louisville, Ky., has released Yippee-ki-yay Cream Ale, just in time of the 2025 holiday season. ABV: 4.7%

The Yippee-ki-yay Cream Ale "is smooth enough to save you after a long night, yet bold enough to shout yippee-ki-yay at your taste buds, all wrapped in subtle malt sweetness, mellow bitterness, and crisp finish," the team said via e-mail.

This is the second "Die Hard" tribute brew the team at Hometown Brewing as made. And that's maybe because it's one of brewer Ellis Simpson's favorites.

“I’ll cling to this snowy cliff like John McClane on a fire hose, 'Die Hard' is a Christmas movie," said brewer Ellis Simpson.

The Cream Ale was brewed at Craft House Pizza Preston Highway, 4041 Preston Highway, and is available, while it lasts, at all Craft House Pizza locations.

HOURS: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Hop Atomica

Seasonal beer: Feliz Navi'quad  ABV: 14%, Style: Belgian Quadrupel Ale; Seasonal beer: BA S'mores Stout, ABV: . 6.5%, Style: Smoked Stout

A visit to Derby City Hops at Hop Atomica is twice as nice this holiday season as it debuts to barrel aged versions of some favorites this holiday season.

The Feliz Navi'quad from Derby City Hops at Hop Atomica in Louisville is a Belgian Quadrupel Ale that has been aging all year in 7 year Old Louisville Bourbon Co. barrels. It has notes of molasses, cherry, banana bread and pine. 14% ABV.

The first is the Feliz Navi'quad, a Belgian Quadrupel Ale that has been aging all year in seven-year Old Louisville Bourbon Co. barrels. It's "deceivingly strong," with notes of molasses, cherry, banana bread and pine, according to co-owner Kenneth Suchower.

The second is the BA S'mores Stout, a smoked stout brewed with marshmallow and aged all year in seven-year Old Louisville Bourbon Co. Barrels. This decadent stout ale blends soft smokey malt flavors and sweetness from the marshmallow and bourbon. This of it as a brew that is dessert-like, but not overly sweet.

"The inspiration came from acquiring some freshly dumped bourbon barrels at the beginning of this year which we were very excited to be able to experiment with," said Suchower. "We are still a new brewery and really wanted to get creative with some of the more popular beers from last year's winter and re-release them with an awesome upgrade — bourbon. We are in bourbon country after all."

HOURS: Monday-Wednesday, 12-9 p.m., Thursday, 12-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m., to 9 p.m.

Monnik Beer Company

Seasonal beer: Basic Bourbon Barrel Baltic Porter, ABV: 15%, Style: Porter

The seasonal beers at Monnik Beer Co., are cozy and full of flavor, especially the Basic Bourbon Barrel Baltic Porter, which sports a chocolate cream espresso nose with clean bittersweet cocoa and tannic oak on the finish, said co-owner Brian Holton.

The Basic Bourbon Barrel Baltic Porter at Monnik Beer Co., in Louisville, Ky., sports a chocolate cream espresso nose with clean bittersweet cocoa and tannic oak on the finish.

Available at Monnik on draft, in cans, and 750ml bottles, plus in select stores in four-packs of 12-ounce cans.

HOURS: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ten20 Brewery

Seasonal beer: Christmas Cookie, ABV: 7%, Style: Strong Ale

Ten20 Craft Brewery is putting a sweet spin on the holiday season with the release of its Christmas Cookie beer. ABV: 7%, Style: Strong Ale

Reminiscent of grandma's classic Christmas Cookie, this shortbread cookie-inspired Golden Strong Ale features savory notes of rosemary, vanilla, and orange peel. Catch it as a "perfect pairing" this holiday season at Ten20's taprooms in Butchertown and Anchorage alongside its cookie counterpart — an interactive tasting experience curated between the head brewer and culinary chef.

HOURS: hours vary by location

West Sixth Brewing

Seasonal beer: Base Layer Winter IPA, ABV: 7.2%, Style: IPA; Seasonal beer: Bourbon Barrel Christmas Ale, ABV: 11%, Style: Christmas Ale

Lexington-based West Sixth Brewing is releasing two winter beers just in time for the holiday season ― the Base Layer Winter IPA and a Bourbon Barrel Christmas Ale, aged in Bulleit bourbon barrels.

The Base Layer Winter IPA is the newest seasonal beer from West Sixth Brewing.

In the Base Layer Winter IPA, resinous hop aromas give way to a big biscuity caramel malt body and an assertive spicy bitterness with flavors of citrus, and pine. Here, you'll find a more malt-forward IPA balanced with strong wintery hop notes.

The team at West Sixth said it was inspired by old-school craft beer flavors and was looking to create something "totally different than our other IPAs," said Marketing and Creative Director Kelly Hieronymus.

This year, the West Sixth Christmas Ale was aged for a year in freshly dumped Bulleit bourbon barrels in collaboration with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey's Bulleit & Beer partnership.

West Sixth Brewing is releasing its Bourbon Barrel Christmas Ale, aged in Bulleit Bourbon Barrels, for the 2025 holiday season.

West Sixth has partnered with Bulleit on collab beers since 2021 and this is the second year for the extra sugar and spice Christmas rendition, Hieronymus said.

The 4-pack Christmas Ales are extremely limited, so look for them at West Sixth NuLu or at select retailers around Louisville. The Base Layer can also be found at West Sixth NuLu or retailers around the state.

HOURS: Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Reach Features and Business Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].