Eat, DRINK & Be Merry: Our Favorite Holiday Beer & Wine

You've got your holiday food menu down, but what about the drinks? If you need pairing ideas or just want something new to pour in your glass, we've put together a list of the best beer, cider, and wine, to enjoy this holiday season.

Winter Ales & Ciders for Christmas & Thanksgiving

When it comes to choosing a beer for a winter holiday gathering, winter-style ales and cider are a great place to start. These beers are generally dark with a medium to high ABV.

kitten mittens beer

Kulshan Brewing Kitten Mittens

Aside from having an absolutely adorable name, Kulshan's Kitten Mittens is a medium-bodied, winter ale that'll compliment any holiday meal.

With subtle flavors of chocolate, dates, and figs, this 8% ABV beer features Apollo, Willamette, and Fuggle hops.

Boundary Bay Cabin Fever

If there was ever a year we need to embrace our cabin fever, it's 2021.

With a rich and malty flavor, this winter ale from Bellingham's Boundary Bay is made with water from the Lake Whatcom Watershed and features notes of light toffee, chocolate, and malt.

It's full-bodied, super smooth, and bound to warm you up, especially if you're enjoying it by the fire.

yonder palisades cider

Yonder Palisades Blackberry Sage Cider

Woman-owned and based in Wenatchee, Yonder is fairly new to the cider-making business, but we encourage you to give their blackberry sage cider a shot this holiday season.

A little tangy, a little tart, and full of that classic Washington State apple flavor, Palisades is a cider that's made up of fuji, Honeycrisp, Roxbury Russet, Dabinett, and a few other various red-fleshed apples.

The blackberries are Washington grown, too!

Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale

This limited edition winter ale features a full-body flavor that is bound to be a favorite among a variety of your guests.

With an ABV of 6% and a rich malty flavor, this beer is recommended to be served at 51° F, so you might want to skip the fridge altogether.

More Winter Ales to Consider

  • Boundary Bay Scotch Ale

  • pFreim Belgian Style Strong Blonde

  • Lindeman's Framboise Raspberry Lambic

  • Finnriver Forest Ginger Cider

  • Atwood Brewing Dark Harbor Oyster Stout

  • Pelican Bad Santa

Thanksgiving Wines

Gearing up for Turkey Day? Or pouting because there isn't one?

Whether you're having a small sit-down dinner or the family likes to gather around the TV to enjoy some football, we've got some wine recommendations that are sure to do the trick.

Our Beer & Wine expert hand-selected all of the wines listed below because they pair well with turkey, but if there's no bird in your future, they're still great for sipping!

la petite perriere wine

La Petite Perriere Pinot Noir (France)

Featuring aromas of blackberry and blueberry with a cherry-driven finish, this French Pinot Noir has a beautiful ruby color that looks gorgeous on the Thanksgiving table.

Made up of 100% pinot noir grapes, this wine has received a score of 88 points in Wine Spectator.

Lingot Martin Gamay Pet Nat (France)

Although the wines we’ve listed so far are red wine, that’s not to say that rosé isn’t fit for a holiday gathering!

This sparking rosé is dry with a fine light bubble, with flavors of red fruits and cotton candy. The dry finish of this wine provides just a hint of spice that’s warming and perfect on a cold winter night.

This bottle does a good job of balancing sugar with acidity to result in a refreshing drink that’s perfect for toasting.

gewurtztraminer wine

Villa Wolf Gewürztraminer (Germany)

Maybe you're looking for a wine to pair with your pumpkin pie. We've got it!

This German white wine is light and fruity with a juicy texture and a delicate aroma, perfect for pairing with a sweet and decadent slice of pie!

More Thanksgiving Wines to Consider

  • Jacques Bourguignon Pinot Noir (France)

  • Crous St Martin Chateanneuf Du Pape (France)

  • Dr Loosen Dry Riesling (Germany)

  • Locus Red Blend (WA)

More Holiday Wines

Whether you're enjoying a beef roast, a spiralized ham, or something vegetarian, we've got a holiday wine for that!

whidbey island cab franc wine

Whidbey Island Cab Franc (WA)

Pairs well with beef

This classic Carbernet Franc has aromas of violets and pencil shavings with contrasting bright flavors of blueberry, plum, and black currant.

Made up of grapes grown in Yakima Valley, this wine has a silky texture that's perfect to enjoy before or during your meal.

pike road pinot noir wine

Pike Road Pinot Noir (OR)

Pairs well with beef

With a lot of fruit up front and a dry finish, this pinot noir is grown locally in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Handpicked and hand-sorted before being Barrel-aged for 8 months, this wine is made from 100% Northern Willamette Valley fruit.

With a score of 91 points from Tasting Panel Magazine, Pike Road’s pinor noir is said to have scents of wild strawberries and sweet basil. It has a nice acidity and a sage finish.

Elqui Red Blend (Chile)

Pairs well with beef

This red blend from Chile is made up of 50% Carmenere, 26% Malbec, and 14% Syrah grape varietals, resulting in a deep and dark glass of wine.

With flavors of black currant and earth, spicy minerals, this is a rich and mouth-filling wine with a velvety finish.

briccotondo piemonte barbera wine

Briccotondo Piemonte Barbera (Italy)

Pairs well with beef, cured meats

Made of 100% Barbera grapes, this classic Italian wine scored 91 points in 2020 and features an aroma of black fruit including blackberries and plums.

This wine provides a crisp, fresh palate and has deep fruit flavors that pair well with both beef and cured meats alike.

Serve it alongside a full holiday meal, or as an accompaniment to starter plates or a charcuterie board.

More Holiday Wines to Consider

  • Moncaro Organic Nero D'avola (Sicily) — pairs well with beef

  • La Croix Belle Carignole Rose' (France) — pairs well with ham

  • Tread Lightly Pinotage (South Africa) — pairs well with ham

  • La Coline Lorieux Bourguell Cab Franc (France) — pairs well with beef

And just remember, if none of these beer or wine options sound interesting to you, swing by our wine department for even more suggestions! We'd be more than happy to help you find the perfect bottle to celebrate the holiday season.

And as our beer and wine department manager says, "I don't think there is any wrong beer or wine for any day of the year."

Leigha Staffenhagen