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A Nerd Cooks » Cocktails

Loaded Christmas Ale

Dec 2, 2015 · Modified: May 19, 2021 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This Loaded Christmas Ale cocktail tastes like pure Christmastime in a glass. But watch out! It's plenty potent. This will be your new go-to holiday drink.

Need more holiday cocktails? Try my Grinch Mimosa or festive Cranberry Gin and Tonic!

a loaded christmas ale on a wooden background
Jump to:
  • 🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • 💭 What is Loaded Christmas Ale?
  • 🍺 What does Christmas Ale taste like?
  • 📝 Ingredients
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a Loaded Christmas Ale
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 🔗 Other holiday drinks
  • ✨ Recipe

🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's easy to make. If you can pour a few ingredients into a glass, then you can make this drink!
It tastes like Christmas in a glass. Sweet, spicy, and oh-so-festive.
Its potent. Be careful, because this drink is pretty boozy!

💭 What is Loaded Christmas Ale?

Loaded Christmas Ale is a cocktail made up of vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur, and seasonal Christmas Ale beer. We'll talk through each of the ingredients in just a bit.

I'm not sure how to describe this drink other than to say that it tastes like Christmas in a glass.

🍺 What does Christmas Ale taste like?

Though the flavors may vary a bit, depending on which brewery you get your beer from, Christmas Ale generally has lots of honey, ginger, and cinnamon flavors.

Even though it's pretty dark in color, it isn't super heavy (like a stout or porter would be). 

📝 Ingredients

This cocktail only requires four ingredients, and one of those is a garnish.

ingredients for making loaded christmas ale
  • Vanilla vodka: I tend to reach for Smirnoff or Pinnacle vanilla flavored vodka. You don't need to go all out and use anything that's too top shelf.
  • Coffee liqueur: Kahlúa is probably the best known brand of coffee liqueur, but reach for whatever you prefer.
  • Christmas Ale: This recipe calls for one 12 ounce bottle of Christmas Ale. I used Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale, but have also used Great Lakes Brewing Co. Christmas Ale. Pick your favorite.
  • Cinnamon: A dusting of cinnamon on top of the head of the beer really drives home the Christmasy feel of this drink. And yes, I forgot to include the cinnamon in the picture. My bad.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a Loaded Christmas Ale

a glass with vanilla vodka and kahlua.

Step 1. You'll start out by pouring your vanilla vodka and coffee liqueur into the bottom of a pint glass.

a hand pouring beer into a glass.

Step 2. Next, pour the whole beer into the glass.

cinnamon being dusted onto the head of a beer.

Step 3. Finish it all off by dusting some cinnamon onto the foamy head of the beer.

❓ Recipe FAQs

What is Christmas Ale?

A Christmas Ale is an ale that is brewed for the winter holiday months. It's typically amber or darker in color. Though the flavors may vary a bit, depending on which brewery you get your beer from, Christmas Ale generally has lots of honey, ginger, and cinnamon flavors.

Can I make a bigger batch of these drinks?

You could, but I recommend making them individually.

What kind of Christmas Ale should I use?

Use whatever you prefer or whatever you can get your hands on. A number of breweries make a Christmas ale, including (but definitely not limited to): Great Lakes, Thirsty Dog, and Bell's.

When can I find Christmas Ale in stores?

Since this is a seasonal beer, Christmas Ale usually starts showing up on shelves in November, though sometimes you'll get lucky and see it in late October. November is a safer bet.

🔗 Other holiday drinks

Looking for other seasonal holiday drinks? You know I gotchu. Check out the links and photos below. Some are from my blog, some are from other fab bloggers.

  • two stemless champagne flutes rimmed with sugar and full of white christmas mimosas.
    White Christmas Mimosa
  • two short glasses rimmed with sugar and salt, full of white christmas margarita.
    White Christmas Margarita
  • two grinch mimosas in stemless champagne flutes.
    Grinch Mimosa
  • two copper mugs with cranberry moscow mules
    Cranberry Moscow Mule
  • Eggnog Martini from The Short Order Cook
  • White Christmas Margarita from The Healthful Ideas
  • Winter Aperol Spritz from Barley and Sage
a male hand holding a loaded christmas ale

I'd love to know what you thought of this recipe! Don't forget to leave a comment and ⭐️ star rating below!

✨ Recipe

a loaded christmas ale on a wooden background.

Loaded Christmas Ale

Lauren Pacek
This Loaded Christmas Ale is like pure Christmastime in a glass. But be careful, they're plenty potent!
No ratings yet!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Additional Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 2 minutes mins
Course Cocktails
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 459 kcal

Equipment

  • pint glasses
  • Cocktail jigger
  • dusting wand

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 ounces vanilla vodka
  • 1.5 ounces Kahlúa Liqueur
  • 12 ounces Christmas Ale see notes
  • ground cinnamon for dusting on top

Instructions
 

  • Pour the vodka and Kahlúa into a pint glass.
  • Top with cold Christmas Ale.
  • Dust the head of the beer with a bit of ground cinnamon.

Notes

  • A number of breweries make a Christmas Ale. A few examples include: Great Lakes, Breckenridge, Bell's Brewery, Thirsty Dog, etc.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 459kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 1gSodium: 21mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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I love it when you share my recipes!

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  1. cookingwithkacey

    December 02, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    This is totally going on my to make list!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

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