Best Beers for Christmas Dinner 2026: 8 Picks for the Feast

This guide is updated for the 2026 festive season.

Wine tends to get all the attention at Christmas dinner, but the right beer is a brilliant match for the feast, and often a better one. The meal covers a lot of ground, from lean turkey and sweet glazed ham to rich sides, a cheese board and pudding, so no single beer does it all. A small spread lets each part of the plate meet its match.

Below are eight beers tasted and rated for the site, chosen to cover the whole Christmas table. There are crisp, cutting options for the roast, a celebratory Belgian or two, and dark, rich beers for the cheese board and dessert. Every pick links to its full review and you can grab a case in a couple of taps.

Best Christmas Dinner Beers at a Glance

Beer	Style	Our rating	Best for
Chimay Blue (Grande Reserve)	Belgian Strong Dark Ale	4.8/5	Best with the cheese board
Duvel	Belgian Golden Strong Ale	4.7/5	Best celebratory pour
Ayinger Celebrator	Doppelbock	4.7/5	Best with rich sides
Guinness Draught	Stout	4.5/5	Best with dessert
Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout	Oatmeal Stout	4.5/5	Best after-dinner stout
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	Pale Ale	4.3/5	Best to cut a rich roast
New Belgium Fat Tire	Amber Ale	4.1/5	Best with glazed ham
Blue Moon Belgian White	Witbier	4.0/5	Best with turkey

Christmas dinner is a moving target: turkey, glazed ham, rich sides, a cheese board and pudding all want something different. The trick is a spread of beers, one to cut the fat, one to match the ham, a celebratory pour, and something dark for the cheese and dessert.

Chimay Blue (Grande Reserve)

A world-class Trappist ale and the star of the Christmas table. Rich dark fruit, spice and a warming strength make Chimay Blue magnificent with a cheese board, and it only improves as the meal goes on. The special-occasion bottle Christmas is made for. Read the full Chimay Blue (Grande Reserve) review.

Duvel

Bright, sparkling and deceptively strong, Duvel is the beer world’s answer to Champagne. Its lively carbonation and crisp, fruity finish reset the palate between rich courses, which makes it a brilliant celebratory pour to raise at the start of the meal. Read the full Duvel review.

Ayinger Celebrator

A rich, dark doppelbock loaded with toffee and dark-fruit malt that stands up to the heaviest parts of the meal: the goose fat roast potatoes, the pigs in blankets, the gravy. Smooth for its strength and deeply festive. A superb match for rich sides. Read the full Ayinger Celebrator review.

Guinness Draught

The roast, chocolate and coffee notes in a smooth pint of Guinness are a natural match for Christmas pudding, chocolate log and mince pies. It is rich enough to hold its own against dessert yet light enough at 4.2 percent to enjoy after a big meal. Read the full Guinness Draught review.

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout

Silky, smooth and gently chocolatey, this classic oatmeal stout is a lovely way to round off the meal. It has enough richness to work with pudding and enough restraint to sip on its own once the plates are cleared. An elegant after-dinner choice. Read the full Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout review.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

When the plate is loaded with fatty roast meat and buttery sides, this benchmark pale ale earns its place. Bright, piney hops slice through the richness and refresh the palate between mouthfuls, so the meal never feels heavy. The palate-cleanser of the table. Read the full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale review.

New Belgium Fat Tire

A balanced amber ale whose gentle biscuity malt is a lovely partner for a sweet, sticky glazed ham. It is easy, widely liked and not too strong, which makes it a friendly middle-of-the-table beer that suits the ham and much of the rest of the plate. Read the full New Belgium Fat Tire review.

Blue Moon Belgian White

Lean roast turkey wants a lighter, brighter beer, and this orange-and-coriander wheat beer fits perfectly. Its soft body and citrus lift complement the white meat without overpowering it, and it keeps the non-dark-beer guests at the table happy too. Read the full Blue Moon Belgian White review.

The Gear for a Beer-Friendly Christmas Table

Wine gets the glassware at Christmas, but beer deserves the same. These three help the beer look and taste its best at the table.

Christmas Dinner Beer FAQ

What beer goes best with Christmas dinner?

No single beer covers the whole plate, so a small spread works best. A crisp pale ale or a sparkling Duvel cuts through the rich roast, an amber ale suits glazed ham, a light wheat beer matches lean turkey, and a dark beer like Chimay Blue or Guinness is superb with the cheese board and dessert.

What beer goes with turkey?

A lighter, brighter beer works best with lean roast turkey. A wheat beer like Blue Moon adds citrus lift without overpowering the white meat, and a crisp pilsner or golden ale does a similar job. Save the heavy stouts for the cheese and pudding.

What beer pairs with Christmas pudding?

A stout is the classic match. The roast, chocolate and coffee notes in Guinness or a smooth oatmeal stout complement Christmas pudding, chocolate log and mince pies. A rich doppelbock also works well with sweet, fruity desserts.

Is beer or wine better with Christmas dinner?

Both work, but beer is a brilliant and often overlooked match. Its range of styles covers the whole meal, from crisp and cutting for the roast to rich and dark for the cheese and dessert, and the carbonation and lower strength can suit a long feast better than wine.