Bell's Christmas Ale

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with rich caramel malt, a hint of dark fruit, and a mild earthy warmth. On the palate, expect toffee and bread crust up front, with a restrained sweetness that keeps it from feeling cloying, and just enough hop presence to balance. The body is full and slightly chewy, befitting the style. The finish is long, malt-forward, and gently warming — this is a beer built for slow drinking on cold nights.

About the Brewery

Bell's is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is one of the most established craft breweries in the Midwest, founded by Larry Bell in 1985. The brewery built its reputation on year-round anchors like Two Hearted Ale and Oberon, but its seasonal and limited releases have always drawn serious attention. Bell's tends toward well-balanced, ingredient-forward beers rather than chasing trends, and has maintained a strong regional identity even as it grew into national distribution.

Food Pairings

This beer's caramel malt depth pairs well with roasted meats like lamb or beef short ribs, where the richness mirrors the beer's own weight. A sharp aged cheddar cuts through the sweetness and highlights the malt complexity. Slow-cooked pork dishes with a slight sweetness — think pulled pork or glazed ham — echo the beer's toffee notes without fighting them. Dark chocolate desserts work too, since the bitterness in the chocolate provides contrast to the malt-forward finish.

Style Guide

Scotch Ale, often called Wee Heavy at higher strengths, is a malt-dominated style originating in Scotland where hops were historically expensive and scarce. The defining character is a deep caramel or toffee sweetness, sometimes accompanied by light smoke or dark fruit, with very low hop bitterness relative to its gravity. Stronger examples typically run from about 6.5% to over 10% ABV, with full body and noticeable warming alcohol. It differs from English ales in its near-total malt emphasis and from stouts in its lack of roasted grain character.