Until Barley's Christmas Ale was born, we stuck strictly to the essential ingredients of beer: malt, hops, water and yeast.

When it came time to brew Barley's Christmas Ale though, we drop everything we're doing, grab some chairs (and beers!) and sit around zesting oranges while we chat. We add them and fresh young ginger, whole cinammon sticks and organic honey to the brew. It's hard not to get cheerful when doing such a special task.

Barley's Christmas Ale has become a tradition around these parts. We have received many communications from fans around the country thanking us for brewing this classic.

Just a few snippets...

"Barley's Christmas Ale is the reason I come home for the holidays!" --Pittsburgh

"Drinking this ale puts a person into the festive spirit. My husband and I celebrated the holidays drinking this ale- now 9 months later, we have the outcome. :)" --Columbus

And this email that came in recently...

"Dear Barleys,

I owe you a long overdue thank you for your Christmas Ale. I've been coming there and getting my jugs filled with that delicious ale for several years now. I look forward all year to when your Christmas Ale returns. It has been a favorite brew of mine for many years. 

My holiday season officially starts at the moment I pour that first pint and take the first sip.

I usually leave a pint for Santa on Christmas Eve and awake to find the glass empty and a few extra treats in my stocking.

He's a big fan. Thanks again!"

Happy Holidays from everyone at Barleys.

Barley's Christmas Ale

Style Guidelines: Holiday Ale

Rotation Schedule: on tap at both locations the week before Thanksgiving, until we run out, usually between Christmas and New Years Eve.

Food Pairings: Thanksgiving dinner, pumpkin pie, standing rib roast, hard cheese, fruitcake, sugarplums

Body: medium

Color: amber

Grain: British pale and crystal

Bittering Hops: American Cascade

Finishing Hops: German Hallertau

Adjuncts: fresh orange zest, fresh white ginger, local buckwheat honey, whole cinammon sticks

Original Gravity: 1.066

IBUs (estimate): 14

Alcohol By Volume: 6.6%

First Tapped: November 1993

Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub Ale House No. 1xx 467 North High Street Columbus OH 43215

Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub Ale House No. 2 1130 Dublin Road Columbus OH 43215