Brew a festive spiced red ale with rich toffee and caramel malt character warmed by cinnamon and allspice.
Makes 5 gallons of Holiday Ale
All-grain recipe designed for brewers with an all-grain system
Ready to drink in about 4 weeks
Spiced red ale with cinnamon and allspice, seasonal limited-time recipe
Crisp, clean, spice in focus
US-05 finishes driest here and ferments clean and neutral, so the allspice and cinnamon come through crisp and defined over the caramel malt rather than blending into sweetness. It ferments well around room temperature.
Ferment at 64-79°F
Attenuation 78-82%
Flocculation Medium
Clean and neutral
Clean and neutral, a little rounder
Flagship is a clean, neutral strain that leaves a touch more body than US-05, so the Caramel and Honey Malt feel a little rounder under the spice without the finish turning sweet. It takes its time dropping clear, which on an amber-colored beer hardly shows.
Ferment at 60-72°F
Attenuation 73-77%
Flocculation Low-Medium
Extremely clean
Nutty, and a natural with the spice
1272 brings a soft nuttiness that sits right alongside allspice and cinnamon, like the nuts in a holiday loaf, and it leaves more malt behind than US-05, so the beer feels fuller and warmer. It flocculates well and clears on its own.
Ferment at 60-72°F
Attenuation 72-76%
Flocculation Medium-High
Soft, nutty, clears clean
Rich, malty, and the fullest here
1968 leaves the most malt behind here, so the Caramel and Honey Malt finish rich and a little sweet, which turns this into a richer, more English take on a holiday ale with the spice riding on top. It adds a light English fruitiness and flocculates hard, so the beer clears fast.
Ferment at 64-72°F
Attenuation 67-71%
Flocculation High
Malty and sweet finishing
✅ Beginner-friendly with step-by-step brewing support
Flavor Profile & Beer Style
Holiday Ale is a malt-forward winter red ale designed to be warming, smooth, and easy to drink. Rich toffee and caramel malt notes are balanced by gentle hop bitterness from Northern Brewer hops, while Willamette hops add subtle floral aroma. Cinnamon and allspice contribute warm holiday spice character without overwhelming the base beer, creating a seasonal brew that feels festive but not overly sweet.
What’s Included in the Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Holiday Ale from scratch:
Briess 2-Row Base Malts
Briess Bonlander Munich 10L
Briess Caramel 80L
Briess Caramel 20L
Honey Malt (Gambrinus)
Northern Brewer Hops (bittering)
Willamette Hops (aroma)
Cinnamon and Allspice Blend
Your choice of yeast (dry yeast, liquid yeast, or no yeast if you have your own)
Step-by-step brewing instructions
Note: You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system. Brewing equipment is not included.
How the Brewing Process Works
Brewing your Holiday Ale allows flexibility in spice intensity:
Mash: Convert grain starches into fermentable sugars for a rich, malt-forward red ale base.
Sparge: Rinse the grains to collect sweet wort.
Boil: Add Northern Brewer hops for bittering. Add the cinnamon and allspice blend near the end of the boil for warm holiday spice character. Add Willamette hops at flameout for subtle aroma.
Ferment: Ferment with American ale yeast until clean and fully attenuated
Enjoy: Ready to drink in about 4 weeks from brew day to glass.
This all-grain Holiday Ale delivers a smooth, warming red ale with rich toffee malt character, gentle hop balance, and festive cinnamon and allspice warmth perfect for cold weather gatherings.
New to Liquid Yeast?
Liquid yeast can deliver excellent fermentation performance and a wider range of strain options, but it’s a living, perishable product that requires a little extra care.
Liquid yeast may arrive warm. Ice packs help reduce heat exposure but do not guarantee cold arrival.
Refrigerate it when received and plan to brew as soon as possible.
We recommend adding an insulated mailer + ice pack to liquid yeast orders.
During May–September, dry yeast is strongly recommended due to higher shipping temperatures.
Liquid yeast is final sale and cannot be replaced due to heat exposure during transit.
All-grain brewers with a mash system or all-grain brewing equipment
Fans of seasonal and spiced winter beers
Homebrewers who enjoy sharing beer during the holidays
Drinkers who prefer malt-forward styles with subtle spice
This batch is perfect for sharing with friends, pouring a festive, warming red ale at holiday gatherings and winter celebrations.r.
Holiday Ale Specs
Batch Size: 5 gallons ABV: ~5.6% Original Gravity: 1.055
Style: Spiced Red Ale Bitterness:moderate Color: Deep red Recommended Dry Yeast: Ale yeast (SafAle US-05)
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Holiday Ale - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
From $36.00
What You'll Brew
Holiday Ale (Spiced Winter Red Ale)
A malty red ale with toffee and caramel sweetness, gentle hop balance, and warm holiday spice from cinnamon and allspice. Smooth, comforting, and festive, this beer is designed for cold weather and cozy gatherings.
What's Inside the Holiday Ale - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Holiday Ale from scratch:
Briess 2-Row Base Malts
Briess Bonlander Munich 10L
Briess Caramel 80L
Briess Caramel 20L
Honey Malt (Gambrinus)
Northern Brewer Hops (bittering)
Willamette Hops (aroma)
Cinnamon and Allspice Blend
Your choice of yeast (dry yeast, liquid yeast, or no yeast if you have your own)
Step-by-step brewing instructions
Note: You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system. Brewing equipment is not included.
Make Your Next Batch with the Holiday Ale Beer Recipe Kit
Brewing your own Holiday Ale lets you control the spice level and create a beer that feels personal and seasonal. This kit teaches how to layer warming spices onto a balanced red ale base without overpowering the beer. It’s an ideal winter brew that’s as fun to make as it is to share.
Easy Steps to Making Holiday Ale Beer
Brewing 5 gallons of your favorite Holiday Ale is more rewarding than ever with our Holiday Ale 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit. With high-quality ingredients and simple steps, the process is straightforward and satisfying.
Make Your Beer Look As Good As It Tastes.
You brewed something worth showing off. Starting at $4.99, give your bottles the finishing touch with our beer labels. Perfect for sharing your latest batch, gifting a few, or stocking your fridge with pride. Shop matching labels
Before
After
Looking For Instructions?
Every all-grain kit comes with instructions to guide you through the brew day, fermentation and beyond. We provide recipe-specific tips tailored to your exact recipe, including mash temperature, fermentation timelines and more.
Does this Holiday Ale 5 Gallon kit include brewing equipment?
No. This is an ingredient-only recipe kit designed for brewers who already own a 5-gallon all-grain brewing setup.
How spicy is the Holiday Ale?
The spice level is balanced and subtle by default. Brewers can increase intensity by adjusting when and how the cinnamon and allspice are added during the brewing process.
Is this beer sweet?
No. While it has caramel and toffee malt character, the beer is balanced and not overly sweet. The hop bitterness and spice keep the finish clean.
How long does this beer take to brew?
Brew day takes about 4 to 5 hours. After about 2 weeks of fermentation, plus 2 weeks of bottle conditioning, your Holiday Ale will be ready to drink in about 4 weeks total.
Is this kit beginner-friendly?
This kit is intended for experienced brewers with all-grain equipment. If you are new to brewing, we recommend starting with one of our extract recipe kits.
Is this a seasonal beer?
Yes. Holiday Ale is a seasonal, limited-time recipe that is best enjoyed during the winter holiday season. It is well suited for gatherings, gift bottles, and cozy cold-weather drinking.
Not an All-Grain Brewer? Try the Extract Holiday Ale 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit
Our dry malt extract version of this recipe gives you the same classic Holiday Ale flavor with a simpler process. Perfect if you’re just starting out or want a quicker brew.
