Short’s Brewing National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Variety Pack is Here

Short’s Brewing National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Variety Pack

Short’s Brewing is getting into the holiday spirit with a beer release that should get the attention of anyone who has watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation more times than they can count. The Michigan brewery has teamed up with Warner Bros. Global Consumer Products to introduce a new National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Variety Pack, featuring four original beers inspired by the classic 1989 holiday comedy. This is not just another seasonal beer assortment with a few snowflakes on the packaging. Short’s has built the entire twelve-pack around recognizable moments from the movie, with individual beer names, custom illustrations, movie quotes and even timestamps that connect each can to a scene.

A pretty fun idea, actually.

The Short’s Brewing Christmas Vacation Variety Pack takes four different scenes and turns them into four different beer styles, giving this release a little more personality than the typical holiday mixed pack. There is a tropical fruit lager, a nut-brown ale, a sessionable IPA and a berry jam ale, so the brewery is clearly not trying to force every beer into a traditional winter or Christmas flavor profile. Instead, Short’s is using the movie as its starting point and letting the individual recipes go in their own directions. That makes sense for a comedy that has become a regular part of holiday viewing for generations of movie fans.

The collaboration with Warner Bros. Global Consumer Products also gives the project an official connection to the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation franchise, rather than simply borrowing the general idea of a holiday movie. According to Short’s marketing director Christa Brenner, narrowing the concepts down to four scenes was not easy because the brewery’s team had plenty of ideas. The staff eventually voted on the concepts, helping select four moments that would translate into recognizable beers and appeal to more than just the people involved in product development.

And the beer names are certainly familiar to anyone who knows the film. Bonus Check brings tropical fruit flavors from coconut, pineapple and orange, while That There’s an RV takes a darker route with a nut-brown ale featuring corn, chocolate, caramel and nutty flavors. Nine Lives is the hop-forward option, a refreshing and sessionable IPA with a spark of lemon, and Jelly of the Month rounds out the collection with a berry jam ale featuring strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry.

Four very different beers.

Each twelve-pack includes three cans of each beer, and the individual cans feature illustrations, movie quotes and timestamps that correspond with scenes from the film. That last detail is a nice touch because it gives fans something to look for while watching the movie, turning an ordinary holiday movie night into a little more of an interactive experience. It also makes the packaging part of the appeal, particularly for collectors and people who enjoy themed craft beer releases.

The Short’s Brewing National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Variety Pack is available now for a limited time in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Colorado, Florida and Nebraska. That is a reasonably broad distribution footprint, although anyone outside those states will need to keep an eye out for additional availability information rather than assume this is a nationwide release.

For Short’s Brewing, this is another opportunity to show how a regional craft brewery can bring a familiar entertainment property into the beer aisle without relying on one single flavor or beer style. The four-beer assortment offers something for different tastes, and the recognizable movie references should make it an easy conversation starter at holiday gatherings.

The timing is right, the concept is entertaining, and the variety pack gives Christmas Vacation fans a new way to celebrate one of their favorite holiday movies.

Just don’t forget the eggnog.

The complete announcement from Short’s Brewing follows below.

Looking for a fun, old-fashioned, family Christmas? Look no further than your nearest grocery store.

This season the minds behind Short’s Brewing have brought to life one of the most beloved holiday comedies of all time—in liquid form. The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Variety Pack features four brand-new beers inspired by the 1989 film. The Short’s team worked in partnership with Warner Bros. Global Consumer Products to create unique brews depicting their favorite scenes.

“It wasn’t easy to narrow down our ideas down to four scenes from the film since there are so many to choose from.” stated Christa Brenner, marketing director for the brewery. “We ended up polling our entire staff to make sure each idea resonated outside of our product development meetings.”

The variety pack features four brand-new beers with illustrations to match. The beers are a range of styles to suit a family of flavors, and each can features a quote from the film along with a timestamp so consumers can enjoy when they watch this holiday season. There are three of each beer in the twelve pack, perfect for any movie night.

The beers, inspired by the film, include:

“Bonus Check”: The antithesis to midwest winters: Tropical fruit lager, with coconut, pineapple, and orange flavors.

“That There’s an RV”: Nut-brown ale with corn that is roasty and toasty with chocolate, caramel, and nutty flavors.

“Nine Lives” IPA with a spark of lemon: sessionable, refreshing, and crushable with great hop flavor.

“Jelly of the Month”: Berry jam ale with enormous fruit flavors of strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry.

The variety pack is available now for a limited time in the following states: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Colorado, Florida, and Nebraska.

For more information on Short’s Brewing, visit www.shortsbrewing.com

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is available now on 4K UHD.

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Related news from mybeerbuzz.com:
Short’s Brewing has been keeping things interesting with creative specialty releases, experimental beer recipes and plenty of activity throughout Northern Michigan, and there is already some related Christmas Vacation coverage worth checking out. Take a look at our earlier story, Short’s Brewing That There’s An RV Nut Brown Ale With Corn and Jelly Of The Month Ale, which provided an early look at two of the beers now included in this holiday variety pack, along with our coverage of Short’s Brewing’s Local’s Light Cans and Upcoming Beer Releases, Short’s Brewing’s Distribution Expansion Into Five States, and Short’s Brewing’s Plans for a New Traverse City Location.

These stories offer a closer look at the brewery’s expanding beer portfolio, its distribution footprint and its continued investment in Northern Michigan, while the Christmas Vacation collaboration shows just how far Short’s is willing to take a creative beer concept.

About Short’s Brewing Company

Located in the heart of Northern Michigan, Joe Short opened the Short’s Brewing Pub in 2004 in Bellaire, Michigan. Short quickly made a name for himself by producing fearlessly creative, and wildly experimental brews, drawing folks from far and wide to experience his innovative libations. Driven by demand for their flagship IPA, Huma Lupa Licious, Short’s Brewing opened a production facility in neighboring Elk Rapids and began bottling products in 2009; a second year-round tap room was added to the location in 2021.

Today, Short’s Brewing is Michigan’s largest independent craft brewery and is known for products like Local’s Light American Lager, Huma Lupa Licious, Soft Parade Fruit Ale, and Thirst Mutilator Hop Water. Short’s is known for their commitment to community and supports many local and regional non-profit organizations like Paddle Antrim, Up North Pride, Glacial Hills, and the TART Trails Nakwema Trailway project.

The brewery is a proud supporter of Michigan music, and hosts family-friendly, free shows all summer at the Elk Rapids Pull Barn and in the Bellaire Beer Garden across from the Pub. Their third location in Traverse City, Michigan is expected to open summer 2027.

Short’s Brewing Company has become one of the most recognizable names in Michigan craft beer, building its reputation around creative recipes, unusual ingredients, independent thinking and a strong connection to Northern Michigan. Founded by Joe Short, the brewery began with a relatively modest idea: create a place where people could experience interesting beer, enjoy good food and become part of a local brewing community. What followed was the growth of one of Michigan’s best-known independent craft breweries.

The Short’s Brewing story officially began in 2002, when Joe Short registered the company as a business in Michigan. He was interested in producing beers that pushed beyond the conventional styles dominating much of the American beer market, and his approach was to experiment with ingredients, flavors and brewing techniques rather than limit the brewery to a predictable lineup.

That philosophy became apparent when Short’s Brewing opened its original pub in downtown Bellaire, Michigan, on April 26, 2004. The location was a renovated former hardware store in a small Northern Michigan community, not exactly the obvious place to launch a brewery that would eventually develop a substantial regional following. But the idea worked.

The original Bellaire Pub became the foundation of the company’s identity. It offered visitors an opportunity to experience unusual craft beers directly from the brewery, and Short’s quickly developed a following among people who appreciated its willingness to experiment. The company also placed an emphasis on food, live entertainment, local culture and creating a destination for visitors traveling throughout Northern Michigan.

Short’s Brewing became particularly well known for beers such as Huma Lupa Licious IPA, Soft Parade Fruit Rye Ale, Bellaire Brown and Local’s Light American Lager. These beers helped establish the brewery’s identity while demonstrating that its brewing program could cover everything from approachable everyday lagers to fruit-forward specialty ales and aggressively hopped IPAs.

Huma Lupa Licious became one of the brewery’s signature beers. The American IPA developed a loyal following through its hop character and strong connection to the Short’s brand, helping drive demand as the company expanded its production capabilities.

Soft Parade was another important release. This fruit-forward beer became recognizable for its berry character and distinctive approach to the traditional ale category. It also helped establish Short’s as a brewery willing to approach familiar beer styles from a different direction.

But the experimental brewing never stopped. Short’s developed beers using unusual ingredients and combinations, including specialty fruits, spices, herbs, vegetables and other additions that might not ordinarily find their way into a conventional craft beer recipe. Its Imperial Beer Series further demonstrated this approach, offering a collection of creative and often unusual beers that helped distinguish the brewery from other Michigan producers.

As demand increased, the original Bellaire brewpub eventually reached its production limits. Short’s needed a larger operation that could handle packaged beer and distribution while allowing the original location to continue brewing smaller batches and serving visitors.

In 2008, the company moved forward with plans for a production facility in neighboring Elk Rapids, Michigan. Brewing operations began there in 2009, allowing Short’s to expand its production volume and begin distributing bottles and kegs more widely throughout Michigan.

The Elk Rapids production brewery became an important part of the company’s growth. It allowed Short’s to maintain the creative character of its original pub while producing larger quantities of flagship beers for retail accounts, restaurants and bars. The company continued expanding its production capabilities as demand for its beers increased.

Short’s also developed additional beverage brands. Starcut Ciders was established in 2014, bringing a focus on Michigan apples and fruit-based cider production. The company later introduced Beaches Hard Seltzer in 2019, continuing its interest in experimenting with different beverage categories.

The brewery’s distribution footprint also grew beyond its original Northern Michigan base. Short’s gradually expanded into additional states, including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado and Florida, among others. This allowed more craft beer drinkers to discover its established brands and specialty releases.

In 2016, California-based Lagunitas Brewing Company acquired a minority ownership stake in Short’s, providing additional resources while the Michigan brewery continued operating under its established identity. The partnership was part of a period of growth for the company and helped support its expanding distribution network.

Short’s continued investing in its physical locations, including the opening of the Pull Barn in Elk Rapids in 2021. The year-round destination provides visitors with access to fresh Short’s beer, food, events and a place to experience the brewery outside the traditional production environment.

Community involvement has remained another important part of the company’s philosophy. Short’s supports local organizations, outdoor recreation, environmental initiatives and projects that benefit Northern Michigan communities. Its identity is closely tied to the region, and the brewery has continued to emphasize the importance of maintaining that connection as the business grows.

The brewery’s creative approach is also reflected in its packaging and marketing. Short’s has developed a recognizable style that often incorporates playful names, unusual artwork and concepts that make its beers stand out on retail shelves. That approach is particularly evident in limited releases and specialty collaborations, where the brewery has more room to experiment with both the recipe and the presentation.

The new National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Variety Pack is a good example of that philosophy. By working with Warner Bros. Global Consumer Products, Short’s has taken a familiar entertainment property and developed four separate beers around specific scenes from the movie. Rather than simply releasing one holiday-themed beer, the company created an entire assortment with different styles, flavors and custom illustrations.

Today, Short’s Brewing continues to produce a broad collection of craft beers, including flagship brands, seasonal offerings, experimental releases and specialty collaborations. Its original Bellaire Pub and Elk Rapids production facility remain central to the business, while the company continues exploring opportunities to connect with new customers and expand its presence.

For more information about Short’s Brewing, its beer portfolio, taproom locations, limited releases and upcoming events, visit the official Short’s Brewing Company website.

About Warner Bros. Global Consumer Products:    

Warner Bros. Global Consumer Products (WBGCP), part of Warner Bros. Revenue & Strategy division, extends the company’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBGCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim, and more.

With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, and promotional partnerships, WBGCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.   

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