Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale Leads Fresh Holiday Lineup

Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale New Holiday Party Pack, Snowscape Winter Lager, Caramel Pecan BA Blackout Stout Join

The holiday beer season is officially taking shape, and Great Lakes Brewing Co. is bringing a substantial lineup of returning favorites and new seasonal releases to the 2026 celebration. The Cleveland brewery is once again putting its iconic Christmas Ale at the center of the holiday calendar while expanding the lineup with new ways for beer fans to experience the season.

This year’s Great Lakes holiday collection includes the debut of the Holiday Party Pack and Snowscape Winter Lager, alongside returning favorites such as Barrel Aged Christmas Ale and Barrel Aged Blackout Stout. The brewery is also adding a new Barrel Aged Caramel Pecan Blackout Stout, giving fans another rich, dessert-inspired option for holiday gatherings, winter beer releases and seasonal gifting.

The holiday season officially begins at the brewery with the annual Christmas Ale First Pour on October 15, followed by broader releases beginning October 19. With Christmas Ale, Cookie Exchange Milk Stout, Cran Orange Wheat, Snowscape Winter Lager and several barrel-aged offerings, Great Lakes Brewing Co. is giving its 2026 winter lineup plenty of variety while continuing a holiday tradition that has become closely associated with the Cleveland brewery.

Here are the complete details from Great Lakes Brewing Co. on its 2026 holiday beer lineup:

CLEVELAND, Sept. 23, 2026 – Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC) announces its full holiday lineup anchored by bestselling Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale, along with new Holiday Party Pack and Snowscape Winter Lager, plus returning Barrel Aged Christmas Ale and Barrel Aged Blackout Stout, and new Barrel Aged Caramel Pecan Blackout Stout.

The Holiday Classic Returns
Great Lakes’ iconic Christmas Ale returns for another season of holiday traditions, delivering the classic ginger, cinnamon, and honey flavor profile that’s delighted beer drinkers for more than 30 years. GLBC gifts Christmas Ale to all markets in draft, bottles, cans, and in the new Holiday Party Pack beginning October 19, following its Christmas Ale First Pour event on October 15 at the Ohio City brewpub.

Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale remains a top seller in GLBC’s portfolio, even with a short seasonal window. In 2025 Great lakes Brewing Christmas Ale was the #1 Winter Seasonal in Midwest Food, and the #3 Winter Seasonal in Total US Food, despite its regional distribution (Nielsen).

Holiday Party Pack Debuts
Following the success of GLBC’s 2026 Party Pack series, the Holiday Party Pack joins the seasonal lineup with a mix of four festive brews in a holiday party-themed package, perfect for celebratory sharing:

• Great Lakes Brewing Christmas Ale: the holiday classic, brewed with ginger, cinnamon, and honey; 7.5% ABV
• Cran Orange Wheat: a wheat ale brewed with a medley of cranberry and orange; 5.5% ABV (also available in 6-packs).
• Cookie Exchange Milk Stout: a rotating Milk Stout now exclusive to the Holiday Party Pack, this year with a Snickerdoodle-inspired flavor; 5.5% ABV
• Snowscape Winter Lager: a NEW richly layered yet balanced Winter Lager; 6.0% ABV

The Holiday Party Pack includes three (3) cans of each, and releases beginning October 19.

Snowscape Winter Lager Nestles Into the Lineup
In addition to its inclusion in the Holiday Party Pack, Snowscape Winter Lager releases in draft, can 12-packs, and bottle 6-packs. The slightly dark 6.0% ABV lager brings smooth and layered flavors and a cozy lodge-inspired package to GLBC’s winter lineup, carrying on the brewery’s lager legacy and seasonal strength. In 2025 the Great Lakes Winter Seasonal Offerings grew dollar share by 9.6%, and held three of the top 10 spots in both Total US and Midwest Food (Nielsen).

GLBC’s Barrel Aging Program Gifts Favorites, Fresh Flavor
GLBC’s barrel aging program sees the return of two fan favorites and a newcomer. Barrel Aged Christmas Ale arrives alongside Christmas Ale for a limited time in 16 oz. can 4-packs beginning October 19. Barrel Aged Blackout Stout, the brewery’s cult classic Imperial Stout, hits the market for a limited time in November.

The rich, 12.5% ABV Stout releases in 16 oz. can 4-packs, and with it comes a new flavored variant:  Barrel Aged Caramel Pecan Blackout Stout. This 11.4% ABV take on the original adds rich caramel depth and toasted pecan character to its beloved base brew. Both release beginning November 16 so customers can taste them side-by-side and gift them for the holidays.

Great lakes brewing Christmas Ale First Pour at the Great Lakes Brewpub

Great Lakes Brewing Co. hosts its popular Christmas Ale First Pour® party Thursday, October 15. The brewery’s annual flagship event includes the first taste of Christmas Ale before its wider market release, holiday music and food specials all day long, a winter clothing drive, limited edition merch collaborations with Ohio’s Homage and Emily Roggenburk, and more.

The brewery’s annual First Pour VIP Contest gives one lucky fan the chance to win a private brewery tour, swag, and exclusive access at the event. Additional prizes will be awarded throughout the season. Contest info, recipes, details on regional Christmas Ale events, and more at: greatlakesbrewing.com/merrychristmasale

Related Great Lakes Brewing Co. coverage on MyBeerBuzz:.com MyBeerBuzz has followed Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s holiday releases extensively, including the 2024 Great Lakes Christmas Ale seasonal lineup, the 2025 Christmas Ale First Pour announcement, and the brewery’s 2025 Florida Christmas Ale launch. Recent coverage also includes the 2026 Great Lakes Barrel Aged Caramel Pecan Blackout Stout and Snowscape Winter Lager announcement, giving readers additional background on the new winter releases featured in this year’s holiday lineup.

About Great Lakes Brewing Co. Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC) is Ohio’s original craft brewery, founded in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio. GLBC is independent and employee-owned and serves 20 states and Washington, D.C. with its award-winning portfolio of fresh, flavorful, and innovative crafted beverages including Midwest IPA, Dortmunder Gold® Lager, Eliot Ness® Amber Lager, and a robust selection of seasonal and limited release offerings. Learn more at greatlakesbrewing.com.

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