The Last Word with Matt Cooper The Tastiest Beer To Enjoy This Christmas
Dec 9, 2025
Judith Boyle, a beverage lecturer at TU Dublin and beer expert, shares her top festive beer picks. She highlights a light and crisp Kölsch perfect for turkey, and a fruity Hazy IPA that complements rich holiday dishes. Judith also introduces a unique Earl Grey beer, a local honey braggot, and a malty winter fest lager with spices. Don’t miss the palate-cleansing Red Flanders ale and a shareable whisky barrel-aged cider. To top it off, she recommends a rich porter aged in rum barrels, making it an ideal dessert beer.
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Choose A Kölsch For Easy Drinking
- Try a Kölsch for Christmas dinner because it drinks like a crisp lager with ale-like fruity aromas.
- Buy one at around 4.8% ABV; it pairs well with turkey and costs about €3.50/£3.50.
Use Hazy IPA To Cut Through Rich Food
- Try a hazy IPA like Bullhouse Rolling Papers to cut through fatty Christmas dishes.
- Expect strong fruity aroma, grapefruit bitterness and about 5.5% ABV for around €3.95.
Tea Can Enhance Beer Flavour
- Brewing with tea (Earl Grey) adds floral notes and slight caffeine while enhancing hop aromas.
- That approach yields a darker, maltier beer with brioche-like malt backbone.