I can’t help but get Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” (as sung by Bing Crosby) stuck in my head every time I see today’s Advent beer: Samuel Adams White Christmas. Song aside (though it is a great one), the beer itself is, as the name suggests, a Belgian-styled Witbier, though instead of the usual coriander, the brewery opted for a more holiday spiciness.

Brewers have long brewed specialty beers for the season, often due to ingredient availability but also to celebrate. We wanted to create a crisper, quaffable beer for holiday celebrations. Thus, we began with a Belgian white ale but replaced the traditional coriander with familiar and warming holiday spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel to resulting in a festive brew destined to become a new holiday tradition.

It’s 5.8% abv and the style is a nice complement to many of the heavier and darker styles of the season. And if you find yourself waking up to a white Christmas—or even if you don’t—put on the song and enjoy a bottle or two of this to start off your holiday.

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