Throughout the years of doing this Beer Advent Calendar, there has only been one constant: Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale (also called Our Special Ale, and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year). It’s a nod both to the longevity of this brew as well as acknowledgement of it as an American OG special holiday beer, having been brewed every year since 1975 with a rotating recipe and label design, a template that many other American breweries follow to this day.

2021 is the 47th year that Anchor has released Christmas Ale, and the label features the Western Joshua Tree:

During Anchor’s seminal 125th anniversary year, the Anchor brew team, led by brewmaster Tom Riley, crafted a Christmas Ale that amplifies notes of rich, bittersweet chocolate with hints of raspberry and light mulling spices such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom. The dark, silky-smooth brew maintains last year’s 7% ABV. The 2021 label showcases a hand-crafted image of the iconic Western Joshua Tree, epitomizing the natural beauty of California’s high desert. A portion of sales from the 47th edition will benefit One Tree Planted, a non-profit dedicated to global reforestation planting millions of trees across 43 countries. (via The New School)

The Joshua tree symbolizes the winter solstice and the renewal that happens with each season, which makes it perfect for today’s Advent pick—the solstice.

So on this winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, lift a glass of this iconic Christmas beer to toast the changing of the season and the coming holidays.

Find Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• RateBeer
• Facebook

Image credits: Anchor’s Facebook page and The New School website.