The best beer advent calendars for the ultimate Christmas countdown
A beer a day to see you through to Christmas...
The days of chocolate advent calendars as your only option are long gone. You can now get 24 of almost anything to help you count down to the big day - as our best beer advent calendar guide proves.
With beer advent calendars, we’re not talking about a few basic lagers you'll find in the local convenience shop. Far from it. Many of the drinks inside are specially brewed for the calendar.
There's a lot to choose from too, unlike picking your favourite chocolate brand. Some offer a range of different styles, others are suited to those who like strong beer, and some come from breweries themselves.
We won’t spoil any of the beer line-ups here, but you can click the links to lists, where available, if you’d rather be sure what you’re buying. Otherwise you’ll be able to get an idea from this article and leave them a surprise.
A large crate of beer is 24 bottles or cans so it’s perfect for an advent calendar. They often sell before December so grab one while you can.
This shortlist gives you a head start on the best options. You can be safe in the knowledge as well that these have all been taste tested by the experts at ShortList.
Are you a beer fanatic? Vote on our shortlists of the best craft beer and best alcohol-free beer to have your say on the top brews.
Best Beer Advent Calendars
One of our favourite beer calendars is back again and better than ever starting with new packaging. It's bright and colourful with two large doors which open to reveal the 24 individual doors as well as a beery crossword. No spoilers here but inside you'll get 24 different beers with, as you'd expect, a wide range of styles from IPAs to sours, to big stouts and winter warmers.
There are 16x 440ml and 8x 330ml cans though trust us when we say not to underestimate those smaller cans. Siren has ensured no duplicates and there are even beers exclusive to the advent calendar as well as limited edition can designs and a bonus gift. And all of this comes at a lower price than if you were to buy the beers individually with delivery included as well.
Hailing from Sheffield, Abbeydale are a staple of the UK’s brewing scene and its advent calendar is one we always look out for. Included in the package are 24 different brews, all in 440ml cans and, for 2024, there's a fresh new look with the packaging.
You’ll get a combination of classics like Moonshine Pale Ale and Deception with some fantastic chocolate stouts and there's even a sour in there for good measure. When it comes to quality ales, this advent calendar is packed with them.
A gluten free version of the advent calendar is also available.
Beer advent calendars don’t have to mean drinking alcohol and Wise Bartender has a great option for anyone off the sauce this Christmas. You get 24 beers, a maximum 0.5% abv, in a range of styles including IPA, lagers, stouts and wheat beers.
Breweries featuring for 2024 include UNLTD, NuWave and Bristol Beer Factory.
You also get a December discount voucher included in the package, to spend in the online shop.
An ongoing project, this is essentially a subscription box, but there’s a special advent calendar option available.
This year there are no less than seven options for you so along with the main one, you can get editions for sours, lagers, wee cans, low and no, gluten free and Leith. And there's a Glasgow version of the subscription box, too, with both boxes helping out a number of charities with each sale.
Beer52 is one of the most popular beer subscription services around. Its advent calendar can be bought without a sub, and you get 24 beers to open in the run up to Christmas. Brewery wise, in the box are beers from from the likes of Turning Point, Thornbridge and Vault City. The design of the box is fantastic and the price makes this one of the more affordable options.
Beavertown has always designed fantastic cans for its beers and this advent calendar is just as quirky, going for a vertical tower look and feel. Open it up and there's a limited edition Xmas tumbler glass which is a nice touch. Beers wise, you get 20x 330ml Beers and 4x 440ml Beers. All your favourite Beavertown beers are included, as well as a couple of nice surprises.
One of the best value options on the market, Thornbridge’s advent calendar returns, containing 16x 440ml and 8x 330ml cans.
As usual, you can expect a range of strengths and styles and the Bakewell brewery has also thrown in some additional gifts putting the total value of the calendar at over £100.
We love that there is a 'refill' version of the advent calendar available, too. This is all the beers but not the packaging. This is because Thornbridge has made the box from fully recyclable and bio-degradable raw cardboard that it wants you to keep year after year.
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