This may be the best Christmas present for a beer lover … ever, at least in terms of its connection to the season. Christmas Beer, or the full title, which is “Wishing You a Merry Christmas Beer, The Cheeriest, Tastiest and Most Unusual Holiday Brews, is all about beer for the holidays. Lavishly illustrated with more holiday beers than you knew even existed, author Don Russell — better known to the world as Philadelphia beer columnist “Joe Sixpack” — recounts tale after tale of the traditions and history that made holiday beers so special. There are also recipes, trivia and Russell’s list of the “World’s 50 Best Christmas Beers.”
Published by Rizzoli Books with a list price of $19.95 in the U.S. ($22.95 in Canada), you can order one at Amazon right now for $13.57, a savings of 32%. Pick one up for yourself and all the beer lovers on your shopping list. The book is even small enough to fit in the average Christmas stocking. In the interest of full disclosure, Don is a friend of mine and a crack card player. But this book is so much fun, that I’d give it my highest recommendation even if that weren’t the case.