# Barrel-Aged Christmas Ales This Deliciously Festive Beer Was Aged In Bourbon Barrels By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2023-12-31 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christmas-ales References: [brewbound](https://www.brewbound.com/news/great-lakes-brewing-co-announces-return-of-christmas-ale-launch-of-cookie-exchange-milk-stout) & [greatlakesbrewing](https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/christmasale30)  Great Lakes Brewing Company, a fully independent and employee-owned brewery that has been churning out delectable brews for over three decades, marked Christmas with the highly anticipated launch of its seasonal Christmas Ale in a barrel aged format. The [Barrel Aged](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackout-stout) Christmas Ale famously flew off the shelves with reckless abandon when it was made available in 2022, so there is absolutely no reason to believe that the 2023 edition will be any different for this deliciously festive beer, which was made available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans. Brewed with honey, ginger and cinnamon, this beer is full of tasting notes that point to the joy of the Christmas season. With a complex yet pleasing flavor profile that can well and truly be attributed to the aging process carried out in bourbon barrels, the Barrel Aged Christmas Ale makes for a fine way to enjoy the holidays. Image Credit: Great Lakes Brewing Company ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.2/10 - Popularity: 78% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 20% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Barrel-aged Christmas Ales:** Aging beer in bourbon barrels provides a complex flavor profile that enhances the festive experience. - **Seasonal Craft Beers:** Craft breweries are capitalizing on the demand for limited edition seasonal beers to attract customers. - **Employee-owned Breweries:** Independent breweries that are employee-owned are gaining popularity in the craft beer industry. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Craft Beer:** Craft breweries are experimenting with barrel aging techniques to create unique and flavorful beers. - **Seasonal Products:** The market for seasonal products, such as holiday-themed beers, provides opportunities for breweries to attract consumers. - **Employee Ownership:** Employee-owned breweries offer a sense of community and quality that resonates with consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Boozy Barrel-Aged Ales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrel-aged-ale.md) - [Limited-Edition Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackout-stout.md) - [Bourbon Barrel-Aged Brown Ales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brown-ales.md) - [Bold Bourbon Barrel Ales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bourbon-barrel-ale.md) - [Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bourbon-barrelaged-stout.md) - [Bourbon Barrel-Aged Porters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bourbon-barrelaged-porters.md) - [Festively Seasonal American Ales](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schlafly-christmas-ale.md) - [Bold Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrelaged-stout.md) - [Chocolate-Heavy Imperial Stouts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chocolateheavy-imperial-stout.md)