What would the holiday season be without high-alcohol content beers? Bring a few along to Christmas dinner and tell the relatives you only see once a year what you really think. Because if they cry and you look like an ass, you can always blame it on the beer. 17-and-a-half percent? No wonder I got so drunk… that’s my bad. In any case, Don Russell has a new, unfortunately-titled book, Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest, Tastiest, and Most Unusual Holiday Brews, and he’s hosting a dinner to commemorate. It’s being held December 27th at the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and will feature 50 different seasonal selections from the book. It’s pretty pricey, as you’re going to spend $75 (or $90 at the door) for general admission or $125 ($150 at the door) for VIP tickets. GA has a buffet and samples of all the beers. VIP tickets get you a seated three-course meal and a wider range of selections. Everyone gets a copy of his book, too. So you can read along at your table while Mr. Sixpack reads it aloud during the “talk by Don Russel.” Sidenote: Russell rates Troegs’ Mad Elf as the best Christmas Beer, and we have to humbly agree. If you like strong beers, do try it. It’s brewed with cherries, honey, and chocolate malt and is 11% ABV. It manages to avoid tasting syrupy or like Vick’s and doesn’t have a thick booze taste, either. Seriously good.

First Annual Philly Christmas Beer Festival
December 23rd, 2008
Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 Spruce St
Philadelphia, PA
VIP 12:30pm-4pm
GA door 1pm-4pm
www.phillybeerfests.com