Christmas Ale First Pour event poster with festive train, event date Thursday Oct. 15, live entertainment schedule, carolers, brewnuts, and a winter clothing donation drive called Fill the Bus for the Sub Zero Mission.
Thursday – October 15, 2026

Christmas Ale First Pour 2026

It’s the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season in Cleveland! Join the tradition at Christmas Ale First Pour®. The first taste of the holiday seasonal classic taps exclusively at the GLBC brewpub on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Brewpub doors will open promptly at 11AM, with the first fresh keg of Christmas Ale tapped at 11:30AM after a special toast to the season. Read on to learn about our full seasonal lineup, find out how you can celebrate First Pour at Home, and enter for a chance to win a VIP Christmas Ale First Pour experience! 

Remember your ID! All guests must be 21 or older with a valid ID to purchase or consume alcohol. No ID, no alcohol. No exceptions. Reservations will not be accepted for First Pour, and tables will be available on a first-come, first served basis, with a three-hour limit. While supplies last.

2026 CHRISTMAS ALE FIRST POUR HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Cleveland Carolers (10AM)
  • Christmas Ale ceremonial keg delivery (11AM)
  • The First Pour of Christmas Ale (11:30AM)
  • Christmas Ale food specials (all day)
  • Brewnuts holiday donuts available (11:30AM, while supplies last)
  • Be the first to shop 2026 holiday merch
  • Photo opps

Entertainment:

  • 11AM – 1:30PM: Cats on Holiday
  • 2PM – 5PM: DJ Red-I
  • 6PM – 9PM: Apostle Jones

 

FIRST POUR WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE:
Help us fill the bus for Sub Zero Mission, an organization providing critical cold-weather and outreach supplies to those in need.

Sub Zero’s greatest needs are new or gently used:

  • Adult men’s winter boots
  • Adult men’s winter coats sized XL-5XL
  • Tents
  • Sleeping bags

They are also accepting adult men’s winter hats (not homemade), winter gloves, and new socks. Not attending but want to help make an impact? Shop the Sub Zero Mission wish list and donate online here.

GIFT SHOP HIGHLIGHTS:
Great Lakes holiday merch hits our gift shop first on First Pour Day so you can get a head start on your holiday gifting. Be the first to shop 2026 Great Lakes holiday merch, including collaborations with Homage and Emily Roggenburk!

Note: Christmas Ale will NOT be available for purchase in the gift shop during First Pour. See complete Christmas Ale release details below.

FIRST POUR AT HOME PACKAGES:
A limited number of Christmas Ale 1/6 bbl kegs will be available for purchase in our gift shop so you can host your own First Pour at home! You MUST make a reservation at the this link no later than October 10 to purchase a Christmas Ale keg. All reserved kegs must be picked up in person at the GLBC gift shop during your selected time slot on Thursday, October 15th. Unclaimed kegs will be made available for purchase to the public if not picked up within their time slot. Payment and valid photo ID are required at time of pick-up. All reservations must be made via the link. We are unable to accept orders over the phone or hold kegs. Keg pricing for a 1/6 bbl of Christmas Ale is $115 plus tax and $30 deposit (refundable). Keg pricing for a 1/6 bbl of Barrel Aged Christmas Ale is $195 plus tax and $30 deposit (refundable). Reserve your Christmas Ale keg here.

Promotional graphic for Great Lakes Christmas Ale First Pour 2026 kegs. Reservations are due by Oct. 10 for $115 to $195, with pickup on Oct. 15 at the gift shop.

WIN THE ULTIMATE FIRST POUR VIP EXPERIENCE*
Want to make your 2026 First Pour celebration extra special for yourself and your right-hand elf? Tell us who you’d share the First Pour with and why for a chance to win a First Pour VIP Experience including a private brewery tour, lunch for two, a “sleigh” full of GLBC holiday goodies, and VIP behind-the-bar access to the first taste of the season. *Contest closed October 1
Boxcar filled with red ornaments, You Could Be the First Pour VIP! text, and the Great Lakes Brewing Co. logo on a green plaid background.

OFFICIAL FIRST POUR PARTIES:
Can’t make it to Cleveland for the fun? We’re celebrating Christmas Ale First Pour in cities all over! Stay tuned to greatlakesbrewing.com/merrychristmasale for up-to-date listings of First Pour events near you, which will be added in the coming weeks and updated throughout the season.

CHRISTMAS ALE RELEASE DETAILS:
October 15: Christmas Ale draft-only release exclusively at the GLBC brewpub! Sorry, no growler or crowler fills on First Pour day. No reservations.
October 16: The first cans, bottles, and kegs of Christmas Ale will be available for purchase exclusively at the GLBC gift shop. Sorry, we are unable to hold or reserve any beer. Gift shop opens at 10AM.
October 19: Cans, bottles, and kegs of Christmas Ale will begin appearing throughout all GLBC markets.

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MORE UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS:
First Pour is just the beginning! Stay tuned for fun seasonal events including our already announced Christmas Ale VIP Brewery Experience Tours taking place select dates in October, November, andDecember.

NEW HOLIDAY PARTY PACK:
The Holiday Party Pack joins our seasonal lineup with a mix of four festive brews in a holiday party-themed package, perfect for celebrations. The Holiday Party Pack releases October 19 and includes three (3) cans of each:

  • Christmas Ale: the holiday classic, brewed with ginger, cinnamon, and honey; 7.5% ABV
  • Cran Orange Wheat: a Wheat Ale brewed with a medley of cranberry and orange; 5.5% ABV (also available in 6-packs)
  • Cookie Exchange Milk Stout: a rotating Milk Stout now exclusive to the Holiday Party Pack, with a Snickerdoodle-inspired flavor for 2026; 5.5% ABV
  • Snowscape Winter Lager: a NEW richly layered yet balanced Winter Lager; 6.0% ABV

A 12-pack box of Great Lakes Brewing Co. Holiday Party Pack features four festive beer cans: Christmas Ale, Cookie Exchange Milk Stout, Snowscape Winter Lager, and Cran Orange Wheat, against a blurred holiday background.

NEW SNOWSCAPE WINTER LAGER:
In addition to its inclusion in the Holiday Party Pack, Snowscape Winter Lager releases in draft, can 12-packs, and bottle 6-packs. The slightly dark 6.0% ABV lager brings smooth and layered flavors and a cozy lodge-inspired package to our winter lineup and lager legacy.

A 12-pack box and a can of Snowscape Winter Lager by Great Lakes Brewing Co. sit on a wooden barrel, with a festive, blurred background featuring string lights and greenery.
BARREL AGED CHRISTMAS ALE:
Barrel Aged Christmas Ale returns for a limited time in 16 oz. Can 4-Packs to make the season even brighter! Find it in the GLBC gift shop on Friday, October 16, and throughout our distribution footprint starting Monday, October 19.

MORE BARREL AGED TREATS COMING SOON:
Barrel Aged Blackout Stout returns in November for a limited time in 16 oz. can 4-packs. New this year, a Caramel Pecan variant of the beloved Imperial Stout also makes its way to our markets in 16 oz. can 4-packs alongside our classic legacy barrel aged offering for more holiday sipping and gifting. Caramel Pecan Blackout Stout balances rich caramel depth and toasted pecan character.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. holiday party pack and seven beer cans are displayed above Upcoming Beer Releases text, with festive and colorful designs.

 

Can’t Get Enough of Us?
Subscribe to our newsletter, Much Abrew, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates on all of our year-round, seasonal, and limited release beers. Keep up to date with brewpub releases and events at our brewpub Instagram.

Remember your ID! All guests must be 21 or older with a valid ID to purchase or consume alcohol. No ID, no alcohol. No exceptions. Reservations will not be accepted for First Pour, and tables will be available on a first-come, first served basis, with a three-hour limit. While supplies last.

Great Lakes Brewing Co.

2516 Market Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44113

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2167714404