On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, discover how to make the ultimate festive upgrade: rich, spiced mulled beer made at home with stout or porter – warmer, maltier, and more indulgent than mulled wine!
After walking around the Christmas markets in the crisp air, nothing beats a steaming mug of something spiced and comforting. Mulled wine and cider are the usual stars of the season, but there’s a delicious underdog that’s about to steal the show: mulled beer.
Rich stouts, porters, and sweet brown ales take beautifully to festive spices, creating a deeper, maltier, more indulgent winter warmer than traditional mulled wine. The best part? It’s incredibly easy (and fun) to make at home, so you can tweak it exactly to your taste.
With help from the team at Beavertown, here’s everything you need to know to create the perfect mulled beer this Christmas.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Mulled Beer at Home
Choose the Right Base Beer
The foundation is everything. You want beers that are rich, malty, full-bodied, and low in bitterness. Stouts, porters, sweet brown ales, or anything with notes of chocolate, caramel, nuts, honey, or fruit work brilliantly.
Avoid heavily hopped IPAs or anything bitter — the hops will clash with the spices and dominate the drink.
Try these:
→ Guinness Draught Stout Nitrosurge and Guinness Draught Nitrosurge Device
→ Newcastle Brown Ale
→ Sam Smith’s Chocolate Stout
→ Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale
Pick Your Festive Spices
Classic Christmas aromatics work wonders:
- Cinnamon sticks
- Star anise
- Whole cloves
- Fresh ginger slices
- Vanilla pods
- Orange or clementine peel (avoid the bitter white pith)
- A few cardamom pods or a pinch of nutmeg
Handy Amazon spice packs:
→ Mulled Wine & Cider Spice Sachets – works perfectly for beer too
→ Whole Cinnamon Sticks, Star Anise & Cloves Bundle
Optional Extras & Garnishes
- Dried cranberries, raisins, or sliced apple
- A tablespoon of honey or brown sugar if you like it sweeter
- A splash of dark rum, brandy, or whiskey for a proper kick (optional but highly recommended!)
- Dark spiced rum – perfect splash-in
The Method – Keep It Gentle
Pour 500–750 ml of your chosen beer into a saucepan.
If it’s carbonated, let it sit open for 10–15 minutes first so it goes flat — this helps you taste the true flavour and prevents too much foaming when heated.
Add your spices, orange peel, and any dried fruit.
Warm very gently over low heat. Do NOT boil — you’re aiming for a bare simmer (tiny bubbles just breaking the surface).
Simmer for 8–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat, taste, and adjust sweetness or add a splash of spirit.
Strain into heatproof glasses or mugs and garnish with a fresh orange slice or cinnamon stick.
Essential kit:
→ Heavy-bottom stainless steel saucepan
→ Set of Irish coffee glasses / heatproof mugs – look the part
Pro Tips for the Best Results
- Taste your beer flat and at room temperature before you start. If it tastes even slightly bitter, pick something else.
- Darker, richer beers = more chocolatey, warming result. Lighter brown ales + ginger = brighter, spicier vibe.
- Make a big batch and keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting — perfect for parties. → 4-litre slow cooker – ideal for keeping mulled beer gently warm all evening
Why Mulled Beer Beats Mulled Wine This Year
It’s richer, more interesting, and feels properly indulgent. Plus, because you’re starting with a beer that already has layers of chocolate, coffee, toffee, or fruit flavour, you need fewer added ingredients to make it taste incredible.
So this Christmas, skip the usual bottle of red and grab a few cans of stout or porter instead. Your guests will be seriously impressed — and you might just start a new family tradition.
Cheers to a malty, spiced, wonderfully different festive season!
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