A Six-Pack of Christmas Horror Movies to Get You Through the Holidays (With Beer Pairings!)

A Six-Pack of Christmas Horror Movies to Get You Through the Holidays (With Beer Pairings!)

The holidays are a time for cozy nights, festive decorations, and… terror. This year, ditch the sugar cookies and eggnog for something darker: six spine-chilling Christmas horror films paired with craft beers to match their unique tones. Each pairing is designed to heighten your holiday dread with every sip, blending the festive with the frightful.

1. Better Watch Out

Beer Pairing: Winter Saison
Tasting Notes: A bold, effervescent brew with notes of clove, cinnamon, and a surprising kick of chili heat.

Mini-Review:
This twisted home invasion flick starts sweet before delivering a punch of malice that will knock you off your sleigh. Like the first sip of a deceptively spiced saison, Better Watch Out fools you into thinking it’s a cozy Christmas treat before its sinister undertones start to burn. The beer’s playful spice mirrors the film’s sharp wit, while its dry, peppery finish lingers as hauntingly as the movie’s shocking conclusion.

Perfect Pairing Moment: Sip your Naughty & Spicy Saison as the “babysitter” dynamic takes a devilish turn—you’ll need the heat to steel your nerves.

2. Silent Night, Deadly Night

Beer Pairing: Imperial Stout
Tasting Notes: Decadent and dark, this stout is rich with cocoa and roasted malts, finishing with a velvety bitterness that reminds you to be afraid of the dark.

Mini-Review:
A cult classic about a traumatized man turned murderous Santa, Silent Night, Deadly Night is as indulgently violent as this stout is indulgently decadent. The creamy body and blood-red hue of the brew echo the film’s sleazy yet satisfying gore, while its complex layers of sweetness and bitterness reflect the tragic backstory of its killer Claus.

Perfect Pairing Moment: Raise your glass during the infamous “Santa’s watching” montage and let the stout’s richness deepen the chill running down your spine.

3. Black Christmas (1974)

Beer Pairing: Belgian Ale
Tasting Notes: A dark, mysterious brew with notes of dried fruit, caramel, and an unsettlingly smoky undertone.

Mini-Review:
The godfather of slasher films, Black Christmas is as pioneering as it is unnerving. A Belgian Ale's layered flavors echo the film’s atmospheric dread, while the beer’s dark, lingering finish mirrors the movie’s refusal to tie up loose ends. With a touch of sweetness hiding behind its brooding facade, this pairing is a perfect match for a film that defined holiday horror.

Perfect Pairing Moment: Sip slowly as the chilling phone calls escalate, savoring the beer’s complexity as the tension mounts.

4. Violent Night

Beer Pairing: IPA
Tasting Notes: A hoppy, resinous brew with bursts of citrus and pine that pack a punch, much like Santa himself in this action-packed romp.

Mini-Review:
Violent Night reinvents Santa as a no-nonsense, butt-kicking hero, delivering equal parts holiday cheer and bloody brawls. The IPA complements this chaotic energy with its bold, in-your-face hoppiness. The brew’s piney aroma nods to Christmas trees, while its bitterness cuts through the movie’s over-the-top carnage.

Perfect Pairing Moment: Toast to St. Nick’s wildest fight scenes with a gulp of this high-octane brew—it’s as unrelenting as the action on screen.

5. Terrifier 3

Beer Pairing: Doppelbock
Tasting Notes: A malty, crimson-hued lager with dark fruit flavors and a sinister, smoky finish.

Mini-Review:
Art the Clown returns in Terrifier 3, bringing his signature blend of grotesque horror to the most wonderful time of the year. Doppelbock’s deep, blood-red hue and robust flavor profile pair perfectly with the film’s gory spectacle. The beer’s slight sweetness provides a fleeting sense of comfort before the smoky bitterness takes over, leaving you as unsettled as Art’s chilling grin.

Perfect Pairing Moment: Sip during the film’s most outrageous kill scenes—this beer is dark enough to match the carnage.

6. Christmas Bloody Christmas

Beer Pairing: Red Ale
Tasting Notes: A bold red ale with notes of cranberry, toasted malt, and a fiery ginger kick that refuses to play nice.

Mini-Review:
This grindhouse-style horror about a killer robot Santa rampaging through a small town is as unapologetically intense as Santa Slayer Red Ale. With a vibrant, blood-red hue and a sharp, spicy finish, this brew matches the film’s relentless pace and chaotic energy. The hints of cranberry add a festive twist to the destruction, while the ginger kick hits like a robot Santa’s punch.

Perfect Pairing Moment: Crack open a Santa Slayer during the movie’s climactic battle—it’s as bold and brash as the carnage on screen.

Final Toast

This holiday season, trade your usual festive fare for a six-pack of horror and hops. Whether you’re savoring the suspense of Black Christmas or reveling in the carnage of Terrifier 3, there’s a beer to match every scream. Cheers to a frightful holiday—and don’t forget to lock the doors. 🎄👻🍺

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