2021 Beer Advent Calendar – not just beer this year
If you’ve been here before, you know that in 2019 we decided to make our own beer advent calendars. This was after being underwhelmed by the the others we’ve purchased or seen. Here we have tddhe Grecobon 2021 Beer Advent Calendar.
Acquiring Said Beverages
This year we purchased all of our drinks from Total Wine & More and Barons Market (a Southern California store chain). A few of my beers came from our Beer Club Membership with Lazy Dog Restaurant. They were part of a series focusing on Greek Mythology. We get a new themed 8 pack (4 beers 2 of each) quarterly. I figured it was an easy way to incorporate some of these in without spending extra money. I also strayed from beer a few days as well with some wines and hard seltzers.
Assembly & Labeling
Happy with the shipping tubes we used last year, we ordered another set. This was so we would each have our own box to open every day. They’re fairly easy to put together, just monotonous. I remembered I had the shipping box and product box from my Cricut Maker. The shipping tubes fit 24 perfectly. We saved a 25th for the top of the box and that worked out just fine.
Order shipping tubes for your own Beer Advent Calendar.
For labeling, I created 25 holiday images using Canva. One image also had each of our names on it. The files were sent to Staples for printing and they did a fantastic job!
Before creating, I made sure to measure the top of the tubes so that each image would fit perfectly. A glue stick and tape are sufficient to adhere the labels to the box. You could also have them printed on sticker paper if you want.
To keep everything a surprise, we filled each other’s calendars and then arranged the boxes in a random order. The Christmas night drinks got our name images on the side and sat nicely on top of the box. Can you spot which dates we put in the same spot in each other’s calendar?
2021 Beer Advent Calendar Stats:
- Beers – 41
- Hard Seltzers – 2
- Wines – 6
- Hard Ciders – 1
- Highest Ranked
- Lora – 5/5: Chronic Cellars from San Miguel, California. I tried their Rose which I found delightful.
- Matt – 5/5: Mikkeller Brewing located in San Diego, California – their Game of Thrones Night King Imperial/Double New England IPA. I giggled a little with this. Matt is one of the few people on the planet who doesn’t know who the Night King is. He refuses to watch a second of Game of Thrones.
Be sure to follow us on Untappd to track your beers and maybe find some new beers!
Without further ado, I present to you the:
2021 Beer Advent Calendar
In each photo, Matt’s drinks are on the left and listed first. My drinks are on the right and listed second. We did not rate each of each others drinks, most but not all.
December 1-3
December 1
Matt’s Beer: Bad Boy Imperial/DIPA | Alpine Beer Company – San Diego, California, USA | 9% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.5/5
Lora’s Beer: Demeter Kuitbier Ale | Church Street Brewing – Itasca, Illinois, USA & Melvin Brewing – Alpine, Wyoming, USA | 5.9% ABV | Part of our Lazy Dog Beer Club Membership | Lora’s Rating: 4.25/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3/5
December 2
Matt’s Beer: Pacific Coast Hazy IPA | Hangar 24 – Redlands, California, USA | 4.8% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.75/5
Lora’s Beer: Quirk Pear Yuzu Hard Seltzer | Boulevard Brewing – Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 4.2% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 4.25/5 | Matt’s Rating 2.5/5
December 3
Matt’s Beer: Guavaaah! American Pale Ale | Aftershock Brewing Company – Temecula, California, USA | 5.6% ABV | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
Lora’s Beer: Old Jubilation Old Ale | Avery Brewing – Boulder, Colorado, USA | 8.3% ABV 45 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 4.25/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
December 4-6
December 4
Matt’s Beer: The Blue IPA American IPA | Captain Fatty’s Brewery – Goleta, California, USA | 7.6% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
Lora’s Beer: L’Autentica Ricetta Originale Pale Lager | Birra Moretti – Italy | 4.6% ABV 12 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3/5 | Matt’s Rating: 2.75/5
December 5
Matt’s Beer: Passion Pool Gose Beer | Mikkeller Brewing – San Diego, California, USA | 4.5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
Lora’s Drink: La Vostra Prosecco | Viticoltori Ponte – Veneto, Italy | 11% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 4.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 2/5
December 6
Matt’s Beer: Hopmata American IPA | Burning Beard Brewing – El Cajon, California, USA | 7% ABV | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
Lora’s Drink: Rose | Chronic Cellars – San Miguel, California, USA | 12.5% ABV | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
December 7-9
December 7
Matt’s Beer: Sabre Toothed Squirrel Red Ale | Smog City Brewing – Torrance, California, USA | 7% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Beer: The Journeyman Imperial Porter | Virginia Beer Company – Williamsburg, Virginia, USA & Melvin Brewing – Alpine, Wyoming, USA | 8% ABV 36 IBU | Part of our Lazy Dog Beer Club Membership | Lora’s Rating: 4.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.75/5
December 8
Matt’s Beer: Magnetic Midnight – California Black Lager | Seismic Brewing Company – Santa Rosa, California, USA | 5% ABV 25 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
Lora’s Drink: Rose Wine | Entwine – Napa, California, USA | 13.5% | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5
December 9
Matt’s Beer: O’Melveny Red Ale | San Fernando Brewing Company – San Fernando, California, USA | 7.5% ABV 21 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
Lora’s Beer: Stiegl-Radler Zitrone – Shandy/Radler | Stieglbrauerei – Salzburg, Austria | 2% ABV 8 IBU | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
December 10-12
December 10
Matt’s Beer: Norman Cream Ale | Claremont Craft Ales – Claremont, California, USA | 4.6% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3/5
Lora’s Beer: Pure Bured Organic Lager Beer – Pale Lager | Samuel Smith – Tadcaster, England | 5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine & More | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.25/5
December 11
Matt’s Beer: Rainbows Are Real American IPA | Clown Shoes – Boston, Massachusetts, USA & Windsor, Vermont, USA | 6.75% ABV 55 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Beer: Duvel Tripel Hop Citra Belgian IPA | Duvel Moorgat – Sint-Armands, Belgium | 9.5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5
December 12
Matt’s Beer: Wee Gus Hoppy Lager | Ballast Point – San Diego, California, USA | 4.2% ABV 25 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.75/5
Lora’s Beer: Wolters Schwarzer Herzog Schwarzbier | Hofbrauhaus – Braunschweig, Germany | 5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.25/5
December 13-15
December 13
Matt’s Beer: Hard Charger New England/Hazy IPA | Mike Hess Brewing – San Diego, California, USA | 6% ABV | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 2/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Beer: Sun God Pilsner | Last Name Brewing – Upland, California, USA & Melvin Brewing – Alpine, Wyoming, USA | 5.1% ABV | Part of our Lazy Dog Restaurant Beer Club Collection | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
December 14
Matt’s Beer: Blood Line – Blood Orange Ale IPA | Flying Dog Brewery – Frederick, Maryland, USA | 8% ABV 40 IBU | Purchased at | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
Lora’s Drink: Blackberry Lemonade Hard Seltzer | Ashland Brewing – San Diego, California, USA | 5% ABV | Purchased at Barons Markets | Lora’s Rating: 3/5 | Matt’s Rating: 2.5/5
December 15
Matt’s Beer: Paws and Claws IPA | Avery Brewing Company – Boulder, Colorado, USA | 7.5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.25/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Drink: Pear Hard Cider | Wyders Cider – Middlebury, Vermont, USA | 4% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
December 16-18
December 16
Matt’s Beer: The Independent American IPA | El Segundo Brewing – El Segundo, California, USA | 6.8% ABV IBU | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Drink: Extra Dry California Champagne | Rocar Baireau Vineyards – Woodbridge, California, USA | 11% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 3/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3/5
December 17
Matt’s Beer: The Greatland Special IPA | M. Special Brewing Company – Goleta, California, USA | 7.2% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
Lora’s Drink: Prosecco Wine | 071 Veneto, Italy | 11% ABV | Purchased at Baron’s Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.25/5
December 18
Matt’s Beer: Dragon’s Milk White – White Stout | New Holland Brewing – Holland, Michigan, USA | 6% ABV 35 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
Lora’s Drink: Margarita Gose – Sour Fruited Gose | Great Divide – Denver, Colorado, USA | 5.8% | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
December 19-21
December 19
Matt’s Beer: Mango Passion Gelato – Imperial Pastry Sour | Wild Barrel Brewing – San Marcos, California, USA | 8.5% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 3/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.5/5
Lora’s Drink: Icelandic Toasted Porter – Baltic Porter | Einstok Olgerd – Akureyri, Iceland | 6% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3/5
December 20
Matt’s Beer: Triple Play Triple IPA | Strike Brewing Company – San Jose, California, USA | 10% ABV 30 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.5/5
Lora’s Drink: Hoegaarden Wit/Blanche – Wheat Beer/Wit Bier | Brouwerij Hoegaarden – Hoegaarden, Belgium | 4.5% ABV 15 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3/5
December 21
Matt’s Beer: Game of Thrones Night King – Imperial Double New England IPA | Mikkeller Brewing – San Diego, California, USA | 8.2% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.75/5
Lora’s Drink: Rose Wine | Wine By Joe – Dundee, Oregon, USA | 13.5% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 4.25/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3/5
December 22-24
December 22
Matt’s Beer: Paws & Claws IPA | Avery Brewing – Boulder, Colorado, USA | 7.5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 4/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Drink: Hestia Flame Hazy IPA | Brewheim & Noble Ale Works – Anaheim, California, USA | 6.7% ABV 45 IBU | Part of our Lazy Dog Beer Club Arrangement | Lora’s Rating: 4.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.5/5
December 23
Matt’s Beer: Galaxy & Comet – Imperial Double IPA | The Hop Concept – San Marcos, California, USA | 8% ABV | Purchased at Barons | Lora’s Rating: 2.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.5/5
Lora’s Drink: Wit – Wheat Beer/Wit Bier | Brouwerij St. Bernardus – Watou, Belgium | 5.5% 10 ABV IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3/5 | Matt’s Rating: 2/5
December 24
Matt’s Beer: Milk Truck – Milk Stout | Mother Earth Brewing Company – Vista, California, USA & Nampa, Idaho, USA | 5.8% ABV 30 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Matt’s Rating: 4/5
Lora’s Drink: Trooper (Created by Iron Maiden) Extra Special/Strong Bitter | Robinsons Brewery – England | 4.7% ABV 35 IBU | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 4/5
Bonus Christmas Beverage:
December 25
At last, Christmas is here. Like last year, we decided to add an additional beer to our calendar.
Matt’s Beer: Always Summer – West Coast Double IPA | Mikkeller Brewing – San Diego, California, USA | 8% ABV | Purchased at Barons Market | Lora’s Rating: 3.75/5 | Matt’s Rating: 4.25/5
Lora’s Drink: Kook Slams American IPA | Duck Foot Brewing Company – San Diego, California, USA | 7.5% ABV | Purchased at Total Wine | Lora’s Rating: 3.5/5 | Matt’s Rating: 3.75/5
Get in the holiday spirit any time of year by checking out our alcohol based calendars over the years:
Fancy a drink? Check out more beer related posts here.
Become our friend on Untappd!
Matt: crackers 8199
Distinct Beers: 4,377 As of June, 2025
Lora: llc156
Distinct Beers: 2.542 As of June, 2025
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Until Next Year
Hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas. It seems fitting that we both ended with beers having something to do with summer. Isn’t that just so on par with a Southern California Christmas? However on Christmas Day it was rainy and windy. But the beers encompass most of our year’s weather. With this we end our Beer Advent Calendar of 2021.
Until Next Year Beer Advent Calendar! We bid you adieu!
