The Best Beers I Had in January 2026
While I don’t do “Dry January,” I do tend to slow down a little after indulging during the holiday season. Still, I tried a few beers that really stood out to me. I had the pleasure of visiting Guatemala for a long weekend and visited three different breweries in the town of Antigua, in addition to enjoying their national lager, Gallo. Antigua Brewing Company (and especially Ulew, the speakeasy inside it), Antigua Cerveza and CervecarÃa Catorce were all worth a visit, but one beer from Antigua Cerveza was my favorite of the trip.
Woody Pils
Bull & Bush Brewery
Barrel Lagered Bohemian Pilsner, 6.8% ABV
This Pilsner is fantastic. It’s a great base beer, but then they lagered it in American oak Chardonnay barrels to give it a mild oak character and faint impression of apricot. The oak also accentuates the floral notes of the hops. I wanted to keep coming back to this beer to experience its subtle complexity.
Stille Nacht
De Dolles Brouwers
Belgian Christmas Ale, 12% ABV
Christmas in a glass, but not in the way we typically think of with an American or English Christmas Ale loaded with spices. Like other Belgian styles, much of the spice profile is coming from the yeast through the production of esters and phenols. You can feel the alcohol, but not in an overpowering way.
Muy Noble
Antigua Cerveza
Blonde Ale, 4.5% ABV
While I was in Guatemala, I tried a dozen different beers, but this one stood out to me. I love Blonde Ales, but they rarely make an impression. It was smooth and refreshing, but I also picked up on faint hints of strawberry sweetness.
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