The Best Drinks Advent Calendars 2026: Beer, Alcohol-Free Beer & More

There is something about an advent calendar that makes December better. Even as an adult, opening a door each morning and discovering what's behind it brings back some of that excitement of counting down to Christmas.

Replace the chocolate with a carefully selected beer, wine, spirit or cocktail, though, and things get considerably more interesting.

At Beerhunter, we've always thought the best drinks advent calendars should be about discovery. You shouldn't open door number seven to find something you could have picked up during the weekly supermarket shop. The excitement comes from finding harder-to-source drinks, imported beers and different styles that encourage you to try something new.

For me personally, that makes our World Craft Beer Advent Calendar 2026 the standout. I'm a beer drinker, and what I enjoy most is variety. Having a different beer waiting each day—and not necessarily knowing what style, brewery or country is coming next—is exactly what I want from an advent calendar.

But not everyone wants the same thing.

Whether you're searching for the best beer advent calendar UK 2026, an alcohol-free countdown, a gluten-free option or an alcohol advent calendar that mixes beer, wine and spirits, we've put together this guide to help you choose the right Beerhunter calendar for Christmas 2026.

Explore all Beerhunter Drinks Advent Calendars 2026

What Makes a Great Drinks Advent Calendar?

It's tempting to judge an advent calendar entirely by what's inside, but I think the best ones get four things right.

1. Quality and Variety

Twenty-four drinks aren't much fun if they're all virtually identical.

A great calendar should take you through different flavours, styles, breweries or types of drink. For beer in particular, I'd rather discover a mix of lagers, IPAs, pale ales and other styles than drink a slightly different version of the same beer every evening.

2. Drinks You Wouldn't Normally Find

This is particularly important to us at Beerhunter.

We're known for sourcing beers from around the world, and the advent range reflects that emphasis on discovery. Beerhunter currently offers more than 500 beers sourced from the UK and internationally, so imported and harder-to-find beer is a natural part of what we do.

For me, finding something new behind a door is far more interesting than simply receiving another familiar supermarket brand.

3. Presentation

If you're giving an advent calendar as a Christmas present, the packaging matters.

It should feel substantial and exciting when the recipient receives it—not simply like you've bought them a case of drinks.

4. The December Experience

This is the part people sometimes overlook.

You're not really buying 24 individual drinks. You're buying 24 small experiences spread throughout December.

That's what separates a good advent calendar from an ordinary mixed case.

The Best Drinks Advent Calendars 2026

Rather than ranking every calendar from first to last, we've chosen our favourites for different types of drinkers.

After all, the best calendar for a craft beer enthusiast isn't necessarily the best choice for somebody who likes wine, cocktails and spirits—or someone who wants to enjoy December alcohol-free.

Best Overall: World Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

⭐ Our Pick for Beer Lovers

If I could choose only one calendar from the 2026 range, this would be it.

The World Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026 is built around exactly what I want from a beer advent calendar: variety and discovery.

Rather than sticking to one brewery or one type of beer, the idea is to take you through different craft beer styles throughout December, including IPA, lager, pale ale and more.

For a beer drinker, that's what makes opening each door genuinely interesting.

You might discover a brewery you've never tried before. You might find a style you wouldn't normally order. And occasionally you'll discover a beer that ends up becoming a new favourite.

That's much more appealing to me than knowing roughly what I'm going to get every day.

Why We Like It

Best for: Craft beer lovers and adventurous drinkers
Why choose it: Variety, different styles and beer discovery
Gift or self-purchase? Both
Our verdict: The best all-round beer choice for 2026

If you're searching specifically for a beer advent calendar UK 2026, this is where I'd start.

Shop the World Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

Best for Variety: The Mixed Tipple Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

What if you enjoy beer—but don't want beer every single day?

That's where the Mixed Tipple Christmas Advent Calendar 2026 comes in.

Instead of concentrating on one drink category, this calendar mixes things up with wine, spirits, craft beer and cocktails.

It's essentially the advent calendar for someone whose answer to "What's your favourite drink?" is "It depends."

That variety also makes it a particularly good Christmas present when you know someone enjoys a drink but aren't confident enough about their preferences to buy them 24 beers or 24 wines.

Beerhunter's previous Mixed Tipple calendar followed the same discovery-led concept, bringing together 24 different alcoholic drinks rather than forcing shoppers to choose separate beer, gin, rum, whisky, wine or cocktail calendars.

Why We Like It

Best for: People who enjoy lots of different drinks
Why choose it: Beer, wine, spirits and cocktails in one countdown
Gift or self-purchase? Particularly strong as a gift
Our verdict: The most varied alcohol advent calendar in the Beerhunter range

Shop The Mixed Tipple Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

Best Alcohol-Free: Low/No Alcohol-Free Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

Alcohol-free beer has changed dramatically.

Anyone whose last experience was a watery alcohol-free lager ten years ago might be surprised by what's available now. Modern alcohol-free brewing spans lager, IPA, pale ale, wheat beer, stout and much more.

That's why an alcohol-free advent calendar can now deliver a genuinely interesting December countdown rather than feeling like the compromise option.

The Low/No Alcohol-Free Christmas Advent Calendar 2026 is our pick for anyone who wants to participate in the advent experience while avoiding or reducing alcohol.

It's also a thoughtful present when you know somebody enjoys beer and drinks culture but doesn't necessarily want 24 full-strength alcoholic drinks during December.

Beerhunter already curates low/no mixed beer selections featuring different styles and breweries, reflecting how much choice the category now offers.

Why We Like It

Best for: Alcohol-free and mindful drinkers
Why choose it: Variety without the full-strength alcohol
Gift or self-purchase? Both
Our verdict: Proof that an adult advent calendar doesn't need alcohol to be interesting

Explore the Low/No Alcohol-Free Advent Calendar

Best Gluten-Free: Gluten-Free Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

Being gluten-free shouldn't mean missing out on one of the best bits of December.

The Gluten-Free Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026 gives gluten-free beer drinkers their own 24-day Christmas countdown, with the emphasis remaining firmly on beer variety and discovery.

This is one of the calendars I particularly like from a gifting perspective.

Buying beer for somebody who is gluten-free can be difficult if you don't know the category particularly well. A curated advent calendar removes much of that guesswork while still giving the recipient the fun of discovering different beers throughout December.

Why We Like It

Best for: Gluten-free beer drinkers
Why choose it: A dedicated beer countdown designed around dietary requirements
Gift or self-purchase? Excellent gift option
Our verdict: A much more thoughtful alternative to a generic Christmas present

Shop the Gluten-Free Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026

Which Drinks Advent Calendar Should You Choose?

If you're struggling to decide, start with the person rather than the calendar.

For a dedicated beer drinker: Choose the World Craft Beer Advent Calendar.

For somebody who enjoys trying everything: Choose The Mixed Tipple Advent Calendar.

For somebody avoiding or cutting back on alcohol: Choose the Low/No Alcohol-Free Advent Calendar.

For a gluten-free beer lover: Choose the Gluten-Free Craft Beer Advent Calendar.

And if you're buying for yourself?

Pick the one whose contents you'd be most excited to discover when you walk downstairs on 1 December.

It really can be that simple.

Why I Prefer a Craft Beer Advent Calendar

As a beer drinker, I'd choose the World Craft Beer calendar every time.

That's not because I think everyone should choose beer. It's because an advent calendar should reflect what the person opening it actually enjoys.

For me, the appeal is trying something new every day.

Beer is particularly well suited to the advent format because there's so much variation within the category. Lager can taste completely different from IPA; a Belgian beer can be completely different from an American craft beer; and two pale ales can take entirely different approaches to hops and malt.

Beerhunter's wider beer range includes beers from countries including Germany, Belgium, Spain and the USA, alongside UK breweries, which is exactly the sort of international discovery we want people to associate with Beerhunter.

That's why the best craft beer advent calendar isn't necessarily the one containing the most famous brands.

I'd rather discover something I haven't tried before.

Are Drinks Advent Calendars Good Christmas Gifts?

Yes—particularly for somebody who's difficult to buy for.

One of the advantages of an adult advent calendar is that the gift isn't over in five minutes.

Give somebody a bottle at Christmas and they'll enjoy the bottle.

Give them an advent calendar before December and you've effectively given them something to enjoy every day for more than three weeks.

They're particularly good for:

• Husbands and wives

• Partners

• Dads and mums

• Brothers and sisters

• Friends

• Colleagues

• Craft beer enthusiasts

• People who simply enjoy trying new drinks

Search interest around advent calendars for men is particularly high in the UK, but we wouldn't position drinks advent calendars as exclusively gifts for men. A good drinks calendar is about what somebody enjoys drinking, not whether they're male or female.

Buying as a Gift vs Buying for Yourself

From our experience, there's a fairly even split between the two.

And I can understand why.

Buying as a Gift

Presentation, variety and knowing the recipient's tastes become particularly important.

If you're uncertain what they drink, something varied such as the Mixed Tipple makes sense.

If they're always talking about beer, go for the World Craft Beer calendar.

Buying for Yourself

You can be much more selfish—and that's exactly how it should be.

Choose the category you genuinely enjoy and treat it almost like a 24-day tasting experience.

You could even keep notes on your favourites and use them to decide which beers or drinks you want to buy again in the new year.

Is a Beer Advent Calendar Worth It?

For the right person, absolutely.

But I think it's important to look beyond simply dividing the price by 24.

Part of what you're paying for is:

Selection + packaging + discovery + the Christmas experience.

If your only objective is getting the maximum volume of beer for your money, buying a straightforward case will probably make more sense.

An advent calendar is different.

You're buying the experience of opening a new door every day and discovering something you might not have chosen yourself.

That's why variety matters so much.

When Should You Buy a Beer Advent Calendar for Christmas 2026?

Earlier than you might think.

Drinks advent calendars are seasonal products, and once a particular calendar sells through its allocation, there may not be an opportunity to replenish it before December.

There's also an obvious deadline: ideally, you want the calendar in your hands before 1 December.

If you know which calendar you want, I'd therefore avoid leaving it until the final few days of November.

Beerhunter offers UK delivery options, including standard and next-working-day services where applicable, but seasonal product availability is a separate consideration.

Browse the complete Advent Calendars 2026 collection

Frequently Asked Questions About Drinks Advent Calendars

What is the best beer advent calendar UK 2026?

Our overall choice is Beerhunter's World Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026. It focuses on variety and discovery, making it particularly suited to beer lovers who enjoy trying different breweries and styles rather than drinking the same type of beer throughout December.

What is inside a beer advent calendar?

The contents depend on the calendar. A craft beer advent calendar may include styles such as lager, IPA and pale ale from different breweries. Always check the individual product description for the current calendar's details.

Are beer advent calendars good gifts?

Yes. They're particularly good Christmas gifts for beer lovers because the recipient gets something new to discover throughout December rather than opening the entire present at once.

Can you get an alcohol-free beer advent calendar?

Yes. Beerhunter's 2026 range includes a Low/No Alcohol-Free Christmas Advent Calendar, allowing alcohol-free drinkers to enjoy the same countdown experience.

Can you get a gluten-free beer advent calendar?

Yes. Beerhunter offers a Gluten-Free Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026, designed specifically for people looking for a gluten-free beer countdown.

What's the difference between a beer advent calendar and an alcohol advent calendar?

A beer advent calendar concentrates on beer, whereas a broader alcohol advent calendar can contain several categories of drink. Beerhunter's Mixed Tipple calendar, for example, combines wine, spirits, craft beer and cocktails.

Are drinks advent calendars just for men?

Definitely not. Although advent calendar for men is a popular search term, drinks advent calendars make excellent gifts for anyone who enjoys the drinks inside. Choose based on someone's tastes rather than their gender.

Our Verdict: Which Is the Best Drinks Advent Calendar 2026?

There isn't one calendar that's going to suit everybody.

That's why we've created different options.

If you're a beer lover like me, my recommendation is the World Craft Beer Christmas Advent Calendar 2026. The combination of different beers, styles and harder-to-find selections makes every door feel like a genuine discovery.

If you prefer several types of drink, go for The Mixed Tipple. If you're avoiding alcohol, choose the Low/No Alcohol-Free Advent Calendar. And for gluten-free beer drinkers, there's a dedicated Gluten-Free Craft Beer Advent Calendar.

Whichever you choose, I'd judge a great drinks advent calendar on the same four things: quality, variety, presentation and the experience it creates throughout December.

After all, that's the point.

You could simply buy 24 drinks.

But discovering a different one behind a door every day is considerably more fun.

Explore Beerhunter's Drinks Advent Calendars 2026