How to Choose a Beer Advent Calendar in 2026
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Time to read 4 min
Advent calendars have come a long way since a cardboard nativity scene and a waxy chocolate at 7am. These days you can count down to Christmas with almost anything: candles, cheese, hot sauce, socks. And, happily, beer.
But more choice also means more chance of opening door 9 and finding the same lager you had on day 3. So before you hand over your hard-earned cash (or drop some very unsubtle hints), here's what's worth checking. We've tried to be fair here, but we're a brewery. You can probably guess which beer advent calendar we think ticks every box.
1. Does every door hold something different?
This is the big one. Some calendars pad out their 24 days with repeats: three of one beer, four of another. It's cheaper to put together, but it takes the fun out of the surprise.
šĀ What to look for
AĀ clear promise of 24Ā differentĀ beers, plus a decent spread of styles so your palate doesn't get bored by week two.
āĀ How ours stacks up
Our Beer Advent Calendar 2026 has 24 unique craft beers and no repeats. You'll go from IPAs to imperial stouts, lagers, sours and nitro beers, with three seasonal dark beers for when the evenings really draw in.
2. Who actually made the beer?
Many beer calendars are put together by retailers, who fill them with whatever stock they can get hold of. That's not always a bad thing, but it does mean you don't really know how fresh or how special the beer is.
š What to look for
A brewery-made calendar, or at least one that tells you exactly where the beer comes from. Bonus points if it includes beers you can't buy anywhere else.
ā How ours stacks up
Every can in the Siren craft beer advent calendar is brewed by us, with calendar-exclusive beers, four limited-edition Christmas cans and special collab brews. Some of these won't appear anywhere else this year, so the calendar is the only place to try them.
3. How big are the cans?
This one catches people out. A calendar of 24 small bottles looks great in photos, but small bottles mean less beer overall.
šĀ What to look for
The can or bottle size in the listing. If you can't find it, that usually tells you something.
āĀ How ours stacks up
14 of the 24 beers come in full 440ml cans, and the other 10 are 330ml.
4. How fresh will it be?
Craft beer, especially hoppy beer, is at its best when it's fresh. A calendar packed in August and left in a warehouse until December won't taste the way the brewer meant it to.
š What to look for
When it's packed and dispatched.
ā How ours stacks up
We pack calendars as close to delivery as we can. They dispatch from mid-November, straight from the brewery.
5. Will it turn up in time?
An advent calendar that arrives on 3 December is just a box of beer with a guilt problem.
š What to look for
A guaranteed delivery date before 1 December, and what delivery costs.
ā How ours stacks up
Delivery is free and guaranteed by 1 December, sent by DPD 24-hour tracked. Santa was fully booked. (Isle of Man, Scilly Isles, Highlands and Islands and Northern Ireland orders take 2ā3 working days.)
6. Is it giftable?
If it's a present, you don't want the recipient (or the delivery driver) to see what's inside before the big day.
š What to look for
Plain outer packaging, and a calendar that looks the part once it's unwrapped.
ā How ours stacks up
It ships in a plain transit box so the surprise stays a surprise. It's also, quite simply, an excellent gift for anyone who likes beer.
7. Is it good value?
Don't just look at the price tag. Work out the cost per beer, check the can sizes and look at the extras.
š What to look for
A fair price per can, free delivery and anything that comes on top.
ā How ours stacks up
it's Ā£95, which includes:
- 24 brewery-fresh beers (that's just Ā£3.95 per can)
- A festive tasting glass (worth Ā£5)
- A bonus door on the 25th with a Christmas Day surpriseĀ
- Free tracked delivery (worth Ā£5.99)
If you pre-order your advent calendar before 12 October, it's Ā£90. You also get three Ā£5 vouchers, issued on 13 October, 1 November and 1 December, to spend on additional orders over Ā£40.
8. Any dietary needs?
If you're buying for someone who's vegan, coeliac or avoiding certain allergens, check before you buy. Most mixed beer calendars can't guarantee every beer is suitable.
ā How ours stacks up
To be upfront, some of our calendar beers are vegan-friendly or gluten-free, but not all. Some contain malted barley, wheat, oats or lactose, and we can't offer swaps. You'll find full allergen info for the advent calendar on the product page.Ā
The Quick Checklist
24 different beers, no repeats
Made by a brewery, with exclusives you can't buy elsewhere
Full-size cans
Packed fresh
Guaranteed delivery before 1 December
Plain packaging for gifting
Real value once you add in extras and delivery
Ready to start the countdown?
We think a surprise a day is the best way to spend December, and we've put a lot of love (and a fair few test pints) into this year's calendar. With more than 1,300 five-star reviews, plenty of you seem to agree.
It's a limited run, so when they're gone, they're gone.Ā Order your Siren Beer Advent Calendar 2026 here, and pre-order before 12 October to get the early-bird price and the three bonus vouchers.
Still got questions about size, contents or delivery? OurĀ advent calendar FAQsĀ should have you covered.
Related product
Beer Advent Calendar 2026
Ā£95.00
