St Austell Brewery
St Austell Brewery has released Jolly Holly for the third year.
A blend of styles between dark ale and an IPA, it has the addition of American Simcoe hops to deliver a rich festive brew. Flavour-wise, it is a distinctively fruity 4.3% ABV ale with the aromas of Christmas cake and spruce forest.
St Austell Brewery head brewer Roger Ryman said: “Jolly Holly is a great seasonal ale we’ve developed and delivers the perfect brew for the winter months. The ale has been hugely popular over the last two years, and is already proving popular with beer lovers – particularly at this year’s Celtic Beer Festival.”
It is available in a select number of estate and free trade pubs across the south west with a growing number of stockists in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Hogs Back Brewery
Hogs Back Brewery is urging pub customers to mark the festive season with a pint of British ale as it launches its Christmas offering.
Their seasonal selection includes 4.4% ABV ruby red Advent Ale and 5.2% ABV full bodied ale Mistletoe & Swine, which will be available from November 23 and November 30 respectively.
The Surrey-based brewer will also encourage licensees to consider ale as a wine substitute when pairing with Christmas meals this year.
Hogs Back Brewery managing director Rupert Thompson said: “All too often, we see fixed price festive menus that include wine as part of the package. Beer is a more traditional British accompaniment to Christmas food.”
Sharp’s Brewery
Cornwall-based Sharp’s Brewery has launched a limited release festive brew, Nadelik, which will be available across on-trade outlets until Christmas Eve 2015.
Nadelik, which means ‘Christmas’ in the Cornish language, is a 4.8% ABV medium-bodied ale with a festive aroma of piney hops, paired with inviting candy floss and toffee notes.
The beer is brewed using plentiful amounts of roasted barley and colourful malts to give a well-balanced, rich flavour, with a bittersweet finish.
Sharp’s Brewery senior brand manager James Nicholls said: “The beer is perfect for the winter months, providing drinkers with a host of inviting flavours reminiscent of the festive period.”
Caledonian Brewery
Heineken has introduced the limited edition Winterbräu spiced ale for Caledonian brewery.
Returning to a more traditional European winter style, the 4.3% Mahogany Ale is spicy yet sweet in flavour, with chocolatey aromas and a deep velvet, malt finish.
Caledonian’s Beers Manager Craig Steven said: “This winter style is closer to historic brews when herbs and spices were used to brew beer. Ingredients such as ginger, nutmeg and other spices would have been added to offset the malty sweetness of ale, before the widespread introduction of hops.”
It is designed to pair well with festive foods such as rich meats, thick saucy dishes, roasted vegetables, strudels and fruit puddings.
Moorhouse’s
Moorhouse’s will roll out the new Winter Looms festive cask ale as the Lancashire brewer marks the yuletide of its 150th anniversary year.
A red hued session ale, the brewing team have used the German specialty Carared and Melanoidin malts, combined with American Vanguard and English Phoenix hops for herby, floral notes followed by a spicy, molasses, chocolate finish.
A distinctive anniversary pump clip, a nod to Burnley’s long cotton heritage, will join a rebranded ale selection, including Santa’s Special, Snow Globe and Christmas Cauldron.
Moorhouse’s hopes for another Christmas cracker following last year’s record sales.
Black Sheep Brewery
Black Sheep Brewery’s popular festive ale, Blitzen, is returning to the on-trade for the second year in a row.
Blitzen, a 4.0% ABV ruby ale, is brewed with Cascade and Goldings hops plus light and dark Muscovado sugar to give the beer a distinctive Christmassy richness. The flavour profile is described as complex, driven by a mix of pale, crystal and pale chocolate malts, with a hint of citrus and mixed peel.
Black Sheep Brewery’s managing director Rob Theakston said: “Blitzen was really well received by pubs and punters last year and the pre-orders from customers already have been fantastic. We are excited about bringing it back for another season because it’s a top quality pint and a real taste of Christmas.”
Created in Black Sheep’s microbrewery in Masham, Yorkshire, it is available on cask and in bottles.
Shepherd Neame
Shepherd Neame brewery has unveiled a new look for its limited edition Christmas beer, Rudolph’s Reward, in time for the festive season.
Originally developed at their pilot brewery in Faversham, Kent, the hand crafted seasonal ale is among the collection of innovative limited edition No.18 Yard Brewhouse beers, named after the historic cask store.
It is a light 3.7% ABV winter beer featuring pale and crystal malts and Target and East Kent Goldings hops, with mulling spices added at the end of the brew.
It will be available on draught throughout December.
Shepherd Neame has also released this year’s vintage of its popular Christmas Ale.
The winter beer, which is a blend of pale and crystal malts and hopped with Target and Challenger for bitterness as well as Goldings for aroma, will showcase a “Dickensian style” bottle label and pump clip.
Shepherd Neame head brewer Richard Frost said: “It is a glowing amber winter beer with a heady, fruity nose - the perfect accompaniment to the sticky pudding sweetness of festive fare.”
Shep’s Christmas ale will be available on both draught at 5% ABV and in 500ml bottles at 7% ABV for December.
