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Thread: Christmas Beer of the Year

  1. #1
    Glass Half Empty
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    Default Christmas Beer of the Year

    Has anyone come across any outstanding celebratory beers this year? I can't say I have, though I've tried quite a few Christmas beers.

    Replies so far, with the indifferent ones I've had added in, gives us goes something like:

    Good

    York Humbug (Rob andMillay)
    O'Hanlons' Christmas Goodwill (Runningdog and Rob)

    Salopian Sleighrider (ThuckPhat)
    Hornbeam FestiveChristmas Ale (Rob)
    George Wright Two Turtle Doves (Rob)

    Abbeydale Advent (ThuckPhat)
    West Berks Xmas Beer (Quinno)
    Havant Unwrapped (Farway)
    Old Dairy Snow Top (Wittenden)
    Saltaire White Christmas (Rob)
    Blindmans Bah Humbug (Rob)
    Thwaites Very Good Elf (RogerB)
    Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale (Strongers and RPA)

    Indifferent
    Hardy & Hanson Rocking Rudolf (Millay)
    Brentwood Ho Ho Soho (Old Blue)
    Rudgate Auld St. Nick (Old Blue)
    Cropton Elf Indulgence(Old Blue)

    Bad
    Grafton Cracker (Rob)
    Three B's Santa's Skinful (Rob)
    Harveys Christmas Ale (Strongers)
    Brakspear Oh Be Joyful (Quinno)

    I know I also had the York's one, but it was at the end of a long night and I possibly didn't appreciate it as I normally would. It was either in the Old Mitre or the Craft Beer Co so it would have been my fault not the pub. Humbug!
    Last edited by Old Blue; 07-01-2012 at 15:26. Reason: update summary of responses
    'Immanuel Kant was a real pissant who was very rarely stable' - Python

  2. #2
    Fully paid up beer belly Farway's Avatar
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    I had a pint of Havant Unwrapped in the Bird in Hand, very much a local brew, I thought it nice, but not outstanding, preferred the Gales Winter Brew, thanks Fuller's for killing it

  3. #3
    Roving RAT ROBCamra's Avatar
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    Hornbeam Festive Christmas Ale
    York Humbug
    George Wright Two Turtle Doves

    Have all been good Christmas Beers so far.

    At the other end of the scale Grafton Cracker didn't do it for me at all.
    A pub is for life not just for Christmas

  4. #4
    This Space For Hire Wittenden's Avatar
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    Haven't been to the pub since last weekend, and don't really run after Christmas specials anyway, but I've got a stash of Snow Top from Old Dairy: dark but not too sweet at 6% ABV. However this pales before my regular Christmas Eve treat-after I've finished kitchen duty, well almost as the Turkey goes in the oven at midnight, I break out the bottles of Dark Star Imperial Russian Stout (10.5% ABV) that I've been nurturing. Dark,rich and mysterious:why drink wine or whisky when there's stuff like this about?
    "At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wittenden View Post
    I break out the bottles of Dark Star Imperial Russian Stout (10.5% ABV) that I've been nurturing. Dark,rich and mysterious:why drink wine or whisky when there's stuff like this about?
    Perfect! Wish I'd had your foresight on this, the one day of the year when I don't get to go to the pub. Though I'm sure I'll have other entertainments.

    Merry Christmas, everybody!
    'Immanuel Kant was a real pissant who was very rarely stable' - Python

  6. #6
    In Search of Ebriety Millay's Avatar
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    I don't really go for the 'novelty' ales but have been drinking a fair bit of Hardy & Hansons Rocking Rudolf. Largely because most of my lunchtime drinking is done in a GK pub when I'm at work. It's not bad, once you get past the flashing pump clip.

    But my favourite has been one that ROBC mentioned. From York brewery, who are pretty good at dark beers, it's called Humbug - which was especially good as I'm a Bah Humbug sort of person
    I've just joined Alcoholics Anonymous - I still drink, just under a different name.

  7. #7

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    A very good pint of Abbeydale Advent - pale but very well balanced -was topped by Salopian Sleighrider which at 4.9% flew out of the glass and had a bitter enough finish to keep you wanting more.

  8. #8
    Roving RAT ROBCamra's Avatar
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    Tried Saltaire White Christmas and Blindmans Bah Humbug last night whch were very good.

    Also tried Three B's Santa's Skinful which wasn't.
    A pub is for life not just for Christmas

  9. #9
    I'll stay on me own runningdog's Avatar
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    The few 'seasonal ales' I've had have been, on the whole, easily forgettable. But I spent a couple of happy lunchtimes knocking back O'Hanlons' Christmas Goodwill. Nothing outstanding, but a good, straightforward, if a touch spicy, brown bitter. There are a lot of worse things to drink come Christmas..........
    Pubs are a hobby, real ale is a passion. Oh, and like me dogs, fear no evil..........

  10. #10
    It wasn't me Quinno's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by runningdog View Post
    I spent a couple of happy lunchtimes knocking back O'Hanlons' Christmas Goodwill. Nothing outstanding, but a good, straightforward, if a touch spicy, brown bitter.
    Good call, sir! I enjoyed that one too.

    The West Berks Xmas Beer I had at the Nags last night was lovely, hoping there might be some left for me in a bit

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