Southwold Christmas Ale (Marks and Spencer) By @SpectreUK

Last week I enjoyed a seasonal cider, this week Adnams Brewery is wishing me a "Hoppy Christmas", well it says so on the bottle anyway. Brewed with English malts and hops, this 4.2% volume dark Winter ale promises fruity festive flavour. There is a row of brightly coloured wooden beach huts on the label, which are a familiar sight on the Suffolk coastline near to where this Christmas Ale is brewed. Not that I've been there, but I have seen these colourful huts on the television and I heard they're a prized possession for anyone who likes a trip to a good beach.

There was a deep sweet aroma from the double roasted crystal malt and an underlying fruitiness from the First Gold hops. This dark brown ale poured into my glass with a good frothy head. On taste there was an initial flavour of malted barley, which quickly merged with the almost toffee crystal malt. This sweetness merged with the fruity hops to produce a fruitcake flavour akin to a hearty Christmas pudding in a glass. Recommended with cold meat and strong cheese, which is just what we're having for dinner. If you're all out of cold meat and fine cheese, then I'd recommend enjoying it after dinner to wash down your Christmas Pudding or a decent wedge of Christmas Cake.

Merry Christmas! ;-)