Our Advent beer pick for December 13 comes from Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, who brews a rich and hearty winter ale for the holidays: Christmas Ale. A bit unusual in that on draft, it is 5% alcohol by volume, while the bottled version is 7%. The brewery says:

Christmas Ale is brewed using 100% natural ingredients, drawing chalk-filtered mineral water from the artesian well deep below Shepherd Neame’s site, along with the finest malting barley and Kentish hops.

The seasonal ale boasts warming notes of fruits and spices, blending pale and crystal malts with Target and Challenger hops for bitterness, and Goldings hops for aroma.

“Christmas is about tradition, and as Britain’s oldest brewer we are very proud of the special beer we have created for the festive season. It is a glowing amber winter beer with a heady, fruity nose – the perfect accompaniment to the sticky pudding sweetness of festive fare.”
Head brewer Richard Frost

Rich and warming, with fruit and spice notes, pair Christmas Ale up with gingerbread and sugar cookies—and don’t forget to leave some out for Santa!

Find Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• RateBeer
• Facebook