Abbeydale Festive Beers

During the darker months when you spend time shuffling around in layers of clothing trying to keep warm whilst leaving the house when it's dark and returning when it's still dark I usually have an urge to drink dark, strong, spicy, robust ales. Imperial stouts, Belgian strong ales, barley wines, black IPAs, porters and stouts are usually the beers on my winter check-list.

As December draws closer Brewerys pull out all the stops and jump into the festive spirit often using ingredients associated with Christmas (think pine needles or nutmeg) and choosing associated festive namesakes. It's nice to indulge but often I dip into Christmas beers as most do based on name then dip out again driven by the urge for darker and warming brews. 

Abbeydale Brewery it has to be said do a good job and have a bit of a laugh at the same time - fair play I say; "If you don't drink it, a penguin dies" apparently (would have liked some more dark beers though!). Check out their festive beers below, in and around Yorkshire - I always recommended having a pint at their tap The Rising Sun as the beers are extremely well looked after. 

Dr Morton’s Paranoid Snowman – 4.1% - Pale

Baubles – 4.1% - Golden 

Dr Morton’s Christmas Cheer – 4.5% - Pale 

Winter – 5.2% - A strong IPA made with 100% Maris Otter low colour malt and a combination of two New Zealand hops to give a full flavoured pale beer. 

Chocs Away – 5.5% - Full bodied chocolate stout.

Dr Morton’s Christmas Hamster – 4.1% - Additions of Munich malt turn this ale a deep golden colour.