Christmas ales: Festive beers to celebrate the season

Tis the season to be jolly — and a Christmas ale should help to put you in a festive mood!

Breweries across the UK produce special beers with Christmassy themes each year, so we've round up some for you to sample this December.

Keep an eye on the taps in your local for season beers — many can also be ordered online or found in specialist ale shops and supermarkets.

Add some ho ho ho to your hops this month — and take advantage of these unusual beers before they're gone again in January!

Here are eight Christmas ales for the festive season:

Otter Brewery: Otter Claus Festive Ale

Available from Waitrose, Otter Claus is one of Otter Brewery's Christmas offerings, brewed in Devon. The brewery also makes a Winter Warmer ale from chocolate malting barley and spicy hops, bound to beat any December chill.

Anchor Brewing: Anchor Christmas Ale 2015

Although based in San Francisco, Anchor beers have crossed the pond for UK fans and the brewery releases a special Christmas ale each year — with a different recipe each time. This year's festive brew is rich, dark spiced ale with a Christmas tree aroma.

Brewdog: Hoppy Christmas and Santa Paws

Brewdog's festive beers are on sale now — Hoppy Christmas, a strong 7.2 per cent citrus IPA. There's also Santa Paws, a gentler 4.5 per cent brew which uses eight different malts with bitter dark chocolate and espresso flavours and a smoky aftertaste. Toasty.

Shepherd Neame — Faversham Brewery: Christmas Ale

Faversham's festive offering is a winter warmer in bottles and on draught, with complex, full-bodied flavours, ideal for after dinner (if you have room).

Black Sheep: Blitzen

First released in 2014, Black Sheep Brewery in Masham is bringing back its limited edition festive beer. Made with cascade and goldings hops, orange and mixed peels, you might spot Blitzen in your local this December.

Ilkley Brewery: Mary Christmas

May peace beer with you, reads the pump clip — this 4.7 per cent amber ale is brewed with molasses, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and other festive flavours.

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Have we missed your favourite festive ale from our list?

Email the details to SamanthaRobinson@trinitymirror.com.