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Christmas Ale

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A traditional Scotch Ale, rich and malty with notes of caramel and a warm finish. Bell's lists it as full-bodied, slightly sweet and biscuity. At 7.5% ABV, 30 IBU and original gravity 1.075, it is a limited release made with water, malt, hops and house ale yeast, with a six-month shelf life, and the brewery recommends a nonic glass.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
dark22
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycaramelbready
malty
caramel
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced caramel malt sweetness, supported by subtle biscuity and toasted grain notes.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Christmas Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue, presenting a rich and inviting color characteristic of the style. The beer displays good clarity with substantial head formation that clings persistently to the glass in fine lacing. Carbonation is moderate, creating a dense and stable foam collar.

deep amberpersistent lacingdense head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced caramel malt sweetness, supported by subtle biscuity and toasted grain notes. A gentle warming alcohol character emerges beneath, while restrained noble hop character provides mild herbal balance without aggressive aromatics.

caramel maltbiscuitgentle alcohol warmth

◐ Taste

The palate delivers full body with rich, malty sweetness that dominates the profile from entry through mid-palate. Caramel and bread-like flavors build gradually, while the moderate 30 IBU bitterness remains restrained and supportive rather than prominent. The finish carries a warming, slightly boozy quality that complements the overall sweetness.

full-bodiedmalty sweetnesscaramel forwardbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish extends with lingering warmth and a soft sweetness that gradually fades. A subtle drying effect from the alcohol and minimal hop bitterness provides gentle closure without harshness.

warm aftertastelingering sweetness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
82
Appearance
84
Finish
80
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Christmas Ale

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About Scotch Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Scotch Ale?

Scotch Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Scotch Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same full-bodied, malty, rich character as Christmas Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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