hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Christmas Ale

Tap to rate

A fragrant hoppy aroma and palate lead into warming fruit and spice, with hints of mulled fruit. Pale and crystal malts carry Target and Challenger for bitterness and Goldings for aroma, and chalk-filtered water from the artesian well beneath the brewery goes in. Bottle label and pump clip are drawn in a Dickensian style. This full-bodied winter ale is 7.0% bottled and 5.0% on cask, where it is served in December.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppyfruityspicy
hoppy
fruity
spicy
malty
caramel
floral
Aroma
The nose opens with a distinctive hoppy character, led by noble Goldings that contribute floral and earthy notes.
not found:juicy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Christmas Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper-brown, presenting a warm, inviting hue characteristic of the style. The beer displays good clarity with a dense, off-white head that shows persistent lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate, creating a stable foam collar that clings to the rim.

deep amberpersistent headwell-defined lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a distinctive hoppy character, led by noble Goldings that contribute floral and earthy notes. Beneath the hop profile, soft spice and dried fruit emerge—hints of plum and raisin mingle with warming cinnamon and clove. A gentle mulled-wine character rounds out the bouquet, inviting and seasonally apt.

noble hop aromadried fruitwarming spicemulled character

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and malty, with pale and crystal malts establishing a slightly sweet foundation. Mid-palate develops warm spice notes—cinnamon and clove linger pleasantly—while Target and Challenger hops introduce a measured bitterness that balances rather than dominates. The finish carries echoes of stewed fruit and a gentle warming alcohol note.

full-bodiedbalanced bitternessspiced complexity

◑ Finish

The finish is sustained and warming, with lingering spice and a faint drying quality from the noble hops. A modest alcohol warmth persists without harshness, typical of the 7% ABV expression.

warming finishspice aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Christmas Ale

More from Shepherd Neame

1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale
Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale
Bear Island Noughty Bear
Bear Island Noughty Bear
Alcohol-Free IPA
0.5% · 31 IBU
Find matches →
Bishops Finger
Bishops Finger
Strong Bitter
5.2% · 36 IBU
Find matches →
Creekside
Double Stout
Double Stout
Stout
5.2% · 49 IBU
Find matches →
First Drop
First Drop
Session IPA
4.3% · 31 IBU
Find matches →
Five Grain Lager
Five Grain Lager
Pale Lager
5% · 20 IBU
Find matches →

About Old Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Old Ale?

Old 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 Old Ale

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

Compare with another beer →