MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE MERRY WITH FAVERSHAM-BASED BREWER, SHEPHERD NEAME

Independent family brewer, Shepherd Neame, is pulling out all the stops to ensure this festive season is one to celebrate at home and in its pubs across London and the South East. 

Not only will the seasonal special Christmas Ale be returning, but Britain’s oldest brewer is also providing some extra sparkle as a limited edition mini version of the Christmas Ale bottles have been created in the shape of a Christmas tree decoration.

The 8cm-high decoration is an exact replica of its big brother bottled version, right down to the full ingredients list on its back. It is on sale, costing £3.95, in the Brewery shop in Court Street, Faversham – and will be adorning many a pub Christmas tree this year!

Head of Customer Relations, Giles Hilton, said: “We know just how popular Christmas Ale is the world over, so we thought it was high time we created a version which could hang on trees across our pub estate – and in our customers’ homes too.

“As the decorations are a limited edition, once stocks run out, they won’t be available any more - so you’ll need to get in quickly to make sure you have yours hanging on your tree this year!”

A firm favourite for more than a decade, full-bodied Christmas Ale is a blend of pale and crystal malts with Target, Challenger and Goldings hops which boost warming notes of mulled fruits and spices and will be available on draught in the final week of November and is available in bottles now, on sale online and in the Brewery shop (5% ABV, on draught, 7% ABV bottled).

And for fans of Christmas Ale, for a limited period, customers can buy 12 bottles of Christmas Ale from Shepherd Neame’s online shop and a Christmas tree bottle decoration for a total of just £40.

And if you thought Christmas Ale was warming enough, think again, as the brewer also has Christmas Ale socks available to warm your toes this winter.