There is no Santa - but there is good beer.

This is a limited edition from Brewdog, and in typical style, it's got a bit of attitude on the label. It's the label that is probably going to make this beer appeal to a broad range of people, and it's one of the reasons I brought it to Estonia. It's only made in small batches, and I was very lucky to get the last 35 cases. Stockmann immediately ordered 10, Moku in Tartu wanted 8, Drink Bar and shop naturally got some, which left 15 cases. Porgu, F-Hoone and Moonshine heard about and ordered some, and to my suprise - Molly Malones wanted some. They sold out on the first night.

But what does it taste like? It sounds promising on the label - telling us that its got ginger and cocoa tips in the brews. What interested me was that it was 65 IBUs - almost the same as Punk. Christmas beers normally omit the hops, and make do with the bitterness of chocolate malts instead.

Its http://www.ratebeer.com/ rating is 59, which is actually one of the lower scores for Brewdog. You've got to remember though, that not everyone likes Christmas beers. 33cl, 4.7% abv.

When you open the bottle, it's not the hops that jumps out of the bottle, but the spice. It's like opening a packet of gingerbread. It's there in the pour too, a rich dark colour with a caramel head. The smell of ginger and other spices - cinnamon, cloves, vanilla come to the top of the beer and rest in the head. I couldn't smell much chocolate though.

It tastes just like it smells. It's almost like drinking liquid gingerbread, and while that might not be to everyones taste, I think most people come around to the taste of ginger and cinnamon at this time of the year - so it's ok for a Christmas beer to taste like this. In fact - it's nice. It makes you feel Chrismassy.

The body is ok, and whilst the head doesn't last as long as their other beers, it still has a nice mouthfeel due to all the different warm flavours that are going on inside the glass. 4.7% alcohol is just right, as you don't get any strong alcohol flavours getting in the way of the main event.

I finished this and didn't feel like I couldn't have another one because it was too sickly (like some other Christmas beers out there) and could have easily had a few more - especially with some food. I can imagine that this would go fantastically well with some traditional English Christmas cake, or something baked and fruity. Or just on its own after being outside in the cold all day. It's a real winter warmer without the side effect of getting too drunk.

I think I'll offer this at the end of the Christmas dinner on the 25th  with the Christmas pudding- by which time I'll be wishing the message on the label was true - due to Lego/Bob the Builder/Peppa Pig overload.

Get some now in all of the places mentioned before it runs out!