Winter Warmer (Santa's Choice) 2008 Vintage
Naylor's Brewery

This bottle conditioned beer came in a brown 500ml size, bottled on 3 Oct 08 and could have been laid down for years to come (according to the label).

I tried to pour this beer into a vase shaped pint glass, but it was so lively I had to find another glass and pronto! Once it had calmed down it looked fine. A clear dark amber, light mahogany body had an off white head sat on top of both glasses.

The smell was spicey yeast, meaning pepper, cumin and corriander (but not a curry smell), along with the more normal yeast aroma you'd expect from a UK bottle conditioned beer.

The taste mirrored the smell, spice and yeast. Robust even though the alcohol is only 4.9%.

I prefer a winter warmer to have more body and richness, this didn't possess such attributes but it felt right in the mouth. It may even have been opened too early (only a year old).

I wish I'd obtained more than one of these because I think with time the beer will mature and could well be fantastic aged a bit.