CHRISTMAS crackers are being pulled early in York - in pubs all over the city.
The festive beers have hit the bars and once again there are some beauties to be had.
The Phoenix in George Street is the place to start. If you've not been along already, then head along today or tomorrow. Its annual Christmas Festiv-ale began on Thursday and finishes on Sunday, and is not to be missed.
There are 14 ales and three ciders, almost all with a winter or Christmas theme. East India Spice by East London Brewing Company is among the most enticing. It promises twists of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, orange peel and black pepper, a suitably-festive mix.
The Phoenix in George Street
The mulled white stout from Sonnet 43 is conspicuously curious, as is Hand Drawn Monkey's "Generically-named Christmas Beer". The tasting notes say it is "egg-nog meets a snowball", and promise a a creamy, vanilla, almond pale body.
Alongside those, 5 Wold Rings from Wold Top is an old favourite for many; Winter Solstice is a dark treacly beer from Half Moon at Ellerton; and the Chocolate & Mint Leaf Stout from Tickety Brew is self-explanatory if intriguing. My only previous mint beer was the most reprehensible drink I have ever tasted, but I know others who can't wait to try this. To each their own, and all that.
>>> See The Phoenix's full festival beer list, on the pub website
Some of the options at The Rook & Gaskill in Lawrence Street
After The Phoenix, turn your attentions elsewhere. The Rook & Gaskill in Lawrence Street is well-stocked with Christmas ales, some of which hit the bar last Monday, and also mulled wine or cider.
Wheat Christmas by Spitting Feathers was a crisp, refreshing pale ale, though it bore little resemblance to most understandings of wheat beer, and seemed more suited to the hot days of summer. XT's Xmas Ale 25 was robust and spicy, but the best by far was Two Portly Gentlemen by Wharfebank - a rich, chewy, pitch-black porter that reminded me of Pontefract cakes and fresh coffee.
The pick of the bunch, by Wharfebank Brewery
Replacements when those three run out will include Sunny Republic Winter Warmer, Spice by Brightside, Cracker by Wharfebank and Christmas Kitty, the now-annual masterpiece by Brass Castle and North Riding.
If you want some food alongside the beer, the Rook is also serving turkey burger with stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Over the road, The Waggon and Horses has Batemans Rosey Nosey, complete with flashing pump clip. Alongside it, Titanic Plum Porter may not have a festive theme but it is a delicious, rich wintry beer that is hard to beat.
A winter warmer and a Christmas classic, in The Waggon & Horses in Lawrence Street
Across the city-centre, The Maltings also has a bounteous range. Snowball by Waen is a spectacular, swaggering stout, with brewed with cocoa nibs, vanilla pods and toasted coconut. Others on the bar include Hop Back's Elf & Hoppiness, Hales Brewing's Santa's Heart, Geeves's Naughty Elf and Burton Old Cottage's Its A Cracker.
Elsewhere, The Slip in Clementhorpe promises Box Clever Brewer's Blizzard and the aforementioned Christmas Kitty by the weekend, while The Woolpack in Fawcett Street has Fairytale of Yorkshire by Revolutions, and Pivní has a range of festive options in bottle.
Finally, look out wherever you are for this one: Santa's Little Belcha by Yorkshire Heart Brewery from Nun Monkton. I encountered it at their Christmas fair a few weeks ago. It's a golden ale with star anise, ginger and cinnamon flavours and a hearty ABV of five per cent.
Promising signs at two York pubs
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