TREE? Check. Food? Check. Presents? Check.

Right, let's get to the pub.

You're a sharp lot, so it won't have escaped your notice that next Friday is Christmas Day. And you know what that means? It means that this weekend, the pubs will be packed with festive revellers.

All of you regulars will be joined in the pub by the hordes of once-a-year part-timers, fa-la-la-la-la-ing away at your favourite table.

On the bar though, you can also look forward to a range of unusual beers, as brewers from far and wide dust off the cheesy puns and pump-clips, raid the spice-rack, and promote their Christmas specials.

York Press:

Spices, other drinks, fruit.... Almost anything can end up in the brew when Christmas comes around

If all of this sounds nauseating and cringeworthy, then you have a couple of choices.

The Maltings in Tanner's Moat has Scrooged from Cottage Brewery, Bah Humbug from Potbelly Brewery, Beer Humbug from Pheasantry Brewery, and Bad Santa from Backyard Brewhouse.

Or, if even that is a tad too contrived, then you might want to head to The Woolpack in Fawcett Street, where landlord Steve Bradley has declared his pub a "Christmas-free zone".

But if you do want to embrace the Christmas spirit, or are cajoled into it by friends, family or colleagues, then you've plenty of choice.

York Press:

Lawrence Street is a good place to start. The Waggon and Horses and The Rook and Gaskill, across the road from each other, both have tempting selections from impressive brewers. There are no token gestures here, just genuine Christmas crackers.

At The Waggon, the mainstay is Rosey Nosey, the annual special from Batemans, complete with flashing pumpclip.

Alongside that, look out for Ebenezer from Elland; Three French Hens by Rooster's; Dr Morton's Our Wayne by Abbeydale; Three Kings by Charnwood and Good King(s) Wenceslas by Brewsters.

Our Wayne sounds particularly appealing. Abbeydale have a long track record of producing superb, flavoursome beers, and this one sounds intriguing. They say it has a subtle hop character with flavours of orange and tangerine and pine needles.

Ebenezer also sounds a tempting bet. The West Yorkshire brewery says it has "bold marmalade, citrus flavours and aromas".

Three French Hens is an orange and cinnamon amber ale, while Brewsters describe their creation as a rich, "cakey" and rounded beer.

Across the road at The Rook and Gaskill, Waen's Christmas Snowball looks like being the star attraction. Snowball is an award-winning stout that oozes chocolate, vanilla and coconut flavours, and which has an ABV of seven per cent.

York Press:

It has been well received at the York Beer and Cider Festival on Knavesmire in the past two years, but this festive variation is also laced with Advocaat, giving it an extra edge. If I try only one new Christmas beer next week, I intend to make it this one.

Other options there include Black Santa from Great Heck, Coastal Brewery's Cornish Xmas, and Castle Rock's Snow White.

That last option is also on at The Nag's Head in Heworth, while at The Three Tuns in Coppergate, you'll find Marstons Christmas Pudding and Wychwood Snowbelle among the options.

York Press:

Finally, The Ackhorne in St Martin's Lane off Micklegate is also worth a visit. There, the options include Humbug from Hop Studio at Elvington, Greedy Goose from Hook Norton and Santa's Little Belcha from Yorkshire Heart at Nun Monkton, which is brewed with star anise, ginger and cinnamon.

Whether you head there or elsewhere, happy hunting and a very Merry Christmas.