Darker, stronger, more seductive; for this year’s Belgian Christmas Ale they’ve dialled things up a bit. The 2024 vintage of this annual release is a festive fruit bowl in a dark chocolate wrapper; banana-led Belgian-style fermentation character jumps out of the glass, followed by delicate notes of toffee, coffee, chocolate and a warming boozy glow. The body is firm, but fair - there’s plenty to support the big flavours but it slips down easily, like one of those strangely moreish liqueur chocolates that only appear for four weeks every year. Rich and opulent, an easy indulgence. And a killer mince pie pairing.