Too merry this festive season?

Friday 29 December 2017

What to drink at Christmas, and what to do if you’ve drunk too much? Express has been out and about to try and find some answers.

One man who might know is Sean Murphy. He’s been in the hospitality trade for forty years - 14 of which have been as landlord of award-winning pub, The Lamplighter.

It’s famed for its collection of real ales and whiskies (currently you can choose from 180 different varieties ranging from £2.65 to £125 a shot – the latter is a rare Jack Walker blend of which only 330 bottles were ever made, and the Lamplighter’s bottle is now half empty).

Sean’s advice if you don’t want a hangover is obvious: “Don’t drink too much!” But he’s the first to admit that’s easier said than done, and that he hasn’t always taken his own advice. “Aside from that”, he continues, “stick to white spirits and always have a glass of water between rounds. That helps keep you hydrated. If you’re going to be drinking beers don’t just go for an unusual name because it sounds like fun. Look, or ask what the beer’s ABV (alcohol by volume) is. A good ‘session beer’ is around 3.4-3.8%.  5% and above you’re in a very different league.” As a general rule he says the darker the beer, the higher the ABV.

Pictured: A glass of water between rounds should help to keep you hydrated and keep seasonal sippers hangover-free.

But, of course, for many, one of the joys of the festive period is going out and having a few drinks and maybe trying something new.

Sean’s got eight specials in, some of them going on sale for the first time, and others making a return visit but being seasonal beers.

Jennings Redbreast is brewed with two classic English cone hops and natural coloured malt, and is described as having a full flavour leaving you with a warming glow. It’s got at ABV of 4.5%.

As the name suggests, Marstons Christmas Everyday, is sold all year round, something they describe as a ‘wizard idea’. The brewery describes the beer as “full-bodied but balanced with hints of bitterness and citrusy-fruit aromas”. It’s got a pale golden colour and has an ABV of 4.2%.

Christmas Fairy is brewed by a familiar name to local beer drinkers. Steve Skinner used to run the Tipsy Toad Brewery in town and at St Peter before moving to the UK and setting up in Cornwall. The brewery say the aim of the drink is to ‘get you dancing’, but, with an ABV of 3.9% it's one of the lighter ales. It’s described as “crisp and refreshing as a winter walk, with a wonderfully light, hoppy and enchanting finish.”

Rudolph’s Reward – is named in honour of Santa’s reindeer who’s often accused of having a liking for one or two drinks – the drinking notes say it’s “a light chestnut ale with a fruity nose”. It’s the got the lowest ABV of the beers on sale at just 3.7%.

Pictured: One beer is named after one of Santa's reindeer...

One of the new beers on sale is Wadworth’s Dray Bells “a crisp mid-amber bitter, with a nose of sweet satsuma and a hint of spice on the palate from the addition of cloves to the brew, epitomising the taste of Christmas.” It’s got an ABV of 4.1%.

Merrylegs a mahogany ale from the Hampshire brewery of Upham which operates out of an old converted stable, and that gives all its beers  equestrian linked names, is named in honour of Black Beauty’s stable mate. It’s one of the stronger beers at 4.8%.

Even stronger, at 5%, is Christmas Ale. It’s described as has having “warming notes of fruits and spices, blending pale and crystal malts with Target and Challenger hops for bitterness, and Goldings hops for aroma”.

But, the strongest ale on sale with an ABV of 5.8% is Old Timer. With a 50-year pedigree, this seasonal beer is “a deep chestnut colour, with a strong malty aroma and full bodied, complete flavour”. A drink to treat with caution.

So, what to do if you have over indulged? Sean swears by a full Engish breakfast. In particular he believes it has something to do with the eggs.

Pictured: You can't beat an English breakfast for beating off a festive headache.

Others suggest a Prairie Oyster – a ‘cocktail’ of a raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, vinegar, hot sauce, salt and ground black pepper – although Sean says for health and safety reasons it’s not something he serves up. But Bloody Marys are served, and then, as he says with a smile, “there’s always the hair of the dog”.