Red Hot Poker is a seasonal ale brewed by the Tatton brewery located in Knutsford, Cheshire and we tried it at the Pied Bull Hotel in Chester over Christmas time 2012.

If there is ever a beer that could be called a “Christmas” beer it’s this one.

The pint pours a lovely ruby colour and weighs in at a fairly hefty 6% ABV so it’s a brew that deserves your utmost respect.

I’ve tried brews from Tatton before such as the excellent Lazy Haze and in the past I’ve been blown away by the great aroma that the brewers manage to impart to their beer and it is no exception with Red Hot Poker. The nose offers what I can only describe as Christmas spice. Fruity and spicy with subtle ginger and orange undertones with a complex spicy finish that includes cumin and a nutmeg/cinnamon type affair.

Interestingly, although Red Hot Poker has a fair old alcohol content to it, the spice tends to cut through the level of alcohol so you tend to be left with the complex flavours and aromas rather than any type of alcohol warmth. That’s why you need to be on your guard with this one. It is not necessarily a brew that I would recommend for a session beer, but it is one that is very drinkable and belies its strength.

As Christmas seasonal beers go this is a very good one.

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