Bells Christmas Ale

Bell's Christmas Ale, from Bell's Brewery in Michigan, is a seasonal Scotch ale at 5.5% ABV. Scotch ales are built on malt, and this one is described as amber to ruby in colour. Expect caramel and toasted malt at the centre, with a smooth, balanced finish. Hop bitterness in this style is usually kept low and only offsets the malt sweetness, so the beer reads as rounded and bready rather than sharp. At 5.5% it is lighter in strength than many Scotch ales, which often run noticeably higher, so it drinks as a moderate, easygoing winter beer rather than a heavy sipper. The toasted, caramelised malt suits foods that have their own browning. Roast turkey, glazed ham, pork loin and roasted root vegetables all pick up the beer's sweetness without being overpowered. It also works with aged cheddar, gouda or other nutty, firm cheeses, and with sausages, meatloaf or a pot roast. For dessert, try gingerbread, spiced nut cakes or baked apples, where the beer's caramel notes echo the baking spices. Very hot or heavily spiced dishes will tend to overwhelm a malt-led beer of this weight. Serve it cool rather than ice cold, ideally around 45 to 50°F (7 to 10°C), roughly what you get after pulling it from the fridge and letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Colder temperatures mute the caramel and toast, and warmer ones can make the finish feel heavier than intended. A tulip glass or a nonic pint glass works well: the tulip's slight inward curve gathers the malt aroma, while the nonic is a practical, sturdy option for a relaxed pour. Pour with a gentle tilt to build a modest head, and drink it from the glass instead of the bottle so the toasted malt aroma comes through.