Santa’s Wobble from Hog’s Back Brewery in Surrey is a strong Christmas (or ‘Xmas’, as it says on the the bottle) ale, at 7.5% ABV. It’s a ruby brown rather than red, with a head that lasts well. The bottle says that it uses “choicest” hops and is brewery conditioned “for all the taste without the sediment” which doesn’t shout quality, but after the first sip it’s not a bad ale. There’s something quite organic about the smell (almost the smell of a stable!) but it’s not unpleasant, and has overtones of the kind of spices that I’d expect in a mild indian dish such as a korma. The taste is full of malt, marmite and roast chestnuts. This is a warming winter beer that gets better with every sip.
Everything stops for beer 