We were unexpectedly smitten by the Che Guava Radical Lager, for example, but appreciated the traditional flavours in the Liberty Lager. I think I know what they were blaring over the nuke plant's emergency loudspeakers that they have all over the county.

BrewDog Advent Calendar | Beer Advent Calendar | BrewDog UK BrewDog Advent Calendar | Beer Advent Calendar | BrewDog UK

Finally, there’s no denying a certain amount of drinking was involved, and, as big fans of beer, with a weakness for anything hop-related, we like to think there’s no better judge for the job. polarising IPAs, this bundle is a flavoursome journey ideal for craft beer enthusiasts or new entrants to the crafty scene.The very cool designs adorning all of the bottles and cans makes it another great option for gifting, too.

BrewDog - Hoppy Christmas - 6% Festive IPA BrewDog - Hoppy Christmas - 6% Festive IPA

Finally, you can’t go wrong with John Lewis’s beer and snacks advent calendar, which contains a brilliant variety of nibbles and beers. Pours out to a medium burnt orange, forming a solid off white head with very good retention and lacing. And don’t assume you’ll miss out on all the fun if you’ve got certain dietary issues, such as a gluten intolerance, either – this year, we’ve come across several advent calendars that include gluten-free beers.Raise a glass of these Christmas beers, share with friends, family and strangers and sit back and enjoy as the world descends into a fairy-light fuelled frenzy. True, it may not be the most festive one we’ve come across, but the contents more than make up for it. The aspect that really set this calendar apart was the diversity – not only relating to the great range of 14 beers (which included gluten-free beers) but the snacks. Salute the hop angel as you rocket down a hill, churning up clouds of hops on the back of a baking tray. We never knew there were so many types of pork crackling until we got this calendar, but the versions included are surprisingly delicious (we highly rate the black pepper version).

BrewDog Hoppy Xmas 6% ABV IPA Beers 24x330ml Cans BrewDog Hoppy Xmas 6% ABV IPA Beers 24x330ml Cans

We’d never heard of Capital Crisps before, but its salt and vinegar crisps were absolutely delicious, while other munchies contained in the calendar include yoghurt-coated raisins, nuts and roasted fava beans. The taste is pine and citrus up front followed by tropical fruit - pineapple,mango, coconut, papaya. The slogan-covered packaging was a particular highlight, and one that makes it perfect for gifting (our favourite was the reference to a “patented thirst-targeting system”). The range of producers is pretty impressive too, with inclusions coming from more established breweries, such as Northern Monk and Le Chouffe, but also from smaller microbreweries. May hop flakes deck the halls and carpet the streets with the tangy sweet citrus aroma of papaya and pineapple.Alcohol-themed advent calendars are officially a thing, and although beer ones have been around for a while, the good news is manufacturers continue to innovate, producing calendars that celebrate the mighty hop in a wide range of ways. You’ll also find lesser-known ones, such as Wingman – a bright, drinkable IPA, perfect for sipping on Christmas Eve (without the risk of getting sloshed before Santa turns up), and Black Heart, which is a gorgeous stout that doubles as a brilliant winter warmer. All of the bottles are hefty 550ml jobs (there are a small number of cans, too) and there are several limited editions and wonderfully weird options – our favourite of which is Monty Python’s Holy Grail pale ale, tempered, apparently, over burning witches. Although we can’t help but feel the calendar itself could have a more festive design, we loved the addition of a puzzle on the back (because everyone loves a puzzle at Christmas), while the 12 beers covered all bases (the Mighty Swine Lager was particularly moreish).

BrewDog - Hoppy Christmas - 6% ABV

We also loved the festive design of this box-shaped calendar, which has 24 circular windows and a green-and-red colour scheme.

The IPAs were particularly delicious, and we highly rate the Galactic pale ale, a classic American IPA. Like the Big Man himself, Hoppy Xmas only makes a brief appearance every year, so hops to it while you can. We’ve got a pet hate for advent calendar doors that are fiddly to open, so we loved the push tabs on this calendar, which made the doors easy to open.