From Bateman's. Launched in pubs three years ago, it is now available to the off-trade. It was created as a festive and fun seasonal beer. Price £1.65 Abv: 4.9% TARGET CONSUMER James Lance, 24, is a student living in Hampshire. The label on the bottle is seasonal but the packaging is not in any way cluttered with excessive amounts of promotional information. I found the beer was fairly light and the kind of drink you could consume comfortably and probably in volume. As a general rule I am a lager drinker, so I was surprised at how easily this slipped down. It compared favourably with other beers I have tried. My only possible criticism was that it was, for my taste, a bit sweet. I think this is the type of beer that would appeal to lager drinkers as well as traditional beer consumers, particularly at this time of year when people are looking for something different. Rating out of 25 ­ 18 Sally Easton Master of Wine and wine buyer for Berry Brothers and Rudd This festively labelled beer has a rich amber (almost ruddy) glow to its colour. However, on the basis of this tasting, I recommend it gets no closer to the Christmas mood. It does not create a head on pouring and this light, shortlived fizziness is confirmed on tasting. On the nose it is honeyed with a faint cinnamon spice. The palate is quite dilute and light bodied with a dominant bitter nutty character and insufficient caramel flavours to balance these bitter notes. It lacks concentration, intensity and depth of flavour and finishes with a slightly chemical aftertaste. Success rating out of 25 ­ 7 Graham Shearsby Board creative director, graphics, at Design Bridge I recall being generous when the last Bateman's product was offered to the Tasting Panel and I gave it quite a high rating. Indeed, I praised the bottle's elegant proportions and understated confidence. I am now forced to take it all back. Sorry guys, you've blown it. I know it is that time of year again and we all need a little festive kitsch, but this is rather offensive. Santa Claus bears a striking resemblance to the psychotic axe wielding Father Christmas in the 1971 film Tales from the Crypt. A truly gruesome label which sits uncomfortably with the well considered bottle. Bah humbug. Success rating out of 25 ­ 6 Steve Mayes Category controller at Landmark Rosey Nosey is a high quality, no-nonsense easy drinking bitter that is packaged as tastefully as a Christmas product can be. I recruited a committed panel of heavy beer drinkers (weight and volume) and the feedback was typically philosophical, ranging from "I like this" to "More". The only drawback is Rosey is like a session beer ­ it has a clean taste, slight effervescence and a short finish with little evidence of alcohol. It goes down easily and could be drunk in volume. But at 4.9% you could go from a merry Christmas to an absolutely spannered one. Another great tasting good looker. Success rating out of 25 ­ 21 Total score out of 100 ­ 52 {{DRINKS }}

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