Christmas ale with a local flavour

A local pub for local beers could easily be the motto of The Fox and Hounds near Lichfield, for the Shenstone village pub is now serving two real ales made by the Shenstone Brewing Company following the arrival of Santa Claus with the specially-brewed Xmas Ale.

“I’m all for supporting local businesses,” says Fox and Hounds landlord Ken Gardner, “And you can’t get more local than buying from the village brewer!”

Three Spires beer has been selling well at the Fox for several months now and the Xmas Ale looks like being just as popular if first night reaction is anything to go by – the pub emptied its first barrel in just one night!

Nick Shuttleworth, one of the men behind Shenstone Brewing Company, actually lives in the village and is a regular at the Fox and Hounds so it was an obvious choice when it came to launching the Xmas Ale.

“We were very keen to support Nick when he started the Shenstone Brewing Company and in return he’s provided us with a couple of great beers,” says Ken. “The Xmas Ale is a little bit stronger and fruitier than the Three Spires and it really does have a Christmassy sort of flavour to it.”

Helping give an extra seasonal spirit to the Xmas Ale launch was Fox and Hounds barmaid Claudia Foulkes who dressed up as Santa Claus specially for the occasion.