Ten Best Winter Beers

1. Bateman's Rosey Nosey (4.9%)
Warming, rich, malty beer with a good solid underpinning of spicy hops and the typical ripe fruit signature of all Bateman's ales that come from a family-owned brewery in Lincolnshire, founded in 1874. �1.69. Aldi, Asda, Booths, Co-op, Morrisons

2. Blue Anchor Christmas Special (7.8%)
A Cornish brew-pub in Helston that dates from the 15th century. This is the strongest of the pub's famous Spingo ales and it has a massive aroma and palate of rich malt, orange and blackcurrant fruit, with powerful peppery notes from Goldings hops.

3. Chiltern Bodgers Barley Wine (8.5%)
Named after craftsmen who built chain fences in the Chiltern beechwoods, the bronze beer has biscuity malt, citrus fruits and spicy hops on the nose and palate and a long, fruity and bitter finish thanks to traditional Fuggles and Goldings hops. �2.10, case of 24 �47.88 mail order from the brewery; 01296 613647; www.chilternbrewery.co.uk. Also selected National Trust shops

4. Eggenburg Samichlaus (14%)
One of the strongest beers in the world, Samichlaus means Santa Claus and is in the Germanic style known as Bock. It's matured for a full 10 months before being released. Port wine, dried fruits, toasted malt and peppery hops make this a stunning drinking experience. �3.49, case of 12 �41.88 from Beers of Europe. 01553 812000; www.beersofeurope.co.uk

5.Fuller's Brewer's Reserve No1 (7.7%)
An amazing new beer from the family-owned West London brewery. It's matured for months in casks bought from the malt whisky industry and it has oaky, smoky and whisky notes on the aroma and palate along with ripe marmalade fruit and tangy hops. Not yet in shops � it means a trip to the brewery. �4.99 only from brewery shop, Chiswick Lane South, W4 2QB 10-6 (5 Sat); 020 8996 2000; www.fullers.co.uk.

6.Greene King Old Crafty Hen (6.5%)
A new beer from Greene King that is a blend of Old Speckled Hen and Old 5X, the latter matured for several years in wooden �tuns� in the style of 18th-century �country ales�. The beer has a rich oaky, butterscotch and vanilla character, balanced by generous hop bitterness. It's rich and warming and a perfect companion for tasty food. �2.50 Sainsbury's and Tesco

7. O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale (11.7%)
Brewed 40 years ago as a one-off for a literary festival in Dorchester, this is now an annual vintage strong ale. It's a complex beer dominated by malt and dark fruits but with notes of old leather, fresh tobacco and tangy hop resins. Buy two and keep one for several years to watch it develop. �3.49 Waitrose

8. Lees Harvest Ale (11.5%)
Manchester brewery Lees dates from 1828 and its annual vintage is fashioned from the first malts and hops of the harvest and is matured for two months before being released. The russet-coloured ale has an intense peppery aroma from Goldings hops with a hint of chocolate. Orange fruit, rich malt and spicy hops dominate palate and finish. �2.99

9. Shepherd Neame Christmas Ale (7%)
Based in the Kentish hop fields, �Sheps� is Britain's oldest brewery, founded in 1698. Hops are to the fore in this amber ale with a spicy and fruity nose. Peppery hops balance tart fruit and chewy malt in the mouth followed by a hoppy finish with tangy fruit and warming alcohol. �1.69. Co-op

10. Young's Christmas Pudding Ale (5.5%)
A rich and complex beer: as with all Young's ales, it's big on hops but balanced by rich, tangy fruit, toffee and vanilla. Hops continue through into the finish with a powerful bitterness, but darker malt adds a nutty note to the fruit and chewy malt. A log fire beer. Waitrose �1.79