A Suffolk Christmas: Brewery Gifts, Spirits & Proper Pints

Our history with festive brewing goes right back to our early days. As Christmas 1987 approached, our co-founder Ian was inspired to craft a festive special, which he named "Christmas Cracker" - a traditional 5% premium porter. It quickly became the highlight of the holiday season, proving so popular that demand persisted well into the new year. To keep it pouring year-round, Christmas Cracker evolved into our second signature beer and was renamed Old Growler. Today, this two-time CAMRA Winter Beer of Britain champion remains the ultimate winter warmer.

Gifts for Every Glass (and Every Guest)

Skip the high street crowds and give a gift with a bit of character. We’ve put together a range of brewery gifts to sit proudly under any tree:

• Build Your Own Beer Boxes: Curate the perfect selection by mixing classic ales, our modern Growling Dog craft series, or low-alcohol options like Venture Point Five.
• Festive Spirits & Miniatures: Our signature Melford’s Suffolk Dry Gin is distilled with seven botanicals, including local hops for a unique nod to our brewing heritage. We also offer miniature gin sets and our vibrant Ruddy Duck flavoured gins for the perfect stocking filler.
• Brewery Experiences: Give the gift of a good time with our tour vouchers, which offer a guided trip around our Long Melford brewhouse or distillery. For the truly dedicated, our "Day With A Brewer" or "Brew Your Own Beer" experiences offer an unforgettable, hands-on masterclass.
• Winter Merch & Memberships: Keep the cold at bay with our cable-knit bobble hats and body warmers. You can also gift an Annual Membership, which grants the lucky recipient a year of 10% discounts and two free tour tickets.

Stock Up for the Season

Avoid the last-minute rush and let us handle the heavy lifting. We offer nationwide delivery across mainland UK, making it remarkably easy to get your festive drinks sorted. If you are local, pop into our Long Melford taproom or our Bury St Edmunds shop to browse our gift packs, branded glassware, and classic merch in person.

Pour a glass, gather round the fire, and let the storytelling begin. Cheers to a very merry Christmas from all of us at Nethergate.