The Nutcracker
Vocation Brewery in Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire, England 🏴
Pale Ale - Flavoured Winter|
Score
7.11
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Celebrate the colder months with The Nutcracker from Vocation Brewery a rich, full-bodied winter ale that brings warmth and comfort in every sip. Crafted with roasted chestnuts, soft vanilla, and layers of biscuit and caramel, this seasonal release delivers depth, sweetness, and a touch of gentle spice. A hint of earthy bitterness provides balance, making it the perfect fireside companion. A truly festive beer that captures the spirit of winter.
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6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Can. Pours a light amber brown colour with a tight white head, plenty of hops and vanilla in the aroma, the taste is medium bitterness with the vanilla coming through.
Tried
from Can
at
Vocation & Co. - Hebden Bridge (Vocation)
on 13 Mar 2026
at 18:53
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Copper with a firm head. Nutty, baking spice, toasted malts, toffee, vanilla, caramel. Medium bodied. A brief snap of bitterness in the finish. Came in expecting a mess but this somehow works. It may be a bit all over the map but it comes together well.
Tried
from Can
on 06 Jan 2026
at 19:52
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Large foamy white head on a murky chestnut coloured body.
Chestnut, malt & woody aroma.
Medium to full bodied, foamy cloying - sticky.
Malt, toffee, chestnut & vanilla ice cream tastes with a big fruity finish.
All mixed up but gels well!
Chestnut, malt & woody aroma.
Medium to full bodied, foamy cloying - sticky.
Malt, toffee, chestnut & vanilla ice cream tastes with a big fruity finish.
All mixed up but gels well!
Tried
from Can
at
Vocation & Co. - Hebden Bridge (Vocation)
on 23 Dec 2025
at 21:32
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Can from the Three Hounds Beer Cafe & Bottle Shop. Nose is caramel, toffee, digestive biscuit, nuts, allspice. Taste is caramel, vanilla, chocolate biscuit, nutmeg, cinnamon, nuts, toffee. Earthy sweet with a malty bitter twist.
Tried
from Can
at
Three Hounds Beer Cafe and Bottle Shop
on 20 Dec 2025
at 14:24
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 6
A brown beer, a head is medium and blond. Aroma has toffee, vanilla, chestnut, feels sweet. Taste has slightly burned toffee, some chestnut. Not so sweet as I feared based on the aroma. Medium bodied. Pretty nice.
Tried
from Can
from
K-Citymarket (Turku Kupittaa)
on 19 Dec 2025
at 12:17
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 7
Overall 8
Any beer named Nutcracker should surely be sweet, right? Deeper golden west coast style appearance. It's much more than that in taste though with one of the most stated vanilla flavours I've had in a light brew, which is borderline sweet to rich. Its aroma doesn't quite match its taste, but is certainly not detrimental as this is a fabulous brew.
Tried
from Draft
at
Vocation & Co. - Hebden Bridge (Vocation)
on 06 Dec 2025
at 20:00