A Perthshire brewery has enjoyed a big increase in sales after shoppers in Tesco stores in Scotland took a liking to its festive brew.
Inveralmond Brewery has sold 10,000 bottles of its Santa's Swallie in Tesco outlets since the retailer started selling the beer in late November.
The response was so good that Inveralmond was left with just a few cases of Santa's Swallie in its central store by the middle of the month.
Described by Tesco as traditionally hopped with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon, the beer takes around six weeks to brew and bottle.
As a result the company was not able to produce more to send to stockists this year.
Led by managing director Fergus Clark, managers have been delighted by the level of demand for the beer.
Commercial manager Bob Hogg said: "When we set our forecast in October we under-egged it. We did not fully appreciate that there would be a demand for a Christmas beer from among drinkers and gift buyers."
Inveralmond started selling Santa's Swallie in Tesco this year after selling other beers in the company's stores for nine years.
The company also sells bottled Santa's Swallie through independent off licences and on draft in pubs.
It exports to areas including Scandinavia and North America.
The success of Santa's Swallie has put Inveralmond on track to increase turnover to around £1 million in the year to March 2012, from £850,000 in the preceding year.
Inveralmond is an example of the growing number of craft breweries who are finding that there is strong demand for traditional style ales.
The company started brewing beer in 1997, and currently has 10 employees.
Tesco stocks a range of Christmas ales produced by independents, including the Wychwood Brewery in Gloucestershire and the York Brewery in Yorkshire.
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