Today is Dec. 26 — what Brits call Boxing Day. Sure, after Christmas you might want to strap on gloves and settle those unresolved familial scores, but Boxing Day isn’t about pugilism. And it has nothing to do with boxing up decorations or gifts you wish you didn’t get. Instead, the national holiday harks back to a bygone era like powdered wigs and pagers. Back in the days of the Empire, British citizens were split into hierarchies divided by arbitrary lines such as accent and lineage. Think Downton Abbey, in which the bottom floor of a huge house split two worlds. Upstairs you have the lords and ladies. Downstairs you have the servants and maids, who rarely get breaks. If it weren’t for the servants’ work on holidays, the aristocrats might have gone hungry, practically unable to cook their own food or even pour tea. And for their year-round fealty, tradesmen get little gifts called Christmas boxes — plus Dec. 26 off to spend with their families. Nowadays in the UK, Boxing Day is a chance to give tiny thanks to modern-day tradesmen such as postal workers, paper boys, and state employees, as well as time for soccer and rugby. But in the States, it’s just another chance to drown that Christmas hangover all over again. We thought we’d offer a sample beer flight of British-themed beers to the mix. Enjoy Craft Beer Crosscut 12.26.17: A Flight of Boxing Day.

Wells Banana Bread Beer

5.2% ABV, 18 IBU

In 2006, Charles Wells and Young’s of London merged to become Wells & Young’s Brewing Company and all brewing was moved to Bedford, England. In 2015, the brewery was renamed to Charles Wells. The brewery’s Banana Bread Beer smells like bananas. Seriously. In fact, Banana Bread Beer not only smells like bananas, but tastes like bananas, too, and not the artificial banana of bubble gum. The flavor is nicely balanced with the hops, the banana component more a whisper than a shout. The whole thing was a little sweet, but not in a disagreeable way.

Samuel Smith Organic Apricot Fruit Beer

5.1% ABV

One of the oldest operating breweries in the world, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery has been brewing with the same derivative yeast strain in the same stone vats for the last 255 years. They even keep a small team of Shire horses — a breed that traditionally pulled brewery wagons — to deliver beer around its hometown of Tadcaster. But for all this tradition, Samuel Smith is remarkably modern. All but one of its beers are vegan and the brewery has an entire line of organic ales, including its Apricot Fruit Beer. According to Samuel Smith’s, it’s brewed at the All Saints Brewery in Stamford, England using all manually operated equipment. Barley and wheat are combined to make an ale, fermented and aged for an extended period, then taken to Samuel Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster, England. It is at this stage where they blend in pure fruit juice to create a fruit-forward ale with malt and some bittering hops on the back.

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout

5.2% ABV

Charles Wells’ Double Chocolate Stout’s thick, creamy head sticks to the glass, emitting cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate. A hint of hoppiness in the air reminds that it is very much a beer. Pale ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate malt, special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Goldings hops, real dark chocolate and chocolate essence are all utilized in creating this unique beer. Creamy chocolaty sweetness coats the tongue like liquid silk. The malty, chocolaty smoothness dives into roasted malt bitterness that tingles through the aftertaste: The chocolate’s truly the chip off the old stout.

Guinness Extra Stout

4.2% ABV, 45 IBU

Yes, the Guinness brewery in Park Royal, London closed in 2005. The production of all Guinness sold in the UK and Ireland was moved to St. James’ Gate Brewery, Dublin. We’re going place it on this flight for old time’s sake. Guinness Extra Stout is a top-fermenting brew made with roasted malts and roasted unmalted barley. It’s classified as a “dry stout” or “Irish stout” — smoother and roastier than its English and American counterparts. The regular stuff is extra-dark with a black hue and a dense, tan-colored foam. Despite its dark color and strong flavor it’s medium-bodied and quite drinkable.

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

7% ABV, 70 IBU

The name Union Jack is a nod to the colonial origins of the India Pale Ale style, and to the British expatriate who co-founded Firestone Walker, David Walker. Union Jack IPA, originator of the brewery’s “Jack” IPA family, is double dry‐hopped to create bold grapefruit, tangerine and citrus flavors, all contrasted by pale malt sweetness to rein in the intensity. Union Jack is the epitome of hop flavor; hop aroma, balanced malt, and pleasant alcohol working together to produce a symphony of flavor. Union Jack has won every major award conceivable.

Britain's got lots of odd Boxing Day traditions. Here's the Pagham Pram Race from 1953, in which every competitor and every baby has to sink a pint of beer at each of the three pubs to be navigated along the way… What's your favourite Christmas tradition? pic.twitter.com/b3RfjGo8ap

— HISTORY HIT? (@HistoryHit) December 26, 2017