Miller's Ale Wassail Bowl

Miller's Ale Wassail Bowl (an eggless version).

Serves 6-8

1½ litres brown ale or 1 litre pale ale plus 500ml stout (the recipe can also be made with cider)

250g demerara sugar

1 tsp mixed spices (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and mace)

375ml sherry

1 lemon

7 baked apples (any baked apple recipe should work; try to use tart apples)

Fill a large heatproof bowl with hot water to warm it. Bring half of the ale, sugar and spices to the boil, stirring to keep it from foaming over. Add the remaining ale or ale/stout, plus the sherry. 

Pour the hot water out of the bowl and add the ale mixture.

Peel the lemon. Squeeze the lemon-peel twists over the bowl to extract the oil and discard them. 

Add 3 to 4 peeled-lemon slices and the baked apples.

Serve.