Brewing something different. A Christmas tree crafted from a beer barrel?

Looking for a unique Christmas present? 

How about a Christmas tree made from oak casks at one of Britain's best-known craft breweries? 

Coopers at T&R Theakston, in Masham, gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, have branched out to craft Christmas trees from discarded oak casks for the festive season. 

The brewery has its own cooperage and the trees are now on sale for £60 - and look great.

The North Yorkshire brewer recently announced that it is to install a multi-role fermenting, conditioning and storage vessel which will allow it to increase its brewing capacity and to extend its range of cask ales, seasonal beers and craft keg range.

T&R Theakston executive director Simon Theakston told Drinks Business:“Thanks to growing demand for our products, both at home and abroad, we are brewing more beer in our brewery in Masham than ever in our 190-year history.

“The renaissance of cask-conditioned and modern craft ales has given our brewing team a golden opportunity to experiment with different hops and malts from the UK and, indeed, from throughout the world.

“In turn, this has allowed us to significantly expand our range of beers, and introduce new lines which have quickly established themselves as firm favourites with cask and craft ale aficionados.”

Earlier this month, it was announced that Rioja wine estate Ramon Bilbao had partnered with Spanish classical musician Ara Malikian and third-generation violin maker Fernando Solar to craft a violin out of a wine barrel. 

I can sense a trend.