New beer launches and collaborations, in store, on bars, and online, from brewers around the UK
DarkSpire (5% ABV) is a new coconut and cocoa stout in Badger Brewery’s Outland craft beer range. Black as night, it offers “tropical coconut colliding with dark chocolate decadence”. On the palate expect “roasted richness, sweet coconut whispers, and vevety cocoa depth”, says the brewer.
Chouffe, the Belgian beer brand known for its adventurous gnome mascot, is expanding its presence in ASDA with the launch of Big Chouffe (8% ABV), a1.5-litre sharing bottle. The new listing comes as Chouffe continues to build momentum within UK grocery, with volumes growing by 33%.
New Bristol Brewery is releasing the Six Stouts of Christmas as the year draws to a close, and the first one is here. Ferrero Rocher Stout (6% ABV) is a collaboration with Attic. “All the hazelnut, chocolate, and crispy wafer flavours of this classic chocolate have been locked into this indulgent and very decadent stout,” say the brewers. “Smooth, beautiful decadence in a glass.”
Rainbow Serpent, from Tartarus, is a 5.8% ABV rocky road milk stout, brewed with chocolate, vanilla, marshmallow, toffee, and hazelnut. The beer was boiled for three hours with added lactose to recreate that chewy traybake texture. Also new are Duphone, a 5.5% ABV DDH pale ale, and Arachine, a 7% ABV chocolate honeycomb stout.
Wiper and True describe Plum Pudding Porter (6.7% ABV) as a cosy dark beer perfect for the colder winter months. Onto a rich dark malt base the brewer has layered sticky, delicious notes of caramelised plum and sugar, with top notes of vanilla. Also new are Wish You Were Here, a 5.2% ABV blackberry and pomegranate sour, and Black Forest Shake, a 5.6% ABV stout, which adds cherry notes to the brewer’s popular Milk Stout.
Leonid (4% ABV) is a new cask seasonal from Oakham. Motueka (New Zealand), Savinjski Goldings (Slovenia), and Magnum (Germany) hops roar powerfully together in the new pale ale. There are crisp lime and lemon flavours, floral and herbal notes, hints of spice, and a bitter finish. The name and imagery for this beer was developed in conjunction with design students at Stamford College. Josephine Russell developed the pumpclip imagery.
UnBarred will release Fruit Riot, a 6% ABV smoothie sour, on Friday (6% ABV). “Loaded with real Alphonso mango and pineapple on our Berliner weisse base until it runs thick and full-bodied,” says the brewer. “Expect tropical aroma — like your morning smoothie, but in a can — with ripe fruit upfront and a smooth, gentle sourness, all balanced with real fruit sweetness.”
The annual release of DEYA’s Steady Rolling Strata is here. “On the sorting table we got unctuous sticky orange/tangerine, peach, strawberry, and juicy watermelon,” says the brewer. “The tanks sample is spitting with fizzy watermelon, Jolly Ranchers, and unmistakeable tangerine juice.”
