New beer launches and collaborations, in store, on bars, and online, from brewers around the UK
Beak have collaborated with Evil Twin on Stacks, a 10% ABV imperial stout. Thick, unctuous, and decadent, it’s packed with cacao nibs, coconut, Madagascan vanilla, and vegan marshmallows. “Expect liquid dessert in a glass,” say the brewers.
The first of two collaborations planned between Westerham and Thornbridge, Albion is a 5% ABV British Lager made with a blend of English lager malt and light Munich malt, for a classically Munich-style Helles lager. Brewed at Westerham with German-bred hops grown here in Britain, Albion is available at Westerham Brewery and Thornbridge Brewery for a limited time only. It will be taking pride of place as the Festbier at Westerham’s Oktoberwest celebrations on 26th September and 3rd October.
Festbier (5.2% ABV) is Orbit’s latest White Label Series release, a take on a Bavarian festival lager. A blend of Vienna, lager, and Bohemian pilsner malts provides aromas of fresh bread, honey, crackers, and biscuits. The very subtle addition of cherry ember smoked malt adds a depth of character, bringing a faint hint of woodsmoke that lifts the other malt aromas, rather than dominating. “Think freshly baked bread from a wood-fired oven, rather than smoky bacon!” says the brewer. Tettnang and Perle bring a traditional German hop profile, offering soft floral and spicy aromas, and a clean herbal bitterness to finish.
Gleam is a fresh New Zealand hopped 4.2% ABV session IPA from Attic. “Think aromas of gooseberry, grape, and passionfruit,” says the brewer. “It’s packed with tropical flavours, citrus notes, and a balanced bitterness on the finish.”
Cara red and rye malt create the caramel earthy base to Redbird Days (4.2% ABV), a kveik red session IPA from Bristol Beer Factory. Kveik yeast adds bold nectarine from the start with US West Coast hops delivering their iconic pine citrus finish.
Dandelion and Burdock Porter (5.2% ABV), rich, dark, and steeped with nostalgia, is new from Neptune. It offers the classic roasted malt and chocolate characteristics of a porter, married with the flavour of caramel and hints of spice and herbal notes of dandelion and burdock.
Vibrant Forest have launched Baum, a 5.6% ABV continental-style lager, a take on a traditional German Märzen. “It’s more robust and malt-forward than your typical lager, with loads of biscuit and cracker flavours, a little caramel, and a light minerality,” says the brewer. It’s just in time for Vibrant Forest’s Oktoberfest celebration, which takes place this Friday (25th September).
Electric Bear have raided the pick ‘n’ mix and brewed a peach ring sour and fizzy cherry sour. The former is Peach Babes (4.6% ABV) and the latter Buck Cherry (also 4.6% ABV). “Packed with juicy fruit flavour, proper sourness, and plenty of sweet shop nostalgia,” says the brewer.
For their September Fresh From release, Northern Monk were rejoined by Dani, now at Brew Moon in Amberley, New Zealand. Previously a Monk brewer, Dani brought some batches of locally-grown Riwaka, Nelson, and Motueka from Bold River Hops. The resulting Pale Ale (5.6% ABV) has a punchy lemon-lime aroma and passionfruit undertones, with a smooth mouthfeel and bright yellow haze.
Pomona Island are getting in the Oktoberfest mood with two new releases. Alarm Zu Geben is a 5.6% ABV dry-hopped Pilsner with aromas of peach iced tea and a hint of orange zest. It drinks crisp and refreshing, with notes of tangerine and apricot on the finish. I See Your Schwartz Is As Big As Mine is a 5% ABV schwartzbier, a crispy lager with subtle roasted malts and hints of cacao.
Something Good is a hoppy beer development series from DEYA to push the brewers and the boundaries of hoppy beer. The latest version (a 6% ABV IPA) has raw wheat in the mash to boost perceived mouthfeel and promote ester production from the house yeast. Loading the dry hop with Nectaron and Simcoe delivers passionfruit, mango, and some underlying dankness, atop a fluffy base.
Track and Verdant have added three new beers to their Flux, hop-forward experimental series. “These latest additions explore a new trio of hops, but with the balance shifting from one beer to the next,” say the brewer. “This time, though, we’re keeping the details under wraps and won’t reveal what hops have been used and in what ratio – it’s for you, the drinker, to work out.” There a 5.5% ABV DDH pale, a 6.5% ABV IPA, and an 8% ABV DIPA.
