New Brew March 2024
This newsletter is all about beer - if you don't like beer, it's probably not for you.
But if you like beer, want to learn more about it, or just want to read something a bit different to the usual stuff on LinkedIn, stick around.
Why New Brew Thursday?
Every Thursday, my husband (Alex) and I try a beer we've never tried before. Sometimes we try a few different styles from the same brewery. Sometimes we try a few similar styles from different breweries and compare. Sometimes we try one we've had before and compare it to a new one. Sometimes we just have a beer.
And sometimes, we try beers on days other than Thursday.
So I thought I'd create a monthly newsletter to share my beery experiences and provide a round-up of what we've been tasting.
A sessionable selection from Ilkley Brewery (Yorks)
We love supporting our local breweries and Ilkley is just a short train ride away, so we decided to include a selection of their beers in this month's new brews
For me, the Slake was the standout of the four. Lager isn't my favourite style, but this is one of the best lagers I've ever had - it was light, refreshing and malty. Alex's favourite was the Blonde, which was also excellent. But they were all good beers, and all under 4.5% ABV, making them all good session beers.
Slake 4.5%
Brewer's note: "Craving a crisp, clean lager that quenches your thirst with every sip? Look no further than Ilkley Brewery's Slake Lager.?Patiently lagered for a rich and full flavour before dry-hopping. This golden lager boasts a distinctive biscuit aroma and a refreshingly light taste. Enjoy Slake on a sunny afternoon, while grilling with friends, or simply as a light and refreshing beverage any time."
Mary Jane 3.4%
Brewer's note: "Intensely refreshing, with citrus aroma and balanced bitterness. Named after the character from the Yorkshire anthem?'Ont Ilkla Moor Baht’at'."
Blonde 4%
Brewer's note: "Easy-drinking, good-looking session blonde beer, a modern take on the classic golden bitter. Delightful honey sweetness, complemented by subtle citrus notes. The soft biscuit character adds depth and complexity, while the crisp finish leaves you wanting more. Whether you're a seasoned beer drinker or just starting to explore the world of beers, God's Own Session Blonde is a must-try."
Pale 4.2%
Brewer's note: "Crisp and dry with a zesty finish and fresh-cut grass aroma. Powerfully hopped for a floral finish. The Sauvignon Blanc of the beer world."
Coincidentally, Ilkley Brewery has just won an award for this alcohol-free beer. We'll be keeping an eye out for it for a future new brew.
Brewer's website: Ilkley Brewery
Beer Battle: English Stouts
In the run-up to St Patrick's Day, there's a lot of talk about Irish Stouts - Guinness in particular. But we decided to battle some English Stouts from some pretty well-known breweries - three from the south and one from the north.
We're lucky enough to have visited the Camden Brewery and Fuller's Brewery in London and we've also done the brewery tour at Black Sheep Brewery in Yorkshire. I would highly recommend popping into any of their tap rooms (although I don't think I've found a taproom I wouldn't recommend).
But back to our beer battle. We got off to a great start with Fuller's Black Cab Stout which had a lovely thick mouthfeel and a dark, roasty bitterness. Next up was the Black Sheep Milk Stout which was slightly fizzier and had a long, dry finish.
I've previously tried the Camden Stout on draft and had high hopes, but I was a little disappointed. It was definitely better on draft. That said, it wasn't a bad beer. It was very smooth with a quick finish, but it lacked the complexity of the first two.
Finally, we tried the Mackesons Stout. At only 2.8%, it was surprisingly flavourful and very well-balanced.
Being stouts, we'd had them out of the fridge a while before diving in, but they all got better as they warmed up, especially the Black Sheep which got creamier and sweeter. By the end of the battle, we'd both decided that the Black Sheep Milk Stout just had the edge over the other three (and we aren't just saying that because it's from Yorkshire).
Fuller's Black Cab Stout 4.5% (London)
Brewer's note: "Brewed with the knowledge of London's oldest family brewer, Fuller's Black Cab is a rich, dark stout that transports you to a time gone by. London was famous for stouts in the 19th century – and we're on a journey to make that the case again."
Brewer's website: Fuller’s Brewery
Camden Stout 4% (London)
Brewer's note: "It's okay to be big-headed. Especially when it comes to Stout. We use nitrogen bubbles to give our smooth stout its thick, creamy head and fresh finish. Packed full of character, this is our fresh take on a classic style. So, in the spirit of being big-headed, we think it's the finest stout in the land."
Brewer's website: Camden Town Brewery Webshop – Camden Town Brewery Webshop
Mackeson Stout 2.8%
Summarised from Wikipedia:
This stout was first brewed in 1909 by Mackeson's Brewery of Hythe, Kent to celebrate the 240th anniversary of brewing in Hythe. Whitbread acquired the brand in 1929 and by the 1950s, it accounted for half of Whitbread's production and was brewed in London, Stockport, Kirkstall and Hythe. Brewing at Hythe ended in 1968. The beer was then brewed in Sheffield until 1993, followed by Castle Eden and Samlesbury plants until May 1999. Whitbread was purchased in 2001 by Interbrew (now Anheuser-Busch InBev).
Black Sheep Milk Stout 4.4% (Masham, Yorkshire)
Brewer's note: "Our award-winning Milk Stout beer is made with roasted malts that are topped with lactose to provide sweetness and a creamy texture. The milk sugar perfectly tempers the bitter bite of the hops and makes the stout smoother and distinctively rich. The stout beer carries creamy coffee and rich chocolate notes on the palate to a dry but mouth-coating finish. It’s a balanced brew that’s infinitely drinkable. Milk Stout is proudly partnered with the Human Milk Foundation who are working to help more families feed their babies with donated breastmilk."
Since we purchased this beer, Black Sheep has undergone a rebrand. I think the new look is fantastic.
Brewer's website: Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire
St Patrick's Day Celebrations
I've been to the Guinness Brewery a couple of times, and actually spent my 40th birthday in Dublin (other Irish beers were consumed). But despite being very familiar with Guinness, we decided St Patrick's Day wouldn't be complete without at least one (we had a fair few).
One bottle of Guinness Original went in my Irish stew - the rest were consumed throughout the afternoon. Technically, the only new brew of our St Patrick's Day selection was the Guinness 0.0 as we've tried the others before.
They are all decent beers and I wouldn't turn any of them down, but for me, the West Indies Porter comes out on top.
Brewer's note: "A style with origins from our brewers' diaries dating back to 1801, West Indies Porter is complex yet mellow, hoppy with notes of toffee and chocolate."
Brewer's website: The World of Guinness: Beers, Experiences & More | Guinness?
Still on the Stout
It's coming to the end of winter so no doubt, there will be fewer stouts in our selections as the days (hopefully) start to get warmer.
But while we're still in the stout season, we're getting in as many good ones as we can - and there have been some exceptionally good ones this month.
Barrel Aged Mint Chocolate Stout (12.2) from Vocation (Hebden bridge)
This 12.2% Barrel Aged Mint Chocolate Stout from Vocation was delicious!
We had a bottle each, but if it wasn't so strong, I'd have happily guzzled a few more. The mint was strong on the aroma, but subtle on the taste. And despite being over 12%, it didn't taste too boozy. So creamy and decadant - this is definitely a treat beer.
Brewer's note: "Luxurious minty and bitter-sweet flavours give way to a sophisticated after-dinner style dark chocolate. Enhanced by barrel ageing over 9 months in bourbon."
Brewer's website: Vocation Brewery
Whiskey Barrel Aged Stout with Coffee (11%) from North (Leeds)
I'd have happily put the mint stout as my favourite stout of the month if we hadn't snuck this one in right at the end.
I've said it before and will no doubt say it many more times, but North are one of our favourite local breweries. And this stout was exceptional.
It had coffee and whiskey flavours without either of them being overpowering. It was so silky smooth in the mouth. Definitely one of the best stouts we've tasted and only just missed out on our beer of the month.
Brewer's note: "Our latest Field Recordings release – an Irish coffee of monstrous proportions. A rich and decadent whiskey barrel-aged stout brewed with Bay's award-winning Sumatran coffee."
Brewer's website: North Brewing Co Online Shop
Bay Coffee: Bay Coffee Roasters
Craft and Crust Festival
We love a beer festival, especially when it involves tasty food as well. So when the Craft and Crust festival popped up on my Facebook feed just before Christmas, I bought two tickets.
This made a nice Christmas present for my husband (that would also benefit me). Plus, the venue is walking distance from our house and we didn't have much else planned for March.
There were around 15 vendors offering various beers and many of them were from the south of England which meant we got to try some new breweries. We wanted to try as many as possible so we stuck to half pints, and managed eight beers from seven different breweries (as well as filling up on some delicious pie and mash). Here's a rundown of what we tried.
Today (4.8% Helles Lager) from Wiper and True (Bristol)
We'd only recently discovered Wiper and True and tried a few of their beers back in Feb (check out last month's newsletter to see which came out top).
We'd enjoyed all their beers so we decided to start our session with their lager. Lager is a good starting point as it's not too heavy and there are no overpowering flavours.
This particular lager was refreshing, with a lemony flavour and a nice dry finish. Nothing special but a good lager.
Brewer's note: "A traditional Munich Helles lager, created by our Bavarian Master Brewer, Marvin. Crisp and dry, with a gently herbal edge. Smooth, mellow malt flavours lead to clean bitterness, thanks to a lengthy maturation period in tank. Deliciously satisfying and easy drinking - just like a good lager should be."
Brewer's website: Wiper and True. Beautiful Beer from Bristol
Rhu-Bar-Beer (3.7% fruit beer) from Yorkshire Heart (North Yorkshire)
Next, we opted for a low-ABV fruit beer from a local brewery that we weren't familiar with. We decided to give this beer a go because it was a cask beer (and we're on a mission to support cask whenever we can).
The toffee and biscuit flavours from the malt came through nicely, but the rhubarb flavour stood out (without being too sour). Some fruity beers can be a bit too sweet, but this one was nicely balanced.
Brewer's note: "Dark in colour with deliciously fruity Rhubarb flavours complete with a crisp aroma and refreshing tartness aftertaste."
Brewer's website: Yorkshire Heart Vineyard & Brewery
Electric Eye (5% Pale Ale) from Big Smoke Brew (Surrey)
We'd seen the lineup of breweries before the event, and we knew Big Smoke would be there with this award-winning pale ale, so it was already on the shortlist. It was juicy, hazy, and tropical - a very good beer.
Brewer's Note: "Tropical fruit aroma, citrus and grapefruit on the palate, light biscuit notes, clean, dry and crisp with a lingering bitter finish."
Brewer's website: Big Smoke Brew Co.
Harvest (4.2% Pale Ale) from Rural Brewing (Staffordshire)
As we were already on the pale ales, we decided to see how this one from Rural Brewing compared. It was another good beer - juicy, but not too juicy, and slightly more bitter than the Electric Eye.
Unfortunately, I can't find any brewer's notes on this beer but I suspect it could be the same or similar to their core pale ale.
Brewer's website: Rural Brewing Co.
Pinewoods Pale Ale (4.4%) from Harrogate Brewing Co. (Harrogate)
Another pale ale, but this one was on cask, and from a (relatively) local brewery. This one wasn't as juicy, but the malt flavours came through nicely.
Brewer's note: "Citrusy American hops, balanced with traditional British malts. Pinewood is an 18th-century woodland south-west of Harrogate."
Brewer's website: Harrogate Brewing Co.
Medicine Man (6% IPA) from Big Smoke Brew Co (Surrey)
We wanted to try as many different breweries as possible, but we ended up going in for a second one from Big Smoke as we wanted to try their award-winning pale ale, but they also had the only West Coast IPA at the event.
As it turns out, they were promoting it as a westie at the event, but according to their website, it's midway between an East Coast and West Coast. It was definitely more juicy and hazy than a traditional westie, but still a good beer.
Brewer's Note: "Perfectly balanced between the west and east coast IPA styles, Medicine Man is an easy drinking big hitter. Resinous on the nose with a refreshingly dry, hoppy and piney finish."
Brewer's website: Big Smoke Brew Co.
Passionfruit Martini Sour (5.5% Kettle Sour) from Double Barrelled Brewery (Reading)
I had my eye on this Passionfruit Martini Sour from the start, but we wanted to save the bigger flavours for last.
It was worth the wait. Very tart - the kind of sour that makes your mouth water - but lovely flavours of passionfruit came through too. This was our favourite beer of the day.
Brewer's note: "Filled to the brim with juicy passionfruit, with hints of lime and vanilla, and complemented by a “shot” of white grapes, this is a tangy, juicy and delicious kettle sour. Designed to replicate the classic cocktail and brewed by some of the awesome ladies in our team to celebrate International Women’s Day!"
Brewer's website: Double-Barrelled Brewery
As The Sun Sets Slowly In The West (8% Chai Stout) from Makemake (Portsmouth)
I was looking forward to this one, but it was a little disappointing. I thought it had flavours of liquorice and I can't say I'm a fan of liquorice. Not a terrible beer, but not a standout beer either.
Brewer's note: "With all the chai flavours present in abundance, this wonder is the comforting hug we all seek during the colder months."
Brewer's website: Makemake Brewery & Fermentary
What even is an IPA?
There are loads of IPAs about, so it's easy to fall into the trap of saying "I love IPA" or "I can't stand IPA" without realising there are so many different styles. If you're confused about what an IPA is and the difference between East Coast and West Coast IPAs, check out this video from the Craft Beer Channel.
What else have we been drinking?
Shipwrecked: Pi?a Colada IPA (7%) from Northern Monk
This was a great beer to try out our new limited edition 10th anniversary Northern Monk glasses. But then, Northern Monk beers rarely disappoint.
This Pina Colada twist on NM's Transient was excellent. It had pineapple and coconut flavours and barely any bitterness.
My only criticism of Northern Monk is their lack of product descriptions. I guess at least with Pi?a Colada, you can kind of figure out what you're going to get.
Brewer's website: Northern Monk
Shipwrecked: Pi?a Colada IPA (7%) from Northern Monk
I'm not sure I've ever had a hazy lager before so didn't really know what to expect. If I'd have blind tasted this beer, I would have said it was a hazy IPA because it didn't taste like lager.
That said, it was a nice beer. Grapefruit flavours, not a lot of bitterness and very easy drinking.
Brewer's note: "British weather is always a hot topic - Minus the heat. So, we've brought the tropic to Camden. We've packed our hazy lager with citrus and grapefruit to forecast tropical taste and combined it with oats for a smooth mouthfeel. Tropic. Like it's hot."
Brewer's website: Camden Town Brewery Webshop
A trio of IPAs from Welbeck Abbey Brewery (Nottinghamshire)
These were a Christmas gift from my in-laws who live just down the road from Welbeck Abbey Brewery which borders Sherwood Forest.
We started with the Georgiana as it had the lowest ABV, then moved onto the Atlas (which we've had before) and finished with the Santa Baby.
Georginana: Session IPA (3.7%)
Brewer's note: "This highly drinkable platinum-blonde beer has a bright, crisp flavour reminiscent of lime zest and grapefruit."
Atlas: Ultra-Hopped West Coast IPA (5%)
Brewer's note: "This American West Coast IPA showcases the best New World hops, bringing both piney resinous and bold tropical flavours, which are balanced with English malted barley."
Santa Baby: South Pacific Hopped IPA (5.9%)
Brewer's note: "It may be cold outside, but we have an Australian Christmas beer to warm you. This beer is highly hopped with the freshest South Pacific and American varieties for a full flavoured juicy IPA."
Brewer's website: Home - Welbeck Abbey Brewery
Beer of the month
Pauwel Kwak (8.4%) from Brouwerij Bosteels (Belgium)
We had a lot of excellent beers in March so it was a close competition for our beer of the month, but this Belgian beauty just pipped it.
If I had to describe it in one sentence I'd go with "caramel in a glass" - it was so good. But I guess we shouldn't have been surprised since Belgium is famed for its excellent beers.
Brewer's note: "Kwak is recognisable by its deep bright amber colour and a dense, creamy coloured head. You will smell a mellow, fruity and malty aroma with a slightly spicy character (coriander, hops). Additional earthy and very subtle aromas of banana and perhaps also a whiff of pineapple or mango in the background. Discover a very mellow, fruity attack, a nougat-like solidity, and a slightly spicy character with hints of liquorice passing into a warm finish that reminds you of caramelised banana. The bitterness always remains in the background but in the end emerges delicately."
Brewer's website: Bosteels Brewery
Support your local independent brewers
Part of the reason I started this newsletter was to encourage people to support their local brewers. The beer industry is being hammered with challenges right now and needs our help (no matter how small the contribution).
Most of the breweries featured in this month's newsletter have bars or taprooms where you can sit and enjoy a brew. And your local breweries probably do too.
So pop into a taproom for a pint. Grab a couple of bottles or cans to try at home. Look for beers from independent breweries when you're at the supermarket or down at your local.
And if you don't like beer, you can still show support.
If your local brewery offers a brewery tour, book the tour or book it as a gift for someone else.
If they serve food in their taproom, go and eat there.
If they host events, buy a ticket.
If they sell glassware or merchandise, treat yourself.
And if they have an event space, consider holding your next event there.
Find out what your local breweries offer - you might be surprised. From hosting running clubs, book clubs, and networking events, to hosting private events and even weddings - breweries are no longer just places where beer is made.
What's on the menu for April?
A test of Faith
I've mentioned several times that Northern Monk is one of our favourite breweries, but I might not have mentioned that Faith is one of my all-time favourite beers.
However, Northern Monk has recently announced changes to the recipe. One key difference is the lower ABV - they are taking it down from 5.4% to 5%, (mostly due to the recent changes in tax rates on beer).
I'm a little apprehensive - what if the new recipe isn't as good?
Well, we'll find out soon enough. We've got a can of old and a can of new and we'll be blind tasting them to see whether there's any notable difference in flavour and which (if any) comes out on top.
Guess the Hops
We've also just ordered the "Guess the Hops" selection from Siren Craft Brew which I think is a great initiative.
Each beer is "absolutely saturated with the flavours and aromas of an amazing single hop."
My palate isn't quite refined enough to pick out individual hop flavours yet, so I'm not sure I'll do very well. But I'm hoping this will help me improve my hop knowledge. And of course, I'll let you know how I got on once the answers are revealed.
These are still available from Siren's web shop, so get in quick if you want to play: Siren Craft Brew - Guess The Hop Trio.
I'm not a beer blogger - I'm a blogger who likes beer
Beer has nothing to do with my business (not directly at least).
Craft beer is an interest I share with my husband - something we enjoy together - and this newsletter is purely a passion project (for now). I like beer. I like writing, so why not write about beer?
I am not paid to promote any of the beers, breweries or businesses featured in this newsletter - I'm just sharing stuff I think might be of interest to you.
I would always encourage people to drink responsibly. UK Chief Medical Officers recommend adult men do not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily, and adult women do not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily. Drink responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk
When we're drinking multiple new brews or new brews with high ABVs, we split the cans or bottles between us - otherwise, I'd get very little work done on a Friday.
And talking of work, here's a little reminder of what I do.
I provide copywriting training for individuals and teams and marketing mentoring for freelancers and small business owners.
Feel free to message me if you need help attracting and converting more of the clients you want, or if you'd like to send me free beer ??.
Find out more about my services at www.makeyourcopycount.com