New beer launches and collaborations, in store, on bars, and online, from brewers around the UK.
Crafty Devil have collaborated with retailer Craft Republic on The Devil’s Republic, a 6.5% ABV hazy IPA. It marks Craft Republic’s sixth anniversary. A generous dose of oats gives this beer a soft, full-bodied mouthfeel, before hitting it with a huge dry hop of Citra, Citra Dynaboost, Nelson Sauvin, and NZ 109. “The result is an absolute juice bomb, bursting with layers of ripe tropical fruit, juicy citrus, and stonefruit, with huge hop aroma and flavour throughout.” Also fresh, making a return after six years, is a 5.2% ABV DDH IPA called Is This It? There’s a double dry hop of Waimea, Nectaron, Superdelic, and Citra, bringing layers of ripe mango, passionfruit and juicy peach, alongside pink grapefruit, sweet orange, and fresh citrus. Superdelic adds a vibrant red fruit character, while Waimea brings a subtle resinous, piney edge for balance.
Ten pence from every pint of Rooster’s White Rose Charity Pale Ale will be donated to the Harrogate Easier Living Project, working to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, and help older and vulnerable people remain independent for longer. The 4.3% ABV brew is packed with tropical fruit, citrus zest, and juicy stone fruit, with a subtle hint of fresh pine. Brewed with extra pale and wheat malts, plus Ekuanot, Amarillo, and Mosaic hops, it’s crisp, refreshing and moreish.
With an ultra-pale pour and a very fresh hop character, Kōbō Bloom, from Vocation, is a little different from the usual IPA. Fermented warm with sake yeast, the 5.8% ABV brew offers crisp notes of apple, pear, and delicate anise, layered with sweet pineapple, juicy watermelon, and crushed green grape from El Dorado, Calypso and Nelson Sauvin hops. Rice and chit malt keep things clean and bright, while giving a surprisingly soft, silken finish.
Braybrooke have collaborated with Clapton Craft on Clapton Lite Lager, a 3.8% ABV European light lager. Corn was added to the grain bill to make the beer super light. Ariana hops add a subtle juicy freshness. After a slow fermentation and five weeks of lagering, the end result is a light and smooth lager with a crisp finish, balancing German hop aroma with just the right bitterness, says the brewer.
Root and Peak (7.1% ABV) is a hazy IPA from Thornbridge, brewed in collaboration with Arbor. A blend of New World hops delivers vibrant tropical fruit flavours and aromas. Pouring a bright light gold with a shimmering haze, it offers a soft, pillowy mouthfeel, balanced by a gentle bitterness.
Back in June, Beak hosted a live drawing event at Tate Modern’s Corner Bar, inviting members of the public to create their own beer label. The winner was Colin Chee, and his work adorns Skyful, a 6.5% ABV IPA. It’s ultra-hazy IPA loaded with two favourite lesser-known New Zealand hop varieties. Delicate notes of orchard blossom and red berries from NZ Cascade are layered with Rakau’s soft apricot character, while Citra ties everything together with flavours of tangerine and sweet mango.
Great Newsome’s Hopstice IPA, which has been available on draught for a while, has now been bottled. At 5.1% ABV, it’s a full-bodied IPA with aromatic pineapple and peach on the nose, followed by bags of well-balanced grapefruit on the palate.
