Beer Today’s regular round-up of news in brief: new releases, venue openings, event announcements.
A chocolately stout with marshmallow sweetness and smooth oak-aged depth, Rock E Road Star is a new 8.5% ABV rocky road milk stout from Brew York.
Aromas of dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and roasted peanuts rise gently, wrapped in soft lactose sweetness. Ageing on charred American oak lends notes of vanilla, caramel, and a touch of smoke. On the palate, it’s creamy, nutty, and indulgent, layering cocoa richness with toasted oak spice. The finish lingers, smooth and mellow.
There are two new beers from Dolphin Brewery. Fresco (5.7% ABV) is a development of a previous beer, blossom, and is a zesty sour with a deep citrus character, having been conditioned on Calabrian bergamots and dry-hopped with Nectaron. There are vibrant notes of lime peel, grapefruit, and orange blossom.
Shadow (5.5% ABV) is a dark sour brewed with a blend of roasted and crystal malts, with a tart acidity and flavours of stewed plums, prunes, and raisins. “We used Brazilian beans from our neighbours, Lincoln Coffee Roasters, to add coffee aroma and a fruity freshness reminiscent of delicately brewed cold coffee,” says the brewer.
Jewel (4.8% ABV) is a new hazy pale ale from Double Barrelled. Enigma and El Dorado hops sparkle with pineapple, grape and melon flavours, while Pacific Jade, Idaho Gem, Topaz and Idaho 7 Cryo add an abundance of tropical, berry, and lychee riches.
There’s not one but five new brews from Bearwood, comprising three strong stouts and two NEIPAs. Surfin’ Scarif is a maple and pecan imperial stout, Beggar’s Speedway a raspberry and marshmallow imperial stout, and Long Hoth Summer a chocolate and peanut butter imperial stout. All three come in at 13% ABV.
The NEIPAs are Stromberg (6.5% ABV), hopped with HBC 630, Superdelic, and Mosaic, and Mostly Harmless (6% ABV), hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Nectaron, Mosaic, and Mosaic HyperBoost.
Siren Craft Brew have officially released their 13th anniversary beers: a mandarin pale, an imperial stout, and an IPA. Plus, there a new annual release of Maiden.
Zestiny (5% ABV) sees fleshy mandarin combined with Citra, Eclipse, and Amarillo hops. The mandarin adds sweet juiciness to a soft, creamy mouthfeel of oats and wheat, finishing with zestiness. Shattered Mirror is a 9.1% ABV imperial stout. It’s a mash-up of existing imperial stouts Shattered Dream and Black Mirror with layers of rich cacao, roasted coffee, toasted coconut, deconstructed rum barrels, and luxurious vanilla.
Lucky Numbers is a 7% ABV IPA, hopped with Idaho 7 for extra luck. Expect a golden glow and waves of tropical, resinous, and juicy stonefruit flavours. Finally, there’s Maiden ’25, a 12% ABV barley wine aged in a multitude of barrels sourced from the finest wine and spirit producers. “This year’s blend has a biscuity tasting profile, with a sweet and savoury tension,” says the brewer. “It’s light and approachable, and carries notes of spiced carrot cake.”
Belhaven Brewery has launched Belhaven Black Scottish Stout in cans across more than 1,000 Lidl stores nationwide. The rollout marks an important moment for the brewery, expanding Belhaven Black’s availability beyond its traditional heartland.
Blood Lust (4.5% ABV) is Neptune’s new blood orange and rhubarb sour. “Bursting with vibrant blood orange, it leads with juicy citrus sweetness, balanced by a subtle bittersweet edge, while rhubarb brings a gentle tartness that keeps things bright and refreshing,” says the brewer. “The result is a crisp, mouthwatering sour, with a clean finish.”
There are four new beers from Holy Goat, and they’re big hitters.
Bramble Smasher 2026 (5.5% ABV)has been blended from two batches of golden sour beer aged on 400kg of local Scottish blueberries, in addition to 10kg of Nigerian hibiscus and 4kg of Tanzanian vanilla. Heretic (7.5% ABV) is an Oud Bruin sour red/brown ale combining 80% provision strength ‘young’ stock beer, aged in steel, with around 30% ‘mature’ stock beer, which had been fermented on Rondo grape skins and aged in Oloroso sherry casks. These casks had been refilled with single malt whisky from Auchroisk distillery.
Deglet Nour Date Porter (5.9% ABV) is an export-strength brown porter, brewed with a carefully selected blend of Simpsons double-roasted crystal, red rye crystal, and amber malts, then conditioned on 150kg of Tunisian Deglet Nour date syrup. There’s also a new batch of hazy pale ale Supa Scoopa (5.2% ABV).
• Heineken UK has announced new walking football and walking netball partnerships with Hearts FC in Scotland and Drinkaware, created to help people improve their health, confidence and social connection, while supporting moderation and reducing alcohol consumption.
Throughout the programme, local players will be invited to free weekly walking football and netball sessions with simple, engaging educational touchpoints about alcohol and wellbeing integrated into the experience. Participants will be offered the Drinkaware Drinking Check as well as ongoing light touch information about alcohol, helping them make small changes that add up to healthier habits.
UnBarred have collaborated with local artist Thumbs on Supervillian, a 3.7% ABV session IPA. Expect ripe mango, peach, and pineapple, layered with bright citrus zest and a gentle resinous edge. It’s driven by a punchy trio of Cryo Citra, Cryo Columbus, and Idaho 7 hops.
Coppice is Vibrant Forest’s new gluten-free session IPA, coming in at 3.4% ABV. “Packed with Mosaic, Centennial, and Chinook, it’s soft, bright, and ridiculously easy to drink,” says the brewer. “The kind of beer that quietly disappears while you’re enjoying the sunshine.”
Wild Horse are celebrating their anniversary with a collaboration beer created with Rivington and called, appropriately, Eleven. The hazy 8% ABV double IPA is a pillowy juicy fruit bomb, loaded with Citra, Idaho 7, Mosaic, and Dolcita Cryo hops. Expect ripe mango, juicy pineapple, and zesty citrus, backed by a touch of soft peach.
A new 4.8% ABV pale ale from Neon Raptor is Right on Time. “Idaho 7 CGX and Azacca hops walked right in to this hot temptation of a hazy pale ale,” says the brewer. “This light and fruity beer arrives Right on Time and you gotta drink up, gotta drink up!”
• Wren Pubs has secured the lease of 7 Sloane Square in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood. Previously occupied by The Botanist restaurant, the new site will be the fourth addition to Wren Pubs’ growing portfolio of West London-based, community-minded pubs.
Following the completion of the new lease in June, the site will undergo a sensitive refurbishment, returning it to its roots as a neighbourhood pub.
“7 Sloane Square was originally the site of a pub that was central to the neighbourhood, so it feels particularly poignant that the venue will be returning to its original purpose,” said Wren Pubs owner Jack Greenall. “We’re honoured to be taking on the stewardship of such a well-loved site, and look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new guests soon.”
