Beer Today’s regular round-up of news in brief: new releases, venue openings, event announcements.
Wye Valley Brewery has rolled out Nightjar, its smooth and creamy nitro stout, into cans in ASDA. The beer will be in Sainsbury’s at the end of May, with selected Waitrose stores to follow later in the year. Nightjar’s flavour profile is defined by subtle notes of roasted coffee and a depth of roasted barley, delivering a classic stout character with a refined modern twist.
The fourth of 12 Fresh From releases from Northern Monk in 2026 is a 5.6% ABV pale ale. The beer pairs Krush, a new favourite, known for its fruit basket and tropical fruit aroma and flavour with Rakau, an all-time banger that beautifully blends stonefruit with a slight dank bite. Both are filled out with a kettle addition of Cascade Prysma for a “fine-tuned but satisfying intensity”.
Thornbridge have collaborated with Vault City on Clear The Vault, a 6.8% ABV West Coast IPA. “We agreed on using the experimental hop HBC522 from Yakima Chief, which tastes like a classic American ‘C’ hop, bursting with orange, grapefruit, and pine,” say the brewers. “To complement this, we’ve added Strata, for its huge layers of vibrant tropical fruit.”
Kali is the latest in Newbarns’ series of dog-inspired IPAs. The 5.5% ABV brew is a collaboration with Edinburgh institution The Hanging Bat. Brewed with Bere Barley, it is hopped generously with Nelson Sauvin and Stryian Wolf.
Amity and botanicals specialists Wolfe Bros have collaborated on Tails, a 4.3% ABV orancello pale ale. “Orange zest and fruit from their Orancello production bring vivid citrus aromatics and a soft, candied sweetness to this sessionable pale ale,” says the brewer.
“Velvet Moth is a beer we’re incredibly excited about,” says Indie Rabble. It’s a 4.5% ABV sour packed with apricot for a real tart punch of flavour, a touch of vanilla, and tons of wheat for a silky smooth, soft finish.
Rue de Soda (4% ABV) is new from DEYA. The light and crisp pale ale has been dry-hopped with Lorien, Citra and Audacia. Also new from DEYA this week is Screen’s Gone Purple, a 4% ABV cask ale.
• The George and Dragon, in Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire, has been renamed The Great Decoy by new owner the Chickpea Group. The new reflects upon the history of the area as part of a network of decoy sites during the second world war. These sites were designed to mislead enemy aircraft by drawing bombing raids away from strategic targets.
Beak have joined forces with the Aussies at Mountain Culture for their latest IPA release. Rituals pours thick, showcasing the latest Australian crop of Galaxy hops, backed up by Mosaic and Motueka. Expect a hazy, tropical hit bursting with passion fruit and zesty tangerine notes. It launches on 27th April.
Belgian beer brand Chouffe has made its way to the shelves in ASDA. Brewed in the Ardennes, the 9% ABV brew is a bold, hop-forward beer with bright citrus flavours, light spice, and a smooth, slightly sweet finish. It combines the bitterness expected from an IPA with the fruity character typical of Belgian brewing.
• No matter how well businesses try in these tough times, successive government’s have made it harder for them to operate. That was the message from Butcombe chief executive, Jonathan Lawson, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“We had a very good year last year and we invested significantly into our business,” he said. But the rising costs and tax base that this government and previous governments have inflicted on business, and on our sector in particular, make it very difficult for us to have confidence around investment and employment growth, and the latest increases in the national minimum wage have added to that.
“We are always optimistic. But I think the government’s narrative is the latest GDP figures are showing signs it is doing a good job. I would challenge that.”
There are three new beers from Brids Cross Brewing, a brewery inspired the mythology and folklore of the British Isles. Betty Blomley (4.5% ABV) is a red session IPA, with a bold British malt backbone. Dale 1907 is a 4.5% ABV pale ale, crisp and light with notes of pine and citrus. Also coming in at 4.5% ABV is Ash & Elm, an American pale ale “bursting with citrus”.
• Amber Taverns has opened The Strand Social, in Barnstaple, Devon. The venue was formerly a JD Wetherspoon pub. The sports-orientated pub also has a private karaoke room.
• Fired Up Collective are to open their fifth pub on 1st May. The Sunray, in Osmington, Weymouth, has undergone a multi-million pound restoration over four years. There are 14 holiday cottages in the property’s grounds.
