Our January certainly wasn’t dry with visits to the Sureshot and Balance taprooms, selections from Theakston, Adnams and Cairngorm, some stunning Scottish brews for Burn’s Night, a small Czech selection and a few cheeky stouts chucked in for good measure along with various new brews and some old favourites.
This month’s top five new brews
Here’s a rundown of our favourite new brews for January 2025.
Monkey Fighting Snakes by Sureshot Brewery (Manchester)
DIPA 8%
This was the last beer we tried during our visit to the Sureshot Taproom and we definitely saved the best until last. It was divine. It had dank, overripe mango flavours, a full-bodied mouthfeel and low bitterness.
Brewer’s note: Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Brisbane natives, Range. Dry hopped with Citra BBC & Cryo, Nelson Sauvin T90 & hop kief, Rakau T90, and Galaxy T90. Sit back, relax, enjoy the fright.
Brewer’s website: Sureshot Brewing | Craft Beer With a Smile.
Lightfoot by Theakston (Yorkshire)
Blonde 4.1%
We’ve tried beers from Theakston in the past but decided to dedicate one of our Thursday sessions to their brews. We started with this blonde. We weren’t expecting much as blondes aren’t one of our favourite styles, but this one surprised us. It was delicious and is one of our highest-scoring blondes to date. It had some of the spicy flavours you’d get from a Belgian blonde, but not as domineering. There were also notes of honey.
Brewer’s note:
A hop-forward, zesty, floral blonde beer brewed with Munich Malt and bursting with citrus flavour from an abundant use of German Perle and Mittlefruh hops creating a delicious thirst-quenching, continental-blonde style beer.
Lightfoot is named after a brewery in Masham which Theakstons took over in 1919. The Lightfoot and Theakston families were very close and indeed linked through marriage and therefore it was a natural amalgamation of two well-established businesses. For many years it was rumoured that Theakstons took over Lightfoot because they had a better cricket team something that was deemed unacceptable to the brewers in Red Lane! Lightfoot has always been a popular seasonal ale in fact so much so that in 2010 it became a permanent addition to our range and is now available all year round. Lightfoot is a refreshing golden pale ale, brewed using prime English Barley and wheat, continental hops, our famous Masham yeast and water from the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Its light, fruity flavour makes it an ideal accompaniment to light curries, fish and salads and for a hot summer’s day perfect just on its own.
Brewer’s website: Theakston Brewery | T&R Theakston Ltd
Midnight Sun by Williams Bros (Scotland)
Porter 5.5%
For Burn’s Night, we always treat ourselves to haggis, neeps and tatties, washed down with some Scottish brews. This year was no different and this rich, dark and spicy porter from Williams Bros. was one of our Burn’s Night beers. It was fantastic. The ginger flavours were subtle giving it a unique flavour and it was just an incredibly well-balanced beer.
Brewer’s note: An instant classic: Our spiced porter, pours as black as the Midnight Sun and is created from a blend of malted barley, oats, roast barley, chocolate malt then balanced with a generous helping of hops. An after bite of fresh root ginger elevates this ale to another level. The flavours are as paradoxical as the name.
Brewer’s website: Williams Bros. Brewing Co.
Highland Cask Ale by Innis & Gunn (Scotland)
Old Ale 7.7%
Another Burn’s Night brew, but this one was from Innis & Gunn. We’ve tried a few of their beers in the past, and we couldn’t resist this limited-edition Highland Cask Ale. We drank it alongside Innis & Gunn Original which is also a brilliant beer. It’s a shame that this is a limited edition because it was stunning. Very sweet (without being too sweet) with flavours of vanilla and golden syrup, and not too boozy tasting considering it had been matured in whisky barrels.
Brewer’s note:
The Highlands of Scotland are a place that have come to embody the rugged, mountainous beauty of the country and it’s warm, characterful people. Nestled amongst the glens, lochs, and villages are many famed distilleries that capture the essence of this special place in the whiskies they make.
We have sourced casks from the north Highlands where the whiskies are full bodied, rich, and mellow to complement the malty, aromatic, and refreshing qualities of the beer.
This is a unique and original beer that evokes the Highlands of Scotland. It is complex, warming, and packed full of character.
Brewer’s website: Innis & Gunn
* BEER OF THE MONTH *
Apricot Casa by Pastore X Balance
Wild Ale 6%
We love wild and mixed ferm ales so we were very excited to visit Balance Brewing and Blending where we tried this stunning barrel-aged saison – a collaboration between Balance and Pastore. We loved the collab Pastore did for the Love & Beer festival, so we were excited to see them on the menu. And what a great collab this was. Everything we’d want from a wild ale – funky, fruity and sour. Delicious. And the perfect brew to wind up our day in Manchester.
Brewer’s note: A sauternes barrel aged saison, made with heritage malt, raw barley & aged hops, conditioned on Cambridgeshire apricots.
Brewer’s website:
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Bohemian Lager by Utopian Brewing (Devon)
Pilsner 4.2%
There are so many crap and bang-average lagers out there that we’re always super excited to find a good one. This Bohemian lager from Utopian is made using all British ingredients and is lovely, light, crisp and refreshing. An excellent pilsner and certainly worth a shout out.
Brewer’s note: Paying tribute to the classic pilsner-style lagers of Bohemia, our Bohemian British Lager is brewed with a traditional decoction mash using only British ingredients and the latest British flavour of hops, ensuring this lager has a crisp and light fruity finish. Bold, fresh, and easy drinking. The perfect combination.
Brewer’s website: Utopian Brewing
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Field Recordings + Bay Coffee Roasters by North (Leeds)
Whiskey Barrel Aged Stout with Coffee 11%
We first tried this stunning stout in March last year and loved it, so we were excited to try it again. We’re huge fans of stouts, but this one is particularly good and we’d definitely recommend giving it a try if you get a chance.
Brewer’s note: Our eighth Field Recordings release uses a range of Speyside, Highland and Bourbon whiskey oak casks, blending stouts that have aged between 6-18 months.
The Sumatran coffee cuts through the richness and has brought forward a beautiful roasty aroma, laced with red berry and chocolate, that excites you for the layers of flavours to come. An initial hit of whiskey and light bitterness from the roasted coffee smooths into notes of dark chocolate and red currants, highlighted by the blend of barrel-aged stout. A balanced finish leaves smokey and light peaty tones of the whiskey on the palette.
Brewer’s website: North Brewing Co
Monkey Fighting Snakes by Sureshot (Manchester)
DIPA 8%
This was the last beer we tried during our visit to the Sureshot Taproom and we definitely saved the best until last. It was divine. It had dank, overripe mango flavours, a full-bodied mouthfeel and low bitterness.
Brewer’s note: Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Brisbane natives, Range. Dry hopped with Citra BBC & Cryo, Nelson Sauvin T90 & hop kief, Rakau T90, and Galaxy T90. Sit back, relax, enjoy the fright.
Brewer’s website: Sureshot Brewing | Craft Beer With a Smile.
Lightfoot by Theakston (Yorkshire)
Blonde 4.1%
We’ve tried beers from Theakston in the past but decided to dedicate one of our Thursday sessions to one of Yorkshire’s best-known breweries with a selection of Theakston brews. We started with this blonde and we weren’t expecting much as it’s not one of our favourite styles, but this one surprised us. It was delicious and is one of our highest-scoring blondes to date. It had some of the spicy flavours you’d get from a Belgian blonde, but not as domineering. There were also notes of honey.
Brewer’s note:
A hop-forward, zesty, floral blonde beer brewed with Munich Malt and bursting with citrus flavour from an abundant use of German Perle and Mittlefruh hops creating a delicious thirst-quenching, continental-blonde style beer.
Lightfoot is named after a brewery in Masham which Theakstons took over in 1919. The Lightfoot and Theakston families were very close and indeed linked through marriage and therefore it was a natural amalgamation of two well-established businesses. For many years it was rumoured that Theakstons took over Lightfoot because they had a better cricket team something that was deemed unacceptable to the brewers in Red Lane! Lightfoot has always been a popular seasonal ale in fact so much so that in 2010 it became a permanent addition to our range and is now available all year round. Lightfoot is a refreshing golden pale ale, brewed using prime English Barley and wheat, continental hops, our famous Masham yeast and water from the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Its light, fruity flavour makes it an ideal accompaniment to light curries, fish and salads and for a hot summer’s day perfect just on its own.
Brewer’s website: Theakston Brewery | T&R Theakston Ltd
Midnight Sun by Williams Bros. (Scotland)
Porter 5.5%
We always treat ourselves to haggis, neeps and tatties on Burn’s Night and we wash it down with some Scottish brews. This year was no different and this rich, dark and spicy porter from Williams Bros. was one of our Burn’s Night beers. It was fantastic. The ginger flavours were subtle giving it a unique flavour and it was just an incredibly well-balanced beer.
Brewer’s note: An instant classic: Our spiced porter, pours as black as the Midnight Sun and is created from a blend of malted barley, oats, roast barley, chocolate malt then balanced with a generous helping of hops. An after bite of fresh root ginger elevates this ale to another level. The flavours are as paradoxical as the name.
Brewer’s website: Williams Bros. Brewing Co.
Higjland Cask Ale by Innis & Gunn (Scotland)
Old Ale 7.7%
Another Burn’s Night brew, but this one is from Innis & Gunn. We’ve tried a few of their beers in the past, and we couldn’t resist this limited-edition Highland Cask Ale. We drank it alongside their Innis & Gunn Original which is also a brilliant beer. It’s a shame that this is a limited edition because it was stunning. Very sweet (without being too sweet) with flavours of vanilla and golden syrup, and not too boozy tasting considering it had been in whisky barrels.
Brewer’s note:
The Highlands of Scotland are a place that have come to embody the rugged, mountainous beauty of the country and it’s warm, characterful people. Nestled amongst the glens, lochs, and villages are many famed distilleries that capture the essence of this special place in the whiskies they make.
We have sourced casks from the north Highlands where the whiskies are full bodied, rich, and mellow to complement the malty, aromatic, and refreshing qualities of the beer.
This is a unique and original beer that evokes the Highlands of Scotland. It is complex, warming, and packed full of character.
Brewer’s website: Innis & Gunn
* BEER OF THE MONTH *
Apricot Casa by Pastore X Balance
Wild Ale 6%
We love wild and mixed ferm ales so we were very excited to visit Balance Brewing and Blending where we tried this stunning barrel-aged saison – a collaboration between Balance and Pastore. We loved the collab Pastore did for the Love & Beer festival, so we were excited to see them on the menu. And what a great collab this was. Everything we’d want from a wild ale – funky, fruity and sour. Delicious. And the perfect brew to wind up our day in Manchester.
Brewer’s note: A sauternes barrel aged saison, made with heritage malt, raw barley & aged hops, conditioned on Cambridgeshire apricots.
Brewer’s website:
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Bohemian Lager by Utopian (Devon)
Pilsner 4.2%
There are so many crap and bang-average lagers out there that we’re always super excited to find a good one. This Bohemian lager from Utopian is made using all British ingredients and is lovely, light, crisp and refreshing. An excellent pilsner and certainly worth a shout out.
Brewer’s note: Paying tribute to the classic pilsner-style lagers of Bohemia, our Bohemian British Lager is brewed with a traditional decoction mash using only British ingredients and the latest British flavour of hops, ensuring this lager has a crisp and light fruity finish. Bold, fresh, and easy drinking. The perfect combination.
Brewer’s website: Utopian Brewing
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Field Recordings + Bay Coffee Roasters by North (Leeds)
Whiskey Barrel Aged Stout with Coffee 11%
We first tried this stunning stout in March last year and loved it, so we were excited to try it again. We’re huge fans of stouts, but this one is particularly good and we’d definitely recommend giving it a try if you get a chance.
Brewer’s note: Our eighth Field Recordings release uses a range of Speyside, Highland and Bourbon whiskey oak casks, blending stouts that have aged between 6-18 months.
The Sumatran coffee cuts through the richness and has brought forward a beautiful roasty aroma, laced with red berry and chocolate, that excites you for the layers of flavours to come. An initial hit of whiskey and light bitterness from the roasted coffee smooths into notes of dark chocolate and red currants, highlighted by the blend of barrel-aged stout. A balanced finish leaves smokey and light peaty tones of the whiskey on the palette.
Brewer’s website: North Brewing Co
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