“Gluten removed, but aura added,” say Electric Bear of their new 4.5% ABV pale ale Californian Bruv. Loaded with West Coast hops Citra, Cascade, Amarillo, and Chinook, there’s lashings of pithy grapefruit upfront, backed by juicy tropical fruit and soft melon, with a light, lingering bitterness.

Track’s Cultivate series of beers series moves down the South Island of New Zealand to Bold River Hops, part of Okuora Farms, a 700-hectare family farm on the banks of (and named after) the Hurunui River in North Canterbury. Founded in 2020 by John Penno and Maury Leyland, they are the first and only commercial hop growers in the region.

Track have formulated a 6.5% ABV IPA with the ideal canvas to showcase their Nectaron crop — a malt bill that’s soft and smooth on the palate, a sweet-leaning water profile, and a yeast character that accentuates and supports the fruitiness. The hop shines with big stonefruit and tropical flavour, conjuring peach, nectarine, passionfruit ,and grapefruit, with a dank, herbal finish.

Continuing the malapropism theme from the recent With The Benefit of Hind Legs release, Verdant have again collaborated with illustrator Steve Xoh on Four All Intensive Porpoises. It’s a 4.5% ABV pale ale hopped with a cross-hemisphere meeting of Krush, NZH-101, and Galaxy, for tropical, citrus, and piney flavours. Also new this week is There is a Garden Within Me, a 6.5% ABV IPA hopped with Krush, NZ101, and Galaxy. Expect notes of passionfruit, mango, stonefruit, and a hint of vanilla.

Kiwi Aura ’26 Garston Hops is the latest release in Left Handed Giant’s series that explores the unique terroir of New Zealand hop farms. Growing some of the world’s southernmost hops across five gardens, the McNamee family continue to bring a unique character to well-loved varieties. The 6.5% ABV hazy IPA is hopped with Motueka, NZ Cascade, and Riwaka.

Mohawk (4.4% ABV) has been created by Oakham brewer Olly Jones using experimental Kiwi hop NZH106. Lime and passionfruit are to the fore in the golden brew, with notes of guava, grapefruit, gooseberry, white grape, and a hint of resinous pine. “Vibrant, juicy, fruity, and spikily contemporary in flavour, with a balanced bitterness,” says the brewer.

Tabletop (4.8% ABV) is a 4.8% ABV Kveik IPA from Bristol Beer Factory. Kviek yeast takes flight right from the start, bringing its bold signature orange depth. “Nectaron and Ekuanot take this tropical nectarine drop right to the landing,” says the brewer.

Final Boss (Stage 2): Citra! Is the second in a series of single-hop pales from Elusive. The recipe for the 5.5% ABV beer utilises four Citra hop formats at different stages of the process to layer in flavour and aroma. There’s whole cone in the kettle, DynaBoost in the whirlpool, Cryo as a dry hop, then liquid HyperBoost during cold conditioning. “A real testament to why Citra is such a classic hop used by brewers all around the world,” says the brewer. “Hits of super refreshing lemon, lime, and peach.”

There’s a new member of Brew York’s Tonkoko family. “Espresso Empress Tonkoko takes our already decadent Empress Tonkoko and turns things up another notch,” says the brewer. “With over three times the original levels of coconut, tonka, and vanilla, this imperial milk stout is rich, creamy, and seriously luxurious. Then we’ve added a generous hit of freshly brewed espresso.”

Zesty Pilsner (5.2% ABV) is a fresh brew from UnBarred. It’s a modern take on the traditional Pilsner, brewed West Coast style. “We’ve fermented it super clean on a West Coast yeast, so the hops get the spotlight: Perle, Citra, and Erebus piling on zesty lemon and bright citrus, with a flash of white wine for good measure,” says the brewer.

There’s a limited edition 10th anniversary version of 71 Brewing’s Lager. Described as crisp, sweet, and refreshing, it was the first beer 71 produced back in 2016. “Ten years later, we’ve brought a little of the past back with a limited-edition label inspired by our original branding,” says the brewer.

Tideworn is described by Brew Toon as a “crushable and refreshing” 4.7% ABV extra pale ale. Columbus and Cascade lay down a rugged bitter backbone, while Citra and Motueka wave in with a bright surge of lime and grapefruit. Crisp, zesty, and assertive, it leaves a clean, lasting finish.

Neon Raptor have released the next two beers in their alphabetical Beeriodic Table series. R is for Randomness, an 8.4% ABV chocolate custard and sticky toffee stout, created with Dutch brewers Rock City. S is for Sabretooth, a full-on 7% ABV juicy NEIPA brewed with Sudden Death, from Germany.

Casual Afterlife, a 6.6% ABV tropical oat cream IPA, is new from Polly’s. It’s loaded with Dolcita, Krush, Strata, and Mosaic, bursting with peach rings, Valencia orange, caramelised pineapple, guava, and mango, with a thick, dank cannabis haze. Also new this week is Format Copy (4.3% ABV), a hop-forward extra pale ale packed with Elani, Motueka, and Citra Lupomax. It delivers bright, clean notes of sweet orange zest, tangerine, and white peach.

Great Newsome and Old Mill have collaborated on Union Ale, a 4.2% ABV golden beer, to be released on 14th September. “Two breweries, one brew, and a proper pint of golden ale,” say the brewers.

Collider, a functional alcohol-free beer brand, has launched in Morrisons. It’s the first time a functional beer has been stocked by a bricks and mortar supermarket chain in the UK, says the maker. Collider is brewed with a blend of functional ingredients, including lion’s mane mushroom and ashwagandha.

The post Releases round-up: Electric Bear, Track, Verdant, Left Handed Giant, and more… first appeared on Beer Today.

Lennart Battenfeld of Licher Brewery

A Certa Compact 300 pump now performs the work previously carried out by two centrifugal pumps, resulting in a quicker production process and lower energy consumption.

The Certa Sine pump is used in the production of Licher and Benediktiner beers brewed at Licher Brewery, near Frankfurt. It transfers yeast from six to 10 fermentation tanks to yeast storage tanks or waste handling systems.

The pump provides strong suction to transfer thick yeast approximately 100 metres, while also protecting yeast viability with gentle handling, low-shear sinusoidal technology. Previously, transferring high-viscosity yeast with two centrifugal pumps took eight to 10 hours. With the Certa pump, the same task takes just two or three hours.

“Since installing the Certa pump, we have been able to make our processes significantly more efficient,” said Sascha Kläs, master brewer at Licher Brewery. ““Since installing the Certa pump, we have been able to make our processes significantly more efficient. The entire yeast-harvesting process can be completed much more quickly and efficiently because the yeast is collected faster. In addition, the consistent pumping conditions make it possible to use automation.”

Lars Lux, sales engineer, food and beverage and clean process for Watson-Marlow in Germany, said: “It’s impressive how big an impact the Certa pump has had on the yeast harvesting process for the Licher Brewery yeast. It used to take one fixed centrifugal pump and one mobile pump at the same time to do the job, but now only one Certa pump does the same job.”

The post New pump cuts yeast harvesting time, say maker first appeared on Beer Today.

The move means a significant investment in installing traditional ‘double drop’ brewing vessels at the Tongham, Surrey site. Restoring this brewing method, which is synonymous with Brakspear, puts Original Gravity and other Brakspear beers at the forefront of the cask ale market in terms of quality, flavour, and heritage, say the parties.

Once widely used in British brewing, double dropping involves transferring the beer 12 hours into the fermentation process from one brewing vessel to another, and Hogs Back will be using gravity rather than mechanical means. This helps to remove sediment, and oxygenates the beer to get a clean, vigorous fermentation. While it is more labour-intensive, the method is valued for the intensity of character it brings to the beer.

“Cask ale, served consistently and to the highest quality, is at the heart of all our pubs, from town centre locals to destination food businesses,” said Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies.

“The team at Hogs Back share our passion for cask, and this strategic partnership, along with the return of the iconic double drop brewing method, will give our pub teams and customers confidence that our cask ales are brewed, cellared, and served in premium condition.

“The scale of the investment demonstrates our commitment to restoring the standing of cask ale as Britain’s signature beer style, while building on the strong reputation of Brakspear and giving customers the opportunity to enjoy our flagship beer brewed in a way that is even closer to its historic roots. We’re grateful to Marstons and Carlsberg for being good custodians of our brand and now supporting us in this change.”

Brakspear Original Gravity is a sessionable 3.4% ABV cask bitter. Originally known as Brakspear Bitter and more recently Brakspear Gravity, it has a distinctive malt character with a bittersweet, fruity finish, and a well-hopped aroma.

The new Original Gravity name signals that it is brewed to the classic Brakspear Bitter recipe, as well as being a nod to brewers’ traditional use of original gravities to measure the strength of beers before ABVs became standard.

It is one of the last classic bitters in the UK specifically created to be brewed below 3.5% ABV, unlike beers which have recently reduced their ABV and changed recipes in response to duty changes. It is made with a combination of pale, crystal, and chocolate malts, and special invert sugars, and hopped with Fuggles and Goldings.

» Enjoying Beer Today? If so, please consider becoming an individual or commercial supporter to help the site grow and thrive. Find out more here…

Launching alongside Original Gravity is Brakspear Noble Nectar, a 4% ABV modern, hop-forward pale ale which complements the traditional style of the flagship bitter. Noble Nectar is brewed using Farnham White Bine hops, grown on the Hogs Back hop farm, adjacent to the brewery, and the precursor to one of Britain’s traditional ‘noble’ hops, Goldings. The beers are also brewed using the original Brakspear live yeast strain.

Original Gravity and Noble Nectar will be on the bar in Brakspear pubs, as well as available to selected independent pubs and groups through Hogs Back’s sales operation. Other regular and seasonal Brakspear cask ales will follow.

The move to Tongham represents the second time Hogs Back Brewery owner Rupert Thompson has taken on the stewardship of Brakspear’s ales and brewing traditions. In 2004, following the closure of the Brakspear brewery, Thompson’s business Wychwood invested £300,000 in moving six double drop fermenters to the Wychwood Brewery site in Oxfordshire.

Since the closure of the Wychwood Brewery in 2023, Brakspear beers have been brewed in Burton-upon-Trent by Carlsberg Britvic.

Thompson said: “My experience of brewing Brakspear cask ales is obviously very important, but what’s essential here is that Brakspear and Hogs Back share the same values, in terms of respecting the traditions of British beer and pub culture, whilst looking to drive our businesses forward in a fast changing market.

“We’re now brewing for Brakspear using the double drop method for the same reason we revived the near-extinct Farnham White Bine hop a decade ago; because these initiatives deliver high quality, great flavours, and offer a real point of difference for today’s discerning beer drinkers.

“Original Gravity has always been a 3.4% session bitter, unlike beers which have been reduced in strength for marketing or commercial reasons. It’s an accessible beer that fully delivers on flavour.”

The post Hogs Back to brew cask ales for Brakspear first appeared on Beer Today.

That’s the view of the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr), which has published research detailing the benefits of lower tax on pub beer.

The research findings support the Drop the Tap Tax campaign, which was launched last week, calling on the chancellor to take action in his October Budget.

Pubs and breweries are one of the most highly taxed sectors, with breweries paying 40% of their turnover in tax. The chancellor can help to rebalance this through targeted tax changes on beer that’s sold in pubs via handpulls and keg taps. This is a mechanism called draught relief. This is currently set at a 13.9% rate.

The Cebr research shows that expanding draught relief to 50% could see 56 million extra pints being poured in community pubs, 7,663 extra jobs created, and the contribution of £310 million to the economy. It would also see nearly £120 million in additional taxation going to the tax man, excluding changes in tax collected from excise duty.

Even a more modest increase to 30% could result in 3,403 new jobs and 25 million additional pints being served, boosting the economy by £137 million. This would see Treasury coffers receive £53 million in extra taxes, excluding changes from excise duty.

“Lower tax on pub beer improves the economy, creates jobs, and means more pub pints are being poured,” said Andy Slee, chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA). “Pubs and breweries are a cherished part of our communities and a Drop in the Tap Tax could give them a huge boost in the chancellor’s Budget.”

The post How lower tax at the bar could help the economy first appeared on Beer Today.

Left to right: Alex Handford, sales manager at Loch Lomond Brewery; Carl Duke, sales at Castle Rock; Scott Murray, lead brewer at Loch Lomond; and Matt Cooper, assistant brewery manager at Castle Rock

Fit to Fly (4.1% ABV), made with cacao nibs in the mash, takes its name from the story of RAF fighter pilots in the 1960s who allegedly had to ban their favourite chocolate covered teacakes from training sorties after a series of cockpit marshmallow explosions.

Last year, the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine gave pilots the all-clear to fly with the sweet treats after tests in an altitude chamber found they did not explode in today’s cockpits.

The two brewers have collaborated previosly. In 2025, they created Pub Tropicana, a 3.8% ABV tropical IPA brewed with Dolcita and Citrus hops.

The new beer will be available through Loch Lomond Brewery and across the 21-strong Castle Rock pub and bar estate in the East Midlands.

“Our brewing teams hit it off straight away when we first met at BeerX in Liverpool a couple of years ago,” said Euan MacEachern, head brewer and distiller at Loch Lomond Brewery.

“We share the same values and attitudes towards creating great beer, and it worked really well with our Pub Tropicana release last year. We are confident this one will be a real winner, and the spirit of fun we share will come through in every pint.”

The post New collaboration for Loch Lomond and Castle Rock first appeared on Beer Today.

Winners at a previous awards ceremony

Beer Matters brings together brewers, suppliers, hospitality professionals, and industry leaders for a full day focused on the future of beer.

Delegates will hear from industry experts including Russell Bisset, Will Ullstein, Prof Dawn Maskell, Louise MacLean, Josh McMillan, Alix Blease, and many more. The full schedule can be viewed here.

Award finalists

Best IPA
BrewDog: Dive Bar
Brew Toon: Loose Cannon
Six Degrees North: Dynamo
Stewart Brewing: New Relic
Stewart Brewing: Radical Road
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Tin Man
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Umbra

Best juicy or hazy beer
BrewDog: Analogue Dream
BrewDog: Hazy Jane
BrewDog: Krush Test Dummy
Brew Toon: El Juicy
Brew Toon: Juicy Belter
Brew Toon: Whirlpool
Stewart Brewing: Hazy Daze
Stewart Brewing: Hazy IPA
Stewart Brewing: Hazy Nights
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Juicy Joker
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Lumen

Best no-alcohol beer (0.5% ABV and under)
BrewDog: Mello Peach and Passionfruit
BrewDog: Punk AF
Brew Toon: Brain Juice (Mind Hop collaboration)
Brew Toon: Unwired to the Toon
Jump Ship Brewing: Dazzle Ship Harlequin IPA
Jump Ship Brewing: Flying Colours
Jump Ship Brewing: Vitamin Sea
Stewart Brewing: Scot Free Lager
Stewart Brewing: Scot Free Pale
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Tennents Zero
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Alien Form
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Blood Orange Alien Form
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Joker AF

Best pale ale
71 Brewing: Cloud Fall
Brew Toon: Trawlerman
Cross Borders Brewing Co: Braw
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Talking Head 

Best pilsner
Cold Town Beer: Doddie Beir
Six Degrees North: Peloton
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Tennents 1885 Export Lager
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Tennents Bavarian Pilsner
Williams Bros Brewing Co: El Perro Negro 

Best porter or stout
Belhaven Brewery: Belhaven Black
BrewDog: Black Heart
Brew Toon: Ultra Black
Drygate Brewing Co: The Duke
Stewart Brewing: Edinburgh Black
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Chokka Blokka
Williams Bros Brewing Co: March of the Penguins
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Midnight Sun

Best session beer (3.5-5.4% ABV)
BrewDog: Day Cruizer
BrewDog: Wingman Session IPA
BrewDog: Punk IPA 
Cross Borders Brewing Co: Wee Braw
Cross Borders Brewing Co: India Pale Ale
Stewart Brewing: Session IPA
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Caesar Augustus
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Chillax 

Best British-style beer
Belhaven Brewery: Belhaven Best
Brew Toon: Tanfield Export
Brew Toon: Tanfield Heavy
Stewart Brewing: Edinburgh Gold
Stewart Brewing: Pacific Breeze
Stewart Brewing: Pentland IPA
Stewart Brewing: Stewarts 80/- 
Stewart Brewing: St Giles
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Inveralmond Ossian
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Birds and Bees
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Fraoch
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Joker IPA

Best fruit or spiced beer
BrewDog: Cold Beer Lemon and Lime
BrewDog: Cold Beer Peach
BrewDog: Hazy Jane Tropical
Brew Toon: Big Fruity Ginge (DMC collaboration)
Brew Toon: Breach of the Peach
Brew Toon: Mango Unchained
Cold Town Beer: Peachy Craft Lager
Drygate Brewing Co: Disco Forklift Truck
Drygate Brewing Co: Zest Quest
Six Degrees North: Blackcurrant Beer
Stewart Brewing: Creamy Colada
Stewart Brewing: Juicy in the Sky
Stewart Brewing: Marga Larga
Stewart Brewing: Strawberry Daiquiri
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Orange Ginger
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Rhubarb Ginger

Best lager
BrewDog: Lost Lager
Brew Toon: Torr Lager
Brew Toon: Weekend Hooker
Brew Toon: Weekend Spooker
Cold Town Beer: Crisp Craft Lager
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Tennents Lager
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Ceilidh
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Craft Lager 

Best low-alcohol beer (0.6-3.4% ABV)
BrewDog: Cold Beer
Brew Toon: Mango Fizz
Brew Toon: Misty Lemon
Brew Toon: St Clements
Stewart Brewing: Marga Larga
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Tennents Light Lager
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Tennents Tops
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Che Guava
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Ginger

Best sour beer
71 Brewing: Strawberry Bank Lane
Brew Toon: Everlasting Tropical 
Brew Toon: Strawberry Starboard
Brew Toon: Triple Berry
Drygate Brewing Co: Sama Sama 

Best strong beer (above 6.5% ABV)
BrewDog: Emerald Daze
BrewDog: Triple Hazy Jane
Brew Toon: Drolan (Uilebheist collaboration)
Brew Toon: Wired to the Moon
Drygate Brewing Co: Nightmare of Cake 2026
Six Degrees North: Chapeau
Stewart Brewing: Cosmic Crush
Tennents Caledonian Breweries: Innis and Gunn Original
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Double Joker
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Juicy Tygrr
Williams Bros Brewing Co: Sapien 

Best beer destination
Cold Town House 
Shilling Brewing Company 
Stewart Brewing 

Excellence in branding
Cold Town Beer 
Stewart Brewing 
Williams Bros Brewing Co

Scottish Brewery of the Year
71 Brewing 
Brew Toon 
Cold Town 
Stewart Brewing 
Tennents Caledonian Breweries 
Williams Bros Brewing Co 

The post Scottish Beer Awards: here’s the nominees first appeared on Beer Today.

Over the past 40 years, Brewlab has supported the brewing industry through specialist training and laboratory support. They have now partnered with NC Group Ltd, an Ofsted outstanding-rated apprenticeship provider.

The Level 4 brewing apprenticeship will include hands-on practical learning in their on-site brewery, and a chance to work in a functioning brewing quality control laboratory. All tutors have years of experience in the industry and deliver in-depth knowledge.

The apprenticeship is ideal for brewery operatives and those new to brewing wanting to expand their practical and theoretical knowledge to become a competent brewer. The training is a gateway to the Charted Institute of Brewers and Distillers’ Diploma in Brewing.

“Brewlab has always prided itself on providing an excellent standard of training to brewing students from all over the world,” said Phil Douglas, managing director of Brewlab. “Our partnership with NC Group Ltd allows us to offer this industry-leading training to breweries wishing to recruit new apprentices or to upskill existing staff.”

Ian Nelson, co-chief executive of NC Group Ltd, said: “Really excited to announce the next chapter in our apprenticeship journey as we move into brewing apprenticeships, alongside our new subcontractor partner. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring our high-quality apprenticeship training into the brewing industry, supporting businesses to develop the next generation of skilled talent while creating meaningful career pathways for apprentices.

“We’re proud to be expanding our offer into such a specialist and exciting sector, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our new partner to make this a real success. Big things ahead.”

The post Brewlab can now offer brewing apprenticeships first appeared on Beer Today.

Presenting a cheque from a previous event to the Great North Air Ambulance team

Breweries and pubs from across the region once again stepped up, donating casks and kegs for the fundraising effort. Teams of pALEgrims then set out to collect them, returning the barrels to The Golden Smog, Stockton-on-Tees, by foot or bike. In previous years, some have even taken to the water to complete their journey.

All donated ale was served at a mini‑festival at The Chapel in Middlesbrough on Bank Holiday Sunday.

One of the teams, led by Dave Mockler of Hartburn, began their challenge at Wensleydale Brewery, in Leyburn, before heading to Bayonet Brewing, in Northallerton, to collect a second keg. Over three days, the group took turns pushing the barrels on a trolley all the way to The Golden Smog and then on to The Chapel, racking up more than 50 miles.

Collecting beer from Wensleydale Brewery

“It’s become a really important part of my year,” said Dave, who has taking part since 2017. “Knowing that one of the Smog’s regulars had his life saved by the Great North Air Ambulance in 2016, enabling him to take part in the event in 2017, makes the cause particularly close to home. You know that the money you raise could genuinely help save someone’s life, and that makes every mile worthwhile.”

Every penny raised and all the proceeds from the donated beer goes directly to the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Since its launch in 2016, the pALEgrimage has raised more than £122,000, helping fund the vital work of GNAAS across the North East, North Yorkshire, and Cumbria.

The post Anniversary pALEgrimage boosts air ambulance funds first appeared on Beer Today.

Over the past 12 months, Shorebreak has accounted for 23.9% of Firebrand’s total sales, making it the brewery’s number one beer across all channels.

The growth is particularly pronounced online, where Shorebreak sales have increased by 69.1% year on year, with units sold up 67.4%.

The performance is part of a broader shift towards alcohol-free beer within Firebrand’s business. Its wider alcohol-free range has grown by 63.8% online and now represents 84.3% of all online sales, up from 75.6% the previous year. By comparison, total online sales for the business grew by 47%.

“Shorebreak becoming our best-selling beer demonstrates that alcohol-free is no longer simply a niche product or an occasional alternative,” said founder and head brewer Joe Thomson.

“We’ve been seeing the love for Shorebreak right across the board, from pubs and retail to our own online shop, and it’s really exciting to see this translate into real commercial opportunity for our business now.”

The post Alcohol-free pale becomes brewer’s best seller first appeared on Beer Today.

Offering the beer’s signature malty taste with hints of caramel and fruit, it is not only alcohol free, but contains fewer calories at just 12kcal per 100ml.

“We know that consumer drinking behaviour is now tailored around occasions, and the launch of Old Speckled Hen ZERO reflects that,” said Luke White, managing director of Damm UK.

“Whatever the reason for moderating, we believe that this 0.0% traditional ale is going to become a national favourite.”

The beer has launched now in a four-pack 400ml can format at selected Morrisons stores and on their website. Cans and 500ml bottles will be rolled out to Asda online and stores later this month. Meanwhile, the new product will be available soon across Greene King pubs nationally, among other venues. 

The post Damm launches alcohol-free Old Speckled Hen first appeared on Beer Today.