Beavertown’s New Christmas Glitter Beer

If you buy a can of Beavertown’s new Frozen Neck IPA (4.3%), it will seem like a pretty ordinary (albeit delicious) Christmas makeover of the original Neck Oil. But pour it into a glass and that’s when the magic happens...

Glitter! All it takes is a gentle swirl and you’ve got your very own boozy snow globe. 

That’s not where the festive revamp ends either. The hops have been frozen straight after picking for added freshness, and whilst it retains the earthiness of the original, there is a grapefruit zestyness and sweet mango to it that is noticeably new. 

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not an earth-shattering innovation, but around Christmas time, it only takes little things to get in the mood and make sure it fees like a magical time of year, so if you’re a fan of the original Neck Oil (one of the most popular craft beers out there) then why not add some sparkles of the season in there? 

The “glittery, zingy, hazy IPA” leads the charge in Beavertown’s new Christmas releases, which also feature Ginger Ray, a more warming version of their Gamma Ray APA, and an unknown release on December 5th too! 

It’s currently available to pre-order here on their official site. You’ll be able to buy it for £2.30 per can, with 12 packs and 24 packs available too. Keep your eyes peeled!

Beer Made Using Wasp Yeast Causes Buzz

‘Ensō’ is the latest creation from experimental Somerset brewer Wild Beer Co and although they have released cherry, chocolate, and caramel beers before, it’s fair to say that wasps are a larger leap into the unknown. In Japan, ensō represents the freedom of creativity, a name that makes perfect sense when you learn more about what went into this new ale.

When Wild Beer Co started planning their 10th Anniversary Box, they set out to include some more unusual concoctions, which is when wasps were brought up. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the latest developments in yeast science over the last few years (who hasn’t?!), then you’ll know that scientific research has highlighted just how important wasps are to the brewing process. They preserve the yeast picked up from summer fruits over the cold winter months and continue to preserve it for reintroduction in the spring. 

Lead brewer Russ Sykes said, “After much research and discussions with relevant people and entomologists, we managed to harvest a wild yeast from an abandoned wasp’s nest, which was found on the farm next to the brewery” – talk about sourcing local ingredients!

This entire process took over five years, but the end result is this 6% ABV ale made with fresh apricots to compliment the natural honey flavour from the wild yeast. If you like sweet and fresh notes in your beer, then you might be looking at wasps in a whole new light after trying this. 

For now, Ensō is only available to buy as part of the 10th Anniversary Box, but if drinkers love it as much as the brewers do, there’s a good chance it will become a standalone product in the near future.

Other eyebrow raisers in the box include a hay-harvested pilsner and a very chocolatey stout.

If you like the sound of these or want to find out what else is included in the £74.99 collection, take a look here.

Biscoff Beer!

The Lotus Biscoff Biscuit, an iconic staple of every coffee shop trying to give you a bit more of a reason to spend £5 on a cappuccino. We all know it’s great for dunking in a hot (or probably lukewarm by the time you’ve successfully opened the tiny plastic wrapper) coffee, but after looking at the latest drinks news, it seems there are some people who have started dunking them in other liquids… It shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that these people are microbreweries and the liquids are beer. It’s always beer. Every time.

This time around we’ve got UK microbreweries ‘The Driftwood Spars Brewery’ and ‘Fallen Acorn Brewing Co.’ collaborating to create their biscoff flavoured stout: Niflheim Imperial Biscoff Stout. For a beer made with a teeny tiny cute biscuit, it’s got a hell of a name. The beer is made with Lotus Biscoff spread along with over 2,000 of the small biscuits to create the 800 liters of 10% ABV stout being released. Just on a side note… Does that mean they had to unwrap two thousand tiny biscuits?! This beer won’t just be released in cans, as many experimental beers are, you’ll also be able to get this on draft in cask and keg!

Both breweries are super excited to be working with each other, with head brewer at The Driftwood Spars, Mike Mason, telling Brewing Journal he has ‘a great relationship with Fallen Acorn’ as they both brew ‘traditional and contemporary beers with a mindset for innovation and experimentation’. Two heads are most definitely better than one when it comes to ‘innovation and experimentation’, so we’re certainly happy they’re working together too! Psst - we heard they’re going to be collaborating on a New England IPA very soon, so keep an eye out!

This isn’t The Driftwood Spars’ first foray into the world of Biscoff beer, oh no, Driftwood experimented with a lower ABV Biscoff coffee caramel stout alongside The Dog pub in Burton on Trent. We’re assuming that experiment was successful, as the Niflheim Imperial Biscoff Stout is getting a lot of buzz at the moment…  

Lucky for us, Niflheim Imperial Biscoff Stout is out NOW! If you’re in the area, you can find this beer on tap at The Driftwood Spars’ brewpub in Trevaunance Cove. If not, it’s available to buy in a beautifully designed can on their website - so snap some up while it’s still there!

ABV: 10%
Find it here: £6.50 per can

The Perfect Pint to Pair with Mayonnaise

Planning on breaking out a jar of mayo and going straight in with a spoon? Well, do we have the drink for you! Duke’s Mayonnaise has teamed up with Virginia’s Champion Brewing Company to bring you the perfect beer to pair with their mayonnaise. 

Even if you’re not making the radical decision to go full mayo monster and eat it straight up, this beer is apparently custom designed to be a brilliant accompaniment to a BLT lathered in creamy mayonnaise. The beer is named ‘Family Recipe’, a nod to the original recipe for Duke’s Mayonnaise dating all the way back to 1917. In fact, Duke’s still uses the same recipe today!

From the sounds of it, this beer is American down to the core. Rebecca Lupesco, Duke’s Brand Marketing Manager of Mayohem told brewbound.com: “The spirit of this collaboration truly encapsulates the Duke’s brand – it’s bold, southern, and a little saucy.” 

But how should I enjoy this beer you may ask…? Rebecca’s got you covered there: “Champion has perfected the art of beer and food pairings with Family Recipe – sun-ripened, juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, lots of Duke’s mayo, and a refreshing sipping beer is basically what summertime is made for.” 

How insightful, Duke’s Mayonnaise. We truly feel a mayonnaise brand has taught us something new about life. If not for a refreshing sipping beer, what is summer made for?

The Vienna-style lager comes in at an ABV of 5.1% and is made with Vienna salt, Magnum, and Saaz hops. If you’re looking to pick up a Family Recipe, you can bag a 4-pack NOW on Champion Brewing Company’s website for $12.99.

They’re only available in the US right now, so please do tell us how it tastes if you get the chance to try it!

For more beer news how about checking out Prawn Cocktail Flavoured beer or this beer brewed from mushrooms?!