We’ve been out and about a fair bit this month with a mini pub crawl in Leeds, a short break in Rimini and San Marino, a trip to York and a visit to Horsforth Taproom for the Brewed in Leeds Festival. And of course, we’ve also been trying some new brew selections at home.
Here’s a rundown of our favourite new brews for August 2026.
Bergamot Sorbet Sour by Anthology (Leeds)
Sour 4%
One of ten beers we tried at the Brewed in Leeds Festival, four of which made it into this month’s top five. It was sweet like homemade lemonade with lemon and verbena flavours, lots of tartness and a nice dry finish.
Brewer’s note: A Berliner Weiss spiked with a load of Bergamot Puree giving a sweet floral, zingy and citric character, balanced with a tart sourness reminiscent of a refreshing summer sorbet.
Brewer’s website: Anthology Brewing Company
Feuermann by Tartarus (Leeds)
Smoked Dunkel 5%
We haven’t had many Tartarus beers, but have always been impressed by the ones we have had, and a smoked dunkel sounded too good to miss. It didn’t disappoint. It had a dry, charcoal smokiness, but with a little bit of sweetness that helped the smoky notes shine through.
Brewer’s website: Tartarus Beers
Just Dill With It by Horsforth x Wet Necks (Leeds)
Sour 4.9%
We loved the idea of this beer for two reasons: firstly because a dill pickle sour just sounded intriguing and secondly because it had a great story behind it. Horsforth Brewery ran a competition for the Leeds Home Brewers Club, and the winner would get the chance to brew it at Horsforth Brewery for the festival. This was the winning beer (from Wet Necks), and it also went on to win the beer of the festival (voted for by attendees). It might sound weird, but the dill and pickle flavours just worked in a sour.
Brewer’s website: Horsforth Brewery
YOPO by Piglove (Leeds)
Black IPA 7.6%
The fourth beer from Brewed in Leeds to make our top five is this easy-drinking Black IPA, with lovely roasty, smoky, malty flavours.
Brewer’s note: A dark, ritualistic plunge into the spirit world, channelling the looping tension of a waking nightmare — awake but frozen, aware but powerless — with Palo Santo adding its deep, smoky, spiritual edge. A sharp burst of Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops slices through roasted cocoa, charred wood and incense‑like warmth, finishing dry, bitter and intensely gripping.
Piglove Brewing Co × Don Broco — a fusion of brave brewing and electrifying sound, crafting two beers that embody the duality of the new album: nightmare and euphoria, shadow and release, brought to life through bold flavours, deep emotion and a shared drive to push boundaries.
Brewer’s website: Piglove Brewing Co
Northern Willd 007 by Northern Monk (Leeds)
Brandy Barrel Aged Fruited Saison 6.6%
This delicious fruited saison had a boozy and funky aroma, lots of tartness and a dry, funky finish. Definitely a sour that makes your whole mouth pucker. A lovely brew and our beer of the month.
Brewer’s note: The latest release in our experimental mixed fermentation programme is a Brandy barrel-aged Saison, co-fermented with red gooseberries.
The bright acidity of the fruit cuts through the sweet raisin and vanillin notes of the 3 years spent in a Brandy barrel. The outcome is tart and refreshing with a hint of Brettanomyces funk.
Brewer’s website: Northern Monk Craft Beers
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Saaz Limone E Sale by Birra MC - 77 (Italy)
Gose 4.7%
We tried this lovely gose on one of our visits to Fob in Rimini, and think it’s worth an honourable mention.
Brewer’s note: The taste is distinctly acidic, savoury, and citrusy, with a fruity component that enhances the sensation of freshness and makes the drink smooth. Lemon adds vivacity and energy, while salt adds depth.
Brewer’s website: MC77
Long White Cloud by Tempest (Scotland)
Pale Ale 5.2%
We had this as part of a new brew Thursday selection of pale ales from different breweries. Of the four, this was our favourite.
Brewer’s note: This is where it all began... a garage in New Zealand, some local hops, small cobbled together kit and against all odds an icon was born. Those same hops, Nelson Sauvin and Motueka are still present and correct in this, our love letter to the land of the long white cloud. Carrying all the freshness of a kiwi sauvignon blanc, this is a beer you will keep coming back to.
Brewer’s website: Tempest Brewing Co Ltd
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Boltmaker by Timothy Taylor’s (Yorkshire)
Bitter 4%
We happened to have Boltmaker twice this month - once on cask while out watching the football and then in bottle as part of our Timmy Taylor’s selection. It’s a solid Yorkshire bitter and one we’ll likely come back to time and again.
Brewer’s note: Boltmaker is a dependable, characterful Yorkshire bitter with an inviting copper-amber colour and gentle citrus and fruit aromas. The flavour is smooth and rounded, led by biscuit-like malt notes and a clean, balanced bitterness.
Brewed with Golden Promise and lightly roasted malts, Boltmaker is a natural partner for pub classics such as roast beef, steak and onions, or a hearty meat pie – food that complements its warm, malt-forward profile.
Brewer’s website: Home - Timothy Taylor's Brewery
