December started with a mini pub crawl in Leeds, which included some lovely traditional cask ales and some exceptional stouts. Mid-month, we headed off to Bucharest, where we found more taprooms and craft beer bars than we could fit into our trip. We’ve also had some excellent new brews at home over the festive period.
Here’s a rundown of our favourite new brews for December 2025.
Ghinion by Ironic Brewery (Romania)
Sour/Berliner Weisse 5.2%
This was one of several local beers we tried during our visit to Bucharest, and it was a good sour with not too much tartness.
Din of Celestial Birds by Northern Monk (Leeds, UK)
Belgian Golden Ale 6.5%
During our Leeds pub crawl, we called in at The Northern Market for a couple of beers and some food. Although we were trying to stick to lower ABV beers, we couldn’t resist this 6.5% golden ale (although we did stick to a half each).
Brewer’s note: Steven Yoyada’s series, Heathen Sounds, returns with Leeds band Din of Celestial Birds flocking behind him. Inspired by a European misadventure involving a green room rider and nobody checking the ABVs, we’ve brewed a deceptively drinkable Belgian Golden Ale.
A complex malt bill, heaps of fresh Peach puree and a classic yeast strain that produces plenty of honey esters come together in a beer that’ll easily catch you off guard.
Brewer’s website: Northern Monk Craft Beers
Ola Dubh by Harviestoun (Scotland, UK)
Imperial Porter 8%
We tried the Ola Dubh 18-year as part of a Harviestoun selection back in 2024, and it was very good, so we decided St. Andrew’s Day was the perfect time to try the 12-year reserve (any excuse to drink great Scottish brews).
Brewer’s note: Ola Dubh (pronounced ‘ola-doo’ and Gaelic for ‘black oil’) was conceived in 2007. It was the first ale to be matured in whisky barrels from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, it is a beer with real provenance. To make Ola Dubh 12, we take our Old Engine Oil (amped up to 10.5%) and age it for up to 6 months in casks that previously held Highland Park 12 Year Old single malt. And it is ready only when our head brewer, Stuart, deems it ready!
This amazing brew has been aged in selected oak casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, adding complementary whisky notes to our chocolatey, bittersweet beer.
Ola Dubh 12 pours black with a modest spattered head that reduces slowly, leaving behind textbook lacing. The aroma is delicious; smoky Worcestershire sauce, leather, iodine and grilled steak. Flavours of smoky-sweet malts, roasted peat, coffee beans and a well-bittered finish. Overall this is a rather exotic brew with a defined barrel influence. It’s refined rather than over the top and very delicious indeed.
Brewer’s website: Harviestoun Brewery
3 is a Crowd by One Two (Romania)
Black IPA 8%
We tried some excellent beers during our trip to Bucharest, but this Black IPA stood out as one of the best. An excellent representation of style and a very good beer.
Brewer’s note: 3 year anniversary brew for NoRoom Taproom brewed in collab with our partners Maktoob Brewing. Featuring New Zealand hops and light chocolate-roasted malts.
Brewer’s website: OneTwo Craft Beer
BEER OF THE MONTH
Dark & Wild 2025 Tiramisu Stout by Northern Monk (Leeds, UK)
Imperial Pasty Stout 8.4%
We didn’t get a chance to try this beer at Dark & Wild, so when we saw they had it at The Northern Market, we were very excited. And it was delicious. So decadent and smooth, and definitely worthy of our beer of the month.
Brewer’s note: Dark & Wild is many things; it’s our annual ode to the best in dark and sour beers, an opportunity to host some of the best breweries on the planet at our home in Leeds, and it’s a great excuse to make something strong, dark and delicious.
This year’s festival release is an uber rich, ultra thick and downright indulgent Tiramisu Stout. With coffee from our friends at Chipp Coffee Co., cocoa from York Cocoa House and a complex malt bill courtesy of festival sponsors Bairds, it’s got all the depth and decadence needed to evoke the cult-classic dessert.
As always, we’ve called in some heavyweights to help us pull it off. Finland’s Factory Brewing, Evil Twin from NYC and long-time friends Beak.
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.
Obsidian Owl by Hyllie Bryggeri (Sweden)
Black IPL 5.5%
Black IPLs aren’t particularly common, so we were interested to try this one, which was in a selection of beers given to us by friends. It was similar to a German Dunkel, but with more tropical hoppiness coming through.
Brewer’s website: Hyllie Bryggeri
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Irish Cask Whiskey by Innis & Gunn (Scotland, UK)
Scottish Oatmeal Stout 6.1%
We first tried this beer two years ago and decided to revisit it for this year’s St. Andrew’s Day as we liked it a lot.
Brewer’s note: Irish Whiskey Cask matured Scottish Stout. Scotland is renowned for making whisky, Ireland for making stout. This beer brings together and celebrates both nations by turning that convention on its head. Jet black in colour. Aromas of dark chocolate, espresso and vanilla, with a full malt character. A beautifully balanced bitterness gives way to a long, chocolatey finish. Mellow, complex, and decidedly different from the usual.
Brewer’s website: Innis & Gunn
