Cask ale has featured heavily in this month’s new brews as we spent an afternoon in a real ale pub watching Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and then completed the Rail Ale Trail a week later. We’ve also had some fantastic beers at home, including a selection from Shepherd Neame, a wonderful barrel-aged stout and a delicious saison.
Here’s a rundown of our favourite new brews for March 2025.
Bishops Finger by Shepherd Neame (Kent)
Kentish Strong Ale 5.2%
Not only is Shepherd Neame the oldest brewery in the UK, but it’s the only UK brewery to brew beers with EU Protected Geographical Indication, and Bishops Finger is one of them.
We tried three Shepherd Neame ales, but this one was our favourite of the three with its lovely moreish and malty caramel notes.
Brewer’s note: Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale is a connoisseur's beer with excellent credentials and pedigree and is a silver medal winner in the Daily Telegraph Taste of Britain awards.
It takes its name from the finger-shaped signposts which pointed pilgrims on their way to the tomb of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury and was the first strong ale to be brewed by Shepherd Neame after malt rationing was eased in the late 1950s. It is also one of the UK's oldest bottled beers, brewed since 1958.
Bishops Finger holds EU Protected Geographical Indication, recognising its unique provenance. Uniquely, it is brewed to a charter which states it can only be brewed by the head brewer on a Friday and that it must be brewed using 100% natural ingredients, Kentish hops and barley, and the brewery's own artesian mineral water.
Brewer’s website: Shepherd Neame
Lowline by Thornbridge (Bakewell, Derbyshire)
Milk Stout 3.8%
After completing the Rail Ale Trail, we headed back to Leeds and popped into a Thornbridge pub, The Banker’s Cat, for our final beer of the day. We opted for this 3.8% milk stout (a collab with Turning Point) and it turned out to be our favourite beer of the day. It was smooth and sweet, and so flavoursome for such a low ABV beer.
Brewer’s note: A sumptuous mini milk stout. We use a carefully curated selection of dark malts for a rounded roastiness with alluring hints of chocolate and coffee. The mouthfeel is opulent and silky smooth with a light caramel sweetness in the finish. Brewed in collaboration with Turning Point Brew Co.
Brewer’s website: Thornbridge Brewery
French Martini by Vocation (Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire)
Cocktail Sour 4.5%
This was my beer for this month’s New Brew Networking event and Alex had one the following day. We both agreed it was a lovely sour. It was tart, but sweet with the vanilla and raspberry flavours both coming through. We didn’t get a lot of the pineapple flavours, but it didn’t detract from it being a lovely brew.
Brewer’s note: An elegant sour twist on the iconic Parisian cocktail. Dazzling with vibrant flavours of juicy raspberries, ripe pineapples and delicate hints of smooth vanilla.
Brewer’s website: Vocation Brewery
Drop Hammer by Kirkstall (Leeds)
Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout 10%
This was a delicious beer and was very nearly our beer of the month. In fact, this was one of our closest beer of the month battles so far and if we were giving two, this definitely would have had a spot.
It was smooth and creamy. It smelt boozy, but didn’t have the boozy burn. The flavours were complex and long-lasting. It was simply stunning. I could have drank it all night (if it wasn’t so strong).
Brewer’s note: A rich and powerful Imperial Stout forged from five malts, aged in Woodford Reserve barrels for eight months.
Brewer’s website: Kirkstall Brewery
BEER OF THE MONTH
Saison Provision 2023 by Burning Sky (South Downs)
Farmhouse Ale 6.7%
Burning Sky is a traditional farmhouse brewery that makes different styles of beer, but their mixed ferm beers are particularly interesting. We love wild ales and mixed ferm beers because they are so different from what you think beer should taste like (despite the fact that centuries ago, most beer tasted this way).
This particular beer had cider-like qualities. If you handed me a glass without telling me it was beer, I probably would have said it was cider. And, as it comes in a 750ml bottle, it’s brilliant for sharing like you would a bottle of wine.
Brewer’s note: This tavern strength farmhouse beer is first fermented with Saison yeast and then with a blend of Lactobacillus and Brettonamyces whilst ageing in oak foudres. The result is tart, crisp, slightly sour and incredibly refreshing.
Brewer’s website: Burning Sky
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Bass by Bass (Brewed by Marston’s in Burton)
British Ale 4.4%
Bass on cask could be described as the holy grail of beer given its incredible history. The distinctive Bass triangle was the first symbol to be registered as a trademark in 1876. The triangle was used to brand the barrels, which is why we use the terms brand and branding in marketing.
We were just on our way out of the pub when a fresh barrel of Bass was put on and we couldn’t resist staying so we could try it. It was worth it. A great beer and worthy of an honourable mention (if not for the history alone). It’s a shame the brand got taken over by AB-InBev, but at least it’s still brewed in its original home of Burton.
Brewer’s note: The legendary status of Bass is symbolised by its iconic red triangle, recognised as the first registered trademark in the United Kingdom. Bass is the most famous English ale in the world, and has been brewed in Burton, England since 1777. It is a full-flavored ale that is still brewed to an original recipe, using only the finest ingredients and the experience of generations. It is brewed with two strains of yeast to produce a complex, nutty, malty taste with subtle hop undertones, and which has widespread appeal to repertoire drinkers and beer lovers around the world. The brand has had an incredible pedigree for centuries. It has been painted by Manet, fought over by Napoleon, and served on the Titanic. Throughout history, it has inspired greatness. It challenges consumers today to reach for more, to reach for greatness with Bass.
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Faith by Northern Monk (Leeds)
Faith is one of our all-time favourite beers, and it never disappoints so putting it in our revisited section was a no-brainer. We also love Holy Faith as a non-alcoholic brew and A Little Faith when we need something more sessionable.
Technically, A Whole Lot of Faith was not a revisited beer - it was a new brew. I was going to put it in the honourable mention section but decided to write about all four versions of Faith together since we revisited the others when trying the new one.
Holy Faith (Alcohol-Free Pale Ale) 0.5%
Holy Faith is a great no-low. It’s thin (as you’d expect from a non-alcoholic beer), but has a lovely flavour and is far nicer than some macro no-low beers.
Brewer’s note: Pushing traditional brewing techniques to extremes allowed us to build up a surprisingly robust base, with oats for that silky mouthfeel associated with NE styles and maltodextrin to further bulk out the body, while a touch of caramel malt brings some colour and sweetness. We hopped with Citra Cryo and El Dorado, which bring notes of lemongrass, citrus zest and a light peppery finish over bready malt flavours.
A Little Faith (Session IPA) 4%
A Little Faith has a thicker mouthfeel than Holy Faith (as you’d expect) and is juicy and hazy with tropical flavours.
Brewer’s note: All the juice, citrus and tropical flavour of Faith, but even more sessionable at a lower ABV of 4%.
Faith (Pale Ale) 5%
Faith isn’t massively different in flavour to A Little Faith, just bigger, punchier and much juicier.
Brewer’s note: A Modern Hazy Pale Ale packed with soft fruit flavours. Smooth, tropical and juicy. You’ve got to have Faith.
A Whole Lot of Faith (Double Hazy IPA) 8.4%
A Whole Lot of Faith has even bigger flavours than Faith and is thicker with a powdery, sherbet-like mouthfeel and a slight dankness. A very good beer. And it’s not very often you get pint-sized cans so that was a nice touch.
Brewer’s note: A Whole Lot of Faith is the ramped-up version of our Faith. An 8.4% triple dry-hopped double IPA, packed with Citra, Columbus, Mosaic hops. First released in 2024, A Whole Lot of Faith is back and for the first time, we’re putting this beer in a pint can.
Brewer’s website: Keep the Faith - Northern Monk
