We’ve had a pretty low alcohol month due to chest infections, training for half marathons, and just not being out and about as much. Of course, we have still been doing our New Brew Thursday sessions, we’ve revisited a few German beers in a nod to Oktoberfest, and we’ve even been doing some homebrewing (though we won’t get to try our brew for another few weeks).
Here’s a rundown of our favourite new brews for September 2026.
Perceptionless by Red Willow (Macclesfield, England)
IPA 6.6%
We’ve only ever tried one Red Willow brew before, so we were keen to try this award-winning NEIPA. It was soft, pillowy, with low bitterness. A really lovely beer.
Brewer’s note: Our award winning NEIPA. Big tropical aromas with distinctive notes of mango and lychee. A soft and silky mouthfeel with a rounded and juicy finish.
Brewer’s website: Red Willow Brewery
A Selection by Polly’s (Flintshire, Wales)
We’ve had two Polly’s selections for our Thursday sessions this month (and we’ve still got a few to go). Over both sessions, these four beers all scored highly, and we couldn’t decide which one we liked best or which one should be knocked out of our top five. So we decided not to decide, and we’ve included all four, meaning this month’s top five is actually a top six.
Rock Preach: Pale Ale 5.6%
Beginning Futures: Pale Ale 5.5%
Brewer’s note: It might just be us, but we find our DDH Pale Ales sing at their highest when the dry hop charge consists of three different varietals. Beginning Futures is a beer we’ve employed this theory on with aplomb, and boy does everything seem to be working in perfect harmony with one another. A baby addition of Talus brings gentle pink grapefruit, dried roses, citrus rinds and just the slightest whisper of sage herbal complexity, before equal 20kg additions of Mosaic and Idaho 7 bring the Polly’s new school juice to the table with abundance. Taking this to an extra level with Simcoe Cryo in the whirlpool, we’ve been able to bring a crisp bitterness to this beer, whilst maintaining the ultra fluffiness from our in-house LA3 yeast strain. Bangin’.
Decibal Bounce: IPA 6%
Everything Works Again: IPA 6.1%
Brewer’s note: When we set out with the recipe for this beer, we decided on a three way dance of modern beer's best varietals, so what better to go for than a triple threat of ultra hype hops Galaxy, Mosaic, and Simcoe? Calling back to that first IPA that put us firmly on the map back in 2018, Everything Works Again - named for an ism in the brewery when we finally sorted out the electrics in the brewhouse, and put an end to months of our brewkit shorting out mid-brew - takes the foundations laid by that OG Polly's beer and brings it roaring into 2021. Juicy, dank, hazy, and everything we love about modern British beer.
Brewer’s website: Polly's
BEER OF THE MONTH
Nightmare Porter by Hambleton Brewery (Ripon, England)
Porter 5%
We first came across Hambleton Brewery way back in lockdown, when they had surplus stock to get rid of (due to bars being closed) and a neighbour offered to do a beer run. We stocked up on a few back then, but this Nightmare porter wasn’t available so when Alex spotted it in Morrisons, he grabbed a couple of bottles. It was a solid porter - we can see why it won a CAMRA award - and we’re awarding it our beer of the month for September.
Brewer’s note: Massively flavoured four malt porter. The result of a 'Nightmare' brew day that turned out awesome and went on to win CAMRA Champion. Winter Beer of Britain!
Brewer’s website: http://www.hambletonbrewery.co.uk/
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Radler Grapefruit by Stieglbrauerei (Salzburg, Austria)
Radler 2%
Since we’ve been fighting chest infections this month, we decided to opt for a low-alcohol brew for one of our Thursday sessions. This 2% Radler from Stiegl was lovely and refreshing - a nice end-of-summer thirst quencher.
Brewer’s note: Real grapefruit juice gives this deliciously refreshing Radler (mixed beer drink) its amber natural cloudiness and pleasant tangy taste. The refreshingly fruity taste makes Stiegl-Radler Grapefruit a wonderful thirst quencher. 100% natural ingredients and brewed with alpine water from Mt. Untersberg.
Brewer’s website: https://www.stiegl.at/
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Edelstoff by Augustiner-Bräu München (Munich, Germany)
Lager 5.6%
We tried this a couple of years ago when we were in Munich, but picked up a couple of bottles last month in House of Trembling Madness (York). Alex also decided he needed the official Edelstoff glass, so he treated himself (despite us having more than enough glassware already). I have to say, though, it is a nice glass and a great beer.
Brewer’s note: A bright export beer, sparkling and fresh at the same time, brewed with noblest raw materials. This high-class product of the Old Bavarian brewing art. A great treat for every beer expert.
Brewer’s website: https://www.augustiner-braeu.de/
