Category: Blog

Happy New Year, all! Can you believe it's 2017 already? On a personal level (I'm not even going to start on global politics because this is not the place) 2016 was an absolute whirlwind of weddings and V Boring Grownup Activities, so I'm hoping that 2017 is going to be a little more chilled (or room… Continue reading Review: True Maharaja

I'll let you into a secret: Skinners Brewery is a bit of a favourite of mine. Not only do they brew one of my favourite bitters, Betty Stogs, but have you seen the new labels? I mean come on, that's how you do a rebrand (other breweries take note). In fact, I shall be dedicating… Continue reading Review: Penny Come Quick

Black Friday; it's a bit American isn't it? She says as she sets her alarm for the crack of dawn in the hope of bagging a games console for Christmas. Well, even if its origins are in the US, it's definitely caught on in the UK, a little bit like Goose Island (my god did… Continue reading Black Friday: Bourbon County Stout 2016

I've recently joined the British Guild of Beer Writers with the intention of improving my writing. Don't worry, I'm not going to start talking about sparging or any of that nonsense, there are enough beer writers talking about the technical side of beer, but I rather hope this blog will start to head in a more topical… Continue reading Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards 2016: The Shortlist

This month I'm shining my Event Spotlight on this little event thrown together by beer writer Matt Curtis, of Total Ales, and Hop Burns and Black. It's Christmas themed and OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Sparkles and magic and all those yummy beers that taste like a Christmas pudding/gingerbread/turkey (disclaimer: I cannot guarantee that… Continue reading Event Spotlight: Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas

As you might know if you follow me on social media (@craftybeeress should you be so inclined), I enjoy a little competition retweet here and there. It was this little hobby that led me to win 2 tickets for The Epicurean which I popped along to last weekend. The Epicurean, held at the Old Truman Brewery… Continue reading The Epicurean

That's right, International Stout Day is here again. You've barely put away your pumpkin and suddenly there are stouts all over the shop. To be honest I'm not sure International Stout Day is going to catch on as well as something like Christmas (although our employers might be wise to give us tomorrow off), but… Continue reading International Stout Day

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you: those beers below are Marston's, the result of an ambitious rebranding project costing more than...wait for it...£1m. To put it into perspective that's like a whole studio flat in London, or one million boxes of Toffifee from the pound shop. Other than the labels themselves there have also been… Continue reading Marston’s: The Rebrand

As the nights draw in and it starts to get a bit chillier (I write this while quivering on the sofa under 2 blankets) I start to crave darker, meatier beers which pack a punch and give me that warm and cosy feeling. Enter The Sturminster Beast. No, not the well known Dorset stripper, but… Continue reading Review: The Sturminster Beast