9 Fresh New Craft Beers To Try This Week

I’ve collected some proper seasonal treats for you this week, including a pumpkin spiced porter, new Brew York Christmas beauties and a birthday treat courtesy of one of the best craft breweries you’re yet to try.

Let’s go!

1. Elusive – Carve’n Yams Pumpkin Coffee Porter

The headline this week has to be a pumpkin beer. I know, I know, they split opinion, but every year we get asked for them and normally they’re gimmicky or from breweries we don’t tend to stock.

This year is different though as the brew in question is Elusive’s Carve ‘n’ Yams.

It’s not crazy on the booze and the cold-brew coffee base dominates before the aftertaste of sweet and musty pumpkin comes through.

Not overpowering and not laden with syrups or silliness, it’s a corking stab at a grown up, drinkable pumpkin beer.

2. Brew York – Nightmare of Brew York 2022 Gingerbread Imperial Milk Stout

Elsewhere there’s some of the most fun seasonal beers of the year just out from Brew York.

Nightmare of Brew York Gingerbread Milk Stout 2022 and Fairytale of Brew York Stollen Milk Stout 2022 are both as good as ever.

My pick of the two is the Nightmare, with its warming, slightly spicy gingerbread tang. You know Christmas is coming when you’re sipping these!

3. Overtone – Duty Free Toblerone Imperial Stout

The other headliner this week has to be the 10% monster from Overtone.

Duty Free is the highest ABV brew from a quartet of Overtone birthday beers. This is laden with nougat, honey and chocolate. Like a Toblerone. Like you buy in duty free. Geddit?

4. Azvex – Cookie Cutter Approach Milk Stout

Also don’t miss Azvex’s first foray into “normal” ABV stouts. The Cookie Cutter Approach is a real gem and reminds me of the more muted Amundsen dark beers.

Again, Azvex nailing things all round.

5. Overtone – Pure Magic DDH DIPA

The hoppy section this week is full of birthday fun in the shape of Overtone’s Pale Four Candles and their latest DIPA Pure Magic.

Four Candles is a fairly decent, clean, bitter beer but Pure Magic is where the, erm, magic is!It’s BIG on smooth hops and juicy as can be.

Maybe one followed by the other? That’s how I’d celebrate my birthday anyway 🥳 🍻🕺

6. Drop Project – Ledge West Coast IPA

It’s kinda the same deal with the fresh Drop Project beers this week.

Ledge IPA is a skunky funky west coast full of pine and resin and damn easy to knock back, and the DDH DIPA Dawn is where the huge hops are at.

Again, a great warm-up-beer-plus-main-event combo!

7. Hammerton – Baron H Earl Grey Black IPA

I’ve also snagged Hammerton’s Baron H Earl Grey IPA too, which is a must if you’re a fan of the sophisticated tea.

It’s an acquired taste but the floral notes are subtle enough to keep it enjoyable, and it’s certainly unique, which gets my respect.

8. Pomona Island – Put Down Cello, Take Bongos Mango Sour IPA with Tea

There’s two hat-tricks of beers from cracking breweries in the sour section this week.

First up Pomona come at us with funky sour IPAs You Just Don’t See ‘Em Sour IPA and Put Down Cello, Play Bongos Sour IPA.

Both are up to the usual awesome Pomona standard but the latter is the slight winner with plenty of fresh mango juice rolling on your tongue.

That said, if a more ‘straight up’ sour is your thing then Somebody’s Had Too Much to Think Wild Cherry Farmhouse Sour IPA should be your bag. Dripping in sweet – yet sharp and sour – cherry, and a touch of funk.

9. Yonder – Overnite Oats Blueberry, Coconut and Vanilla Sour With Oats

Yonder always deliver when they start playing about with fruit, so it’s great to see such a range this week from them. 

Passionfruit Cheesecake is a rounded and fun pastry sour with a real creaminess to offset the oodles of fruit, and Attack of the Lemonoids is like a Sicilian holiday in a glass.

My fav has to be Overnite Oats though, which is one of the best beers I think they’ve done. All the main flavours are balanced and bangin, but the oats give it all the body in the world.

Cracking stuff, Yonder.

Plus…

There’s also three brilliantly smooth and moreish dark brews from Hammerton this week. Dia De Los Muertos is already flying out so dive in quick for this chilli beer with bite. Plus we have a ton of the Classic Crunch Peanut Butter Stout in stock so fill your boots with this corking core brew. 

Azvex keep knocking out awesome beer and a hop bill of citra, azacca and chinook means that Desert Roses IPA is as good as it sounds. Hop fans, take note.

The last of the three big Christmas releases from Brew York is certainly worth your attention. Not as big or bold as the other two, Dreams of Brew York Cranberry, Redcurrant, Apple & Cinnamon Pastry Sour 2022 still has all the festive vibes in a glass. Cinnamon and red berries properly crammed into this beer. Maybe it’s too early to think of Christmas day, but it would be a corker to sip while making that lunch!

Enjoy picking your beers and, as always, thanks so much for your support!

Oli, Olly & Charlie
(The three people behind Craft Metropolis)