Happy New Year, and welcome to our very first monthly round-up for beer drinkers! The Cask Connoisseur are thrilled to kick off the year by diving into what’s been making waves in the beer world.
Beer Business
According to reports, it’s suggested that an estimate of 25% of people will abstain from drinking any alcohol throughout January. However, many Bars and Restaurants are stating that people’s drinking habits have changed over the past year and that dry drinking is becoming the new norm. One factor which is having an integral part in this is the cost of Alcohol which has increased year on year. In essence the average cost for a beer before the COVID pandemic was estimated at £3.50 for a pint, whereas now prices are being captured at an average of £4.40 for a pint.
2025 celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Thornbridge Brewery which has successfully developed over the past two decades. From starting off small in the stonemason’s workshop at Thornbridge Hall, the brewery has increased its business presence being located in the heart of the Peak District at Bakewell in its glorious Riverside Brewery. The Brewery is celebrating it’s milestone in style by reviving some of its well known classic recipes which will be available to sample through the Thornbridge Beer Club.
The Bailey Head in Oswestry, (Shropshire) has gone from failing to now becoming the best pub in the country. The Campaign for Real Ale, (CAMRA) has awarded this thriving local community gem, Pub Of The Year 2025. It was roughly ten years ago when this pub closed and was secured through CAMRAs assets of community value. This defined the pub from being redeveloped and now as the clocks have turned forward it’s in an award winning position.
Beer Releases
Saltaire Brewery have recently released a brand new special release beer. Be Bold 3.4% is a Pale Ale which has been launched as part of the collaboration to support Bradford 2025 UK city of Culture. The beer is described as refreshing, light and well balanced with a hint of tropical fruit. A perfect session beer to try in time for Spring.
North Yorkshire’s Roosters Brewing Company located in Harrogate have released a new gluten free beer which is now available to purchase in Cask, Keg or Cans. Yorkshire’s Best 3.8% ABV is an amber coloured beer which is impeccably smooth. The brewery has expanded its gluten free beer portfolio further to five varieties of gluten free beers. Gluten free beers are becoming the new norm for breweries now, essentially the taste of beer will be different as it won’t contain any malted barley which means Coeliacs can have it.
Upcoming Beer Festivals
Saturday, 1 February 2025
- TJ’s Beer Festival, Tonbridge, Kent
- 16th Colchester Winter Ale Festival, Essex, CAMRA
- Pendle Beer Festival, Colne, Pendle, Lancashir, CAMRA
- Dorchester Beerex 2025,
Thursday, 6 February 2025
- TQ Winter Beer & Cider Festival, Torquay, Devon
- Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival, CAMRA
Friday, 7 February 2025
- TQ Winter Beer & Cider Festival, Torquay, Devon
- Chesterfield & District Beer Festival (CAMRA)
- Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival, CAMRA
Saturday, 8 February 2025
- TQ Winter Beer & Cider Festival, Torquay, Devon
- Chesterfield & District Beer Festival (CAMRA)
- Tewkesbury Winter Ales Festival, CAMRA
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
- Great British Beer Festival Winter, Rotherham, South Yorks
Thursday, 13 February 2025
- Great British Beer Festival Winter, Rotherham, South Yorks
- Liverpool Beer Festival, CAMRA
Friday, 14 February 2025
- Great British Beer Festival Winter, Rotherham, South Yorks
- Liverpool Beer Festival, CAMRA
Saturday, 15 February 2025
- Great British Beer Festival Winter, Rotherham, South Yorks
- Liverpool Beer Festival, CAMRA
Friday, 21 February 2025
- Darlington Beer Festival, CAMRA
Saturday, 22 February 2025
- Darlington Beer Festival, CAMRA
Sunday, 23 February 2025
- Darlington Beer Festival, CAMRA
Friday, 11 April 2025
- Oldham Beer & Cider Festival, Oldham, Manchester, CAMRA
Saturday, 12 April 2025
- Oldham Beer & Cider Festival, Oldham, Manchester, CAMRA
- Aberdeen Beer Festival
Friday, 23 May 2025
- King Of The Beer Fests (King Of The Belgian Pubs), Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Saturday, 24 May 2025
- King Of The Beer Fests (King Of The Belgian Pubs), Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Sunday, 25 May 2025
- King Of The Beer Fests (King Of The Belgian Pubs), Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Monday, 26 May 2025
- King Of The Beer Fests (King Of The Belgian Pubs), Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Thursday, 5 June 2025
- Twyford Beer Festival, Berkshire
Friday, 6 June 2025
- Twyford Beer Festival, Berkshire
Saturday, 7 June 2025
- Twyford Beer Festival, Berkshire
Saturday, 5 July 2025
- Haddenham Summerfest, Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival (CAMRA)
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival (CAMRA)
Thursday, 7 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival (CAMRA)
Friday, 8 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival (CAMRA)
Saturday, 9 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival (CAMRA)
Background – Here at The Cask Connoisseur, even though we’re not subscribed to every potential newsletter or source of information, we receive around four hundred emails over the course of a month with various promotions, new release information, brewery newsletters,updates etc. Add on social media posts and that amounts to somewhere well over 1000 pieces of information being reviewed per month. The aim of this monthly round up is to provide a summary of the most interesting bits along with upcoming events that can be gleaned from them. The downside to a monthly review is a lot of “special offers” will have come and gone.
2Comments
February 11, 2025 at 7:09 am
This blog is a great roundup for beer lovers, featuring the latest trends, brews, and must-try selections from January. A must-read for anyone looking to explore new flavors!
February 11, 2025 at 7:13 am
Thanks Nathan! We’ll keep sharing our monthly roundups for beer (and whisky if you're interested) every month!