May has certainly been one of the busiest months for the UK’s Brewing Industry. There’s been a wide release of fresh brews just in time for Summer. Also the annual Mild May tipped the top of the iceberg, it’s been a Marvellous May.
Beer Business
RedWillow Brewery located in Macclesfield is toasting 15 years within the brewery trade. To celebrate this milestone, the brewery is launching a range of collaborations from some of the UK’s respected breweries including: DEYA, The Kernel, Thornbridge and many more.
CAMRA have been granted permission from the beer inspectors Cask Marque to share on CAMRAs website which pubs have either four/five star ratings focused on Beer Quality and Cellar Hygiene. This new system will now allow customers up and down the country to be able to view pubs/bars which care about beer quality and want to serve the Perfect Pint each time.
International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day has stormed itself back to glory after taking a gap year in 2024. The campaign which was launched in 2014 by Sophie de Ronde Burnt Mill Brewery has proven to be a top hit once again with £26,000 raised for 44 Women’s causes around the world.
The campaign provides an insight that women belong in beer. With this year being sourced as one of the best, there’s plans in the pipeline to make 2026 more successful by potentially adding a beer festival and UNITE awards to reflect the stand out efforts of women across the world.
Beer Releases
London-based Fuller’s Brewery has revived the former premium bitter which was first launched by Gales Brewery in 1959. HSB (Horndean Special Bitter) at 4.8% ABV once stood as the flagship beer from Gales.
Ironically, the recipe has been handed over to Fuller’s after the closure of Gales Brewery in 2006. The remarkable feeling you’ll instantly be greeted by from this beer is that the recipe has been untouched and still carries the traditional HSB legacy that once thrived back in the days of the Gales Brewery.
Titanic Brewery located in the heart of Staffordshire have recently launched a new beer to showcase the 100th Anniversary of when Stoke-On-Trent was granted it’s official city status in 1925.
Century Ale 4.7% ABV also reflects Titanic Brewery heritage as they celebrate the 40th Anniversary.
The Cask Connoisseur are delighted to receive a couple of samples of Century Anniversary Ale which Luke and Chris will be reviewing shortly and truthfully they can’t wait to sample it.
Friends of Robinsons Brewery, Fyne Ales situated in North Scotland have collaborated with the Co-Op to bring this new fruity, refreshing and summer vibed beer, Munro a 4.2% Pale Ale.
The name of the beer is taken from the group of 282 Scottish Mountains known as the ‘Munros’. This sessionable pale ale has the certain aspects of delivering those sensational aromas and textures that make us think of those warm summer days.
The Cask Connoisseur were able to reach out to Fyne Ales and have been given the opportunity to sample this new release when bottling commences in June. Stay tuned to find out more!
Greene King has partnered with the Dutch brand Uiltje Brewing Company to distribute their flagship beer, Bird of Prey, into a cask beer.
Previously, the beer was only sold in Kegs at 5.8% ABV, but in 2024 plans were approved to rack this craft style beer into casks at 5.2% ABV. However, the beer will only be around for a limited time only.
Nottingham based Castle Rock Brewery have collaborated with Attic Brew Co, to launch a Pina Colada Sour called Parasol.
This 5.5% ABV has been proposed to tickle your taste buds with its balance of tartness and tropical flavours. The coconut thrives on the palate to bring that creamy texture which you expectedly get from a traditional Pina Colada.
Upcoming Beer Festivals
Tuesday, 3 June 2025
- Thurrock Beer and Cider Festival 2025, Grays, Essex, CAMRA
Wednesday, 4 June 2025
- Thurrock Beer and Cider Festival 2025, Grays, Essex, CAMRA
Thursday, 5 June 2025
- Twyford Beer Festival, Berkshire, (Non CAMRA)
- Thurrock Beer and Cider Festival 2025, Grays, Essex, CAMRA
- Braintree Real Ale Festival, Braintree, Essex, CAMRA
- Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, CAMRA
Friday, 6 June 2025
- Twyford Beer Festival, Berkshire, (Non CAMRA)
- Thurrock Beer and Cider Festival 2025, Grays, Essex, CAMRA
- Braintree Real Ale Festival, Braintree, Essex, CAMRA
- CAMRA KESR Railway Real Ale and Cider Festival, Tenterden, Kent, CAMRA
- Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, CAMRA
Saturday, 7 June 2025
- Twyford Beer Festival, Berkshire, (Non CAMRA )
- Thurrock Beer and Cider Festival 2025, Grays, Essex, CAMRA
- Braintree Real Ale Festival, Braintree, Essex, CAMRA
- CAMRA KESR Railway Real Ale and Cider Festival, Tenterden, Kent, CAMRA
- Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, CAMRA
- Holy Souls 100th Celebration Beer and Cider Festival, Adcocks Green, Birmingham, (Non CAMRA)
Friday, 13 June 2025
- Ale and Steam Beer Festival, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, CAMRA
Saturday, 14 June 2025
- Ale and Steam Beer Festival, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, CAMRA
Sunday, 15 June 2025
- Ale and Steam Beer Festival, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, CAMRA
Wednesday, 19 June 2025
- Stockport Beer and Cider Festival, Stockport, Manchester, CAMRA
Thursday, 20 June 2025
- Stockport Beer and Cider Festival, Stockport, Manchester, CAMRA
Friday, 21 June 2025
- Stockport Beer and Cider Festival, Stockport, Manchester, CAMRA
- Change is Brewing Beer Festival, Oxford, (Non CAMRA)
Thursday, 26 June 2025
- Leicester Indie Beer Festival, Leicestershire, CAMRA
Friday, 27 June 2025
- Leicester Indie Beer Festival, Leicestershire, CAMRA
- 12th Rutland CAMRA Beer Festival, Oakham, Rutland, CAMRA
- Iver Heath Beer and Music Festival, Iver, Buckinghamshire, (Non CAMRA)
Saturday, 28 June 2025
- Leicester Indie Beer Festival, Leicestershire, CAMRA
- 12th Rutland CAMRA Beer Festival, Oakham, Rutland, CAMRA
- Iver Heath Beer and Music Festival, Iver, Buckinghamshire, (Non CAMRA)
Sunday, 29 June 2025
- 12th Rutland CAMRA Beer Festival, Oakham, Rutland, CAMRA
Thursday, 3 July 2025
- Totnes Beer and Cider Festival, Totnes, Devon, CAMRA
- Chorlton Beer and Cider Festival, Chortlton, Manchester, CAMRA
Friday, 4 July 2025
- Totnes Beer and Cider Festival, Totnes, Devon, CAMRA
- Merchant Adventures’ Charity Beer Festival, York, Yorkshire, (Non CAMRA)
- Chasewater Railway Beer Festival 2025, Brownhills, Walsall, (Non CAMRA)
- Chorlton Beer and Cider Festival, Chortlton, Manchester, CAMRA
Saturday, 5 July 2025
- Haddenham Summerfest, Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury
- Totnes Beer and Cider Festival, Totnes, Devon, CAMRA
- Merchant Adventures’ Charity Beer Festival, York, Yorkshire, (Non CAMRA)
- Chasewater Railway Beer Festival 2025, Brownhills, Walsall, (Non CAMRA)
- Chorlton Beer and Cider Festival, Chortlton, Manchester, CAMRA
Sunday, 6 July 2025
- Chasewater Railway Beer Festival 2025, Brownhills, Walsall, (Non CAMRA)
Friday, 11 July 2025
- Shanty Town 2025, Portsmouth, (Non CAMRA)
Saturday, 12 July 2025
- Shanty Town 2025, Portsmouth, (Non CAMRA)
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
- Chelmsford and Mid Essex Summer Beer and Cider Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, CAMRA
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
- Chelmsford and Mid Essex Summer Beer and Cider Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, CAMRA
Thursday, 17 July 2025
- Chelmsford and Mid Essex Summer Beer and Cider Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, CAMRA
Friday, 18 July 2025
- Chelmsford and Mid Essex Summer Beer and Cider Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, CAMRA
- Cheese and Cider Festival, Sandford Park, Cheltenham, (Non CAMRA)
- 47th Cotswold Beer Festival, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, CAMRA
Saturday, 19 July 2025
- Chelmsford and Mid Essex Summer Beer and Cider Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, CAMRA
- Cheese and Cider Festival, Sandford Park, Cheltenham, (Non CAMRA)
- 47th Cotswold Beer Festival, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, CAMRA
Sunday, 20 July 2025
- Cheese and Cider Festival, Sandford Park, Cheltenham, (Non CAMRA)
- 47th Cotswold Beer Festival, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, CAMRA
Saturday, 26 July 2025
- Stanton Harcourt Beer Festival, Stanton Harcourt, Witney, (Non CAMRA)
Friday, 1 August 2025
- Music and Beer Festival at The Vulcan, Southend On Sea, Thames Estuary, (Non CAMRA)
Saturday, 2 August 2025
- Music and Beer Festival at The Vulcan, Southend On Sea, Thames Estuary, (Non CAMRA)
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival, Birmingham, West Midlands, CAMRA
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival, Birmingham, West Midlands, CAMRA
Thursday, 7 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival, Birmingham, West Midlands, CAMRA
Friday, 8 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival, Birmingham, West Midlands, CAMRA
Saturday, 9 August 2025
- Great British Beer Festival, Birmingham, West Midlands, CAMRA
Tuesday, 19 August 2025
- Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, CAMRA
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
- 33rd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, CAMRA
- Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, CAMRA
Thursday, 21 August 2025
- 33rd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, CAMRA
- Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, CAMRA
Friday, 22 August 2025
- 33rd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, CAMRA
- Mid-Norfolk Railway Beer and Music Festival, Dereham, Norfolk, (Non CAMRA)
- Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, CAMRA
Saturday, 23 August 2025
- 33rd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, CAMRA
- Mid-Norfolk Railway Beer and Music Festival, Dereham, Norfolk, (Non CAMRA)
- Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, CAMRA
Sunday, 24 August 2025
- 33rd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, CAMRA
- Mid-Norfolk Railway Beer and Music Festival, Dereham, Norfolk, (Non CAMRA)
Monday, 25 August 2025
- 33rd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, CAMRA
- Mid-Norfolk Railway Beer and Music Festival, Dereham, Norfolk, (Non CAMRA)
Friday, 12 September 2025
- Wedmore Beer Festival, Wedmore, Somerset, (Non CAMRA)
Saturday, 13 September 2025
- Wedmore Beer Festival, Wedmore, Somerset, (Non CAMRA)
Sunday, 14 September 2025
- Wedmore Beer Festival, Wedmore, Somerset, (Non CAMRA)
Friday, 19 September 2025
- Guildford Beer Festival 2025, Guildford, Surrey, (Non CAMRA)
Saturday, 20 September 2025
- Guildford Beer Festival 2025, Guildford, Surrey, (Non CAMRA)
Friday, 24 October 2025
- Time and Tide Rising Tide Craft Beer Festival, Canterbury, Kent, (Non CAMRA)
Saturday, 25 October 2025
- Time and Tide Rising Tide Craft Beer Festival, Canterbury, Kent, (Non 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.
