Welcome to The Cask Connoisseur’s November Monthly Round-Up, where we distill a month’s worth of beer news, releases, and events into one comprehensive guide for beer lovers. 🍺 From award-winning brews to festive releases and industry updates, we’ve got all the highlights you don’t want to miss.
This month brings exciting recognition for Fuller’s iconic ESB, a resurrection of the legendary Thomas Hardy’s Ale, and some bittersweet news from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. Plus, with Christmas around the corner, breweries are rolling out seasonal specials that’ll make any beer enthusiast’s holiday merry and bright.
We also look ahead to upcoming beer festivals to help you plan your next outing and celebrate the joy of beer culture. So, grab your favorite pint and dive in—it’s been a busy month in the world of beer!
Beer Business
Fuller’s Brewery beer, ESB 5.9% ABV (Extra Special Bitter) has been awarded CAMRAs Premium Bitter Gold Medal within the London & South East 2024 awards category. Achieving this award also places the beer in the running for 2025 Champion Beer Of Great Britain which would be another fantastic achievement to add to the collection of awards it has won in the past.
Now, turning the clocks back to 1900 when legendary British Writer Thomas Hardy wrote his famous novel, The Trumpet Major. In his novel he described the perfect conclusion of a strong ‘old ale’. Flavours of orange marmalade, bitter fruit and dried honey sprung to the mind of Mr Hardy.
It was then in 1968, the 40th Anniversary of his death that Eldridge Pope Brewery created ‘Thomas Hardy’s Ale’. Now, after disappearing off the UK’s shelves over a long period of time, a deal has been struck between Italian distributor Interbrau Spa and West Yorkshire’s James Clay and Sons to revive the iconic Barley Wine (Vintage 2024 11.3% ABV).
There has been big news lately from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company which has struck anger to drinkers across the UK. In total there are 11 beers that are being stripped from the pumps, a decision that CMBC have made due to a fall in demand. This has sparked fury across the UK Cask Ale Industry as it’s another blow to heritage. The following beers that are being cut in production are as follows.
- Banks’s Mild
- Banks’s Sunbeam
- Bombardier (Keg)
- Eagle IPA
- Jennings Cumberland Ale
- Mansfield Dark Smooth (Keg)
- Mansfield Original Bitter (Keg)
- Marston’s Old Empire
- Marston’s 61 Deep
- Ringwood Boondoggle
- Ringwood Old Thumper
Now is the last opportunity to try and get your hands on these beers before they all disappear altogether.
Beer Releases
Dark Star Brewing, owned by Asahi, has announced that it’s reviving the dark legendary Prize Old Ale (9.0% ABV). It was first brewed in 1923 by the former Gales Brewery in Hampshire which closed in 2006. It’s stated that this strong beer is certainly a rare gem and one that will certainly capture the eyes of many beer drinkers. Prize Old Ale is currently available in pubs across the UK and will be available to purchase from 18th November on Dark Star”s online shop.
Brewdog has launched two seasonal beers in the run up to Christmas. The first release is based on the comical 2003 Christmas film which stars Will Farrell, any guesses??. That’s right, Elf. Elf (4.5% ABV) is a citrusy and crisp lager which will certainly put you in the mood to spread so much Christmas cheer.
The second beer is Hoppy Christmas (6.0% ABV) a festive IPA which is a sack full of citrus and tropical flavours. This will certainly be a sleigh ride of a beer that you don’t want to miss out on.
Suffolk based, Adnams Southwold have also got into the Christmas spirit by announcing a Yuletide Red Ale (4.5% ABV). This winter warming beer is loaded full of chocolate and coffee and ends with a seasonal spice of Cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s available to purchase through the main brewery’s site for 12 cans at £29.99.
Hook Norton Brewery are launching their seasonal winter beer in the run up to Christmas. Twelve Days (5.5% ABV) which is a dark, red and brown porter which is loaded full of sultanas and Christmas spice mix. If you’re feeling festive then you wouldn’t want to miss out on purchasing 12 bottles for £35.00, that’s certainly an early Christmas treat.
One of the all time classic Christmas beers is hitting the supermarket shelves and pubs across the UK once again. Rocking Rudolph (4.2% ABV) a malty, fruity and festive cheer can be purchased through the Greene King website for £13.50 for six 500ml bottles.
Upcoming Beer Festivals
Sunday, 1 December
- Cafe Metro Winterfest, Bilston
- Burton Bridge Inn, Winter and Market Beer Festival, Staffordshire, Burton Upon Trent
Tuesday, 3 December
- Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival, London (CAMRA)
Wednesday, 4 December
- Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival, London (CAMRA)
Thursday, 5 December
- Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival, London (CAMRA)
Friday, 6 December
- Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival, London (CAMRA)
- Queens Arms Beer Festival, Brixham, Devon
- Whitworth Valley Tap Takeover, Millgate Shopping Centre, Bury
- Time & Tide Brewery Town Tinsel Beer Festival, Sandwich, Kent
Saturday, 7 December
- Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival, London (CAMRA)
- Queens Arms Beer Festival, Brixham, Devon
- Whitworth Valley Tap Takeover, Millgate Shopping Centre, Bury
- Time & Tide Brewery Town Tinsel Beer Festival, Sandwich, Kent
Sunday, 8 December
- Queens Arms Beer Festival, Brixham, Devon
- Whitworth Valley Tap Takeover, Millgate Shopping Centre, Bury
Saturday 14 December
- Haddenham Winterfest Beer Festival, Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury
Thursday, 16 January 2025
- Exeter Festival Of Beer, Exeter, Devon
Friday, 17 January 2025
- Exeter Festival Of Beer, Exeter, Devon
Saturday, 18 January 2025
- Exeter Festival Of Beer, Exeter, Devon
Friday, 31 January 2025
- TJ’s Beer Festival, Tonbridge, Kent
Saturday, 1 February 2025
- TJ’s Beer Festival, Tonbridge, Kent
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.
