For 2024 we are graced that Gentleman George takes over the prestigious mantle of the Bent and Bongs Beer Svengali. Gentleman George has been studying the beers to find you a selection of some of, nay the, best beers of the festival.

If you want to try the ultimate in tasty beer, this is the place to be.

Note that some of these beers are strong ones. Think of them as the Arnie Schwarzenegger of beers. Drink them too quickly and you will be back. Flat on your back. Being carried out on a stretcher is not a good look so treat the stronger beers with respect. Sip them slowly and enjoy every bit.

For 2024 Gentleman George recommends …

Cask Beers (Cask Bar)

Wigan Brewhouse – Mad Monk (7.1%)

A dark and serious Russian Imperial Stout. Lots of liquorice and oak flavours with some smoke. Won’t last long.

Frothblowers – Hornswoggle (5%)

Extra pale, malt in large enough quantities to induce an alcoholic euphoria are combined with floral hops to produce a deceptively easily drinkable 5 percenter.

Strange Times – Mad King Sweeney (4.6%)

Inspired by the turbulent life of Buile Suibhne, this Irish Red Ale brewed with Rye and Oats. It is smooth and balanced enough to calm the Mad King himself.

Stewarts – Cauld Reekie (6.2%)

A full-bodied strong stout with an abundance of roasted malt flavours, liquorice and molasses and a hint of sweetness.

Mallinsons – Blanc Jester (3.8%)

A new beer from Mallinsons, dual hopped, late hopping with Jester gives aromas of grape and soft fruits. Hallertau hops gives great bitterness with notes of tart gooseberries.

Rivington – Beach House (3.8%)

A deliciously hazy pale ale, brewed with a killer hop combo of Motueka, Mosaic and Simco, Delicious.

Craft Beers (Craft Corner)

Hammerton – City of Cake (5.5%)

A deep and rich milk stout, balancing roast coffee and chocolate notes with sweetness and caramel aromas. This is fudge brownie in a glass.

Runaway – Winter Saison (6.3%)

Classic Belgian style Saison with a seasonal UK twist. Dry and fruity, yeast and malt led, with a hint of citrus and hedgerow fruits from the classic British hops. Vegan friendly.

Belgium and Foreign Beers (Foreign Bar)

Straffe Hendrik Xmas Blend (11%)

Possibly one of the finest beers in the world. This beer starts out life as the Straffe Hendrik Quad, a beer that has graced this very beer festival more than once. The master brewers at the De Halve Maan brewery hold back a little bit of this quad which is then gentle aged in barrels stored in the brewery’s medieval cellars.

The brewers then finish the job by selecting the perfect blend of barrel aged quads. The result is something very special. Deep, dark, and luxurious.

Sold in halves only because of the strength. Sip it slowly and enjoy every last taste.

Cherry Chouffe Rouge (8%)

A lot of incredible beers come out of the doors of Moortgat and this is no exception.

This is a cherry flavoured beer, but not in the way of a typical fruit beer. Most fruit beers start their lives as a lambic or a wit to give them that typical zingy taste. Cherry Chouffe is different. It starts out as an ever so slightly sour strong Belgian ale. To this the brewers add heaps of natural cherry juice and the result is quite delicious. The background deep flavours of a strong Belgium ale with the sweet and sour notes of the cherries. If you enjoyed the original Liefmans Kriek (the 6% one) it’s likely you’ll like this.

The bad news. It contains cherries but sadly you can’t count it as part of your five-a-day.

Lervig Hoppy Holiday Haze (4.7%)

Another fantastic beer coming out of Stavanger. Brewed only at Christmas this is a hazy New England style pale ale that is packed full of flavour. This year Lervig are using Loral Cryo and Sabro hops for maximum citrus with a tropical punch. Very drinkable and totally refreshing.

Have a Great Night

These are some of the best beers in the whole beer festival. Some of them are also the strongest. We said it to begin with and we’ll say it again to end. Treat these stronger beers with respect. Drink them slowly. Enjoy the taste. And enjoy a great night out.

For 2024, and for a bit of fun, we also have the Taylor Swift beer trail. The Taylor Swift Eras tour seems to be the biggest good news story of 2023 and 2024 so why not have a bit of fun with a once-only-in-the-history-of-the-festival Taylor Swift beer trail.

Remember to drink responsibly, have a great night, and a great tomorrow.