He’s back! Woohooo!

Gentleman George. The Bent and Bongs Beer Svengali.

For 2025 we are graced again by the recommendations of Gentleman George. He has been perusing the list of beers, checking his own notes from travels in foreign lands, and discussing with his inner circle of other beer svengalis (we had to check the plural for that one!)

The following are Gentleman George’s recommendations. These are some of, if not the best beers in the festival. Some of them even vie for the lofty title of the best beers in the world. Heady stuff indeed. If you want to try the ultimate beers that the festival has to offer, this is the place to be.

A warning up front. Some of these beers are strong ones. Really strong ones. If Chuck Norris were at the festival these are the beers he would be drinking. Sip them slowly. Don’t gulp them. Enjoy them the way their creators intended.

Cask Beers (Cask Bar)

Thornbridge – Union (5%)

Brewed on Thornbridge’s new Union set which they rescued from Burton on Trent, this comes a no expenses spared selection of the finest malts and hops. Maris Otter, Crystal malts gives you the base whilst the British grown Goldings and Northdown hops give you gentle berry flavours and rounded flavour for the balance with the malt.

Wigan Brewhouse – Mad Monk (7.1%)

Dark and serious Imperial Russian stout. Creamy oakey liquorice rich finish. Can’t imagine it lasting long…

Liquid Light – Day Tripper (4.3%)

This thick juicy pale ale is packed full of Amarillo hops, so much so it is double dry hopped with them and Motueka too. A monster hop profile sits well on a malt bed of pale ale oats and Munich malt.

Craft Beers (Craft Corner)

Dolphin – Riddler (5.4%)

Riddler is a sour that uses roasted and crystal malts in the mash for a darker colour and notes of mocha, burnt caramel and raisin. Post fermentation Riddler is aged for three months on fruit selected to complement the character of the base beer– plums for tanginess, cherries for tartness, and roasted figs (kindly provided by local beer aficionado, Tim Lloyd) for a touch of figgy sweetness.

Two Towns Down (Paisley) – The Day We Caught The Train (6%)

Chews this salted caramel stout, inspired by one of Scotland’s best loved stouts. Indulge yourself in layers of Belgian candi sugar, lactose and sea salt. Complex, sessionable yet chewy…

Rivington – Pastel Sea of Tranquillity (6.8%)

A New England IPA packed full of juicy creamy fruit flavours , so hoppy and velvety smooth.

Belgium and Foreign Beers (Foreign Bar)

Põhjala (Estonia) – Põhjala Baltic Porter Day 2025 (10.5%)

Baltic Porter Day is brewed each year to celebrate Baltic Porter Day. Each year it’s a little different. The 2025 recipe is brewed with bison grass. This is the only time you’ll get to try the 2025 brew. Enjoy it before it’s gone forever.

Haacht (Belgium) – Tongerlo Blond (6%)

Named as the World’s Best Beer across all categories at the 2014 World Beer Awards. Do we really need to say any more than this?

This is a lovely Belgium Blond with a delicious well-balanced flavour and just a tingle of bitterness to finish.

Brasserie de la Senne (Belgium) – De la Senne Schieve X-Mas (8%)

Imagine the flavours of Christmas pudding overlaid with a refreshing bitterness. Caramel, biscuits, and plum pudding balanced with citrusy hints of candied fruits and subtle orange. All finished with a hint of liquorice.

Chimay – Chimay 150 (Green) (10.5%)

This is an extra-strong Belgium blond with an intense fruity taste. Hints of smokiness and spiciness keep it very well balanced.

Cimay brewed 150 for the first time in 2012 as a limited edition of 150,000 bottles; hence the name. It’s not often available on draught. Enjoy it while you can.

Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan – Straffe Hendrik Xmas Blend (11%)

Every year the master brewers at the De Halve Maan brewery hold back a little bit of their amazing quad brew. They then age this beer which is then gentle aged in barrels stored in the brewery’s medieval cellars. To finish their annual Christmas Blend the master brewers select the perfect blend of these barrel aged quads. The result is something very special. Deep, dark, and luxurious.

At 11% this is one of the two strongest beers of the festival. Sip it slowly to enjoy the complexity of its taste and see how its taste changes as it slowly warms up in your glass. It’s totally delicious.

Have a Great Night

These are some of the best beers in the whole beer festival. Some of them are also the strongest. Anything over 7% is sold as a half pint only due to the strength.

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.

Drink responsibly, have a great night, and a great tomorrow.