As the temperatures drop and winter approaches, it’s only natural to find ourselves gravitating towards hibernation mode. To help you settle into this cosy state of mind, we’ve once again joined forces with our favourite independent bookshop, Forum Books. Together, we’re excited to present their handpicked book recommendations paired with some of the finest North East beers. With the shifting weather, our priorities change, and we yearn for comfort, warmth, and experiences that offer an escape from the world. And what better way to achieve that than by indulging in the perfect blend of good books and great beer?!
All of the beers featured in our book and beer pairings have been carefully selected, purchased either directly from the brewery or sourced from Rehill’s of Jesmond by us, and sent to Helen at Forum Books for her expert touch in matching them with her favorite literary gems (and capturing the perfect shots, too).
You’ll find links to purchase both the recommended books and beers below. If, by any chance, you discover that some of these items are out of stock at the moment you’re reading this, consider reaching out to your local bottle shop; they might be able to help you track them down. Alternatively, why not grab a paperback and head to your favourite pub?
As always, we’d love to hear what you’re reading and the beers that enhance those books…you can share your story with us over on X.
The Books ‘n’ Beer Pairings
Kala + Grasshopper Pale
Two by Two Brewing: Grasshopper Pale – Pale Ale (5.0%)
Kala: Colin Walsh
In the coastal town of Kinlough, Ireland, three long-lost friends, Helen, Joe, and Mush, reunite after years of separation. Their bond was forged in the summer of 2003, with the enigmatic Kala Lanann at the center. Kala vanished after that summer, and now, fifteen years later, human remains are discovered, and more girls have gone missing. As they confront their own involvement in Kala’s disappearance, a dark history resurfaces, and they must prevent the town’s violent patterns from repeating. “Kala” delves into the price of belonging, the struggle between vengeance and forgiveness, and the battle for redemption amid a town weighed down by its secrets.
To contrast the weight of the burden that the characters reveal throughout the book, this beer is a light, citrussy and earthy collab with Karma Coast. Expect a hemp-infused pale ale with 10mg of full spectrum CBD per pint. Hoppy and herbal, with tropical and dank flavours.
The North Will Rise Again + Tyneside Brown
Hadrian Border: Tyneside Brown – Brown Ale (4.7%)
The North Will Rise Again: In Search of the Future in Northern Heartlands: Alex Niven
This book explores the rich experiences of Northern inhabitants, capturing the optimism and expansiveness of Northern culture alongside the persistent undercurrent of despair in one of the UK’s most economically challenged regions. Alex delves into recent Northern history, addressing pressing issues like the North/South divide, austerity, Brexit’s impact, the fall of Labour’s ‘Red Wall,’ and regional devolution. He advocates for a revival of Northern politics through ‘radical regionalism.’ As a native Northerner, Alex blends memoir and family history to underscore the book’s central themes and calls for a transformation of the North from a land of lost potential to a dynamic, forward-looking region.
Another important part of Northern history is its beer styles, and brown ale rises again in the North with this Tyneside Brown. It is a full-bodied, nutty, dark amber beer balanced with traditional English bittering and aroma hops.
Roast Figs, Sugar Snow + Winter Ale
Allendale Brewery: Winter Ale – Seasonal Ale (5.0%).
Roast Figs, Sugar Snow: Food to warm the soul: Diana Henry
Diana Henry’s beloved cookbook “Roast Figs, Sugar Snow” is making a comeback, enriched with new recipes and a foreword by Nigel Slater, nearly two decades after its initial release. This classic work celebrates the flavours of winter with ingredients like pumpkins, pomegranates, chestnuts, and spices, taking you on a culinary journey through cold-weather destinations. From Italian ski slopes to Viennese coffee houses and beyond, these recipes not only warm your home but also your heart, offering comforting delights from around the world.
Comfort paired with comfort; Allendale Brewery’s traditional winter ale is brewed with a variety of malts to bring flavours of toasted nut, biscuit and toffee. Goldings hops provide marmalade orange notes.
Rouge + Nox
Twice Brewed: Nox – Cherry Milk Stout (5.3%).
Rouge: Mona Awad
Belle’s obsession with skincare takes a dark turn when her estranged mother, Noelle, dies, leaving behind debts and unanswered questions. A mysterious woman in red at the funeral hints at the truth, leading Belle to the enigmatic spa, La Maison de Méduse. There, she unravels the chilling secret behind her mother’s fixation with mirrors and is drawn into a surreal world where beauty, envy, and grief collide. This book is a surreal blend of Snow White and Eyes Wide Shut, delving into the cult-like beauty industry and the perils of internalising its unforgiving standards, while exploring the complex love between mothers and daughters.
We’ve paired the hints of darkness with a black stout. Brewed with masses of cherry juice, lactose sugar is added to balance the tartness of the cherries, with a malt bill designed to add chocolate and roasted flavours. The result is an easy-drinking fruity stout.
Dragged Up Proppa + Educated Insolence
First & Last X Stu Brew: Educated Insolence – Witbier (4.2%).
Dragged Up Proppa: Growing up in Britain’s Forgotten North: Pip Fallow
Pip Fallow’s life began in a coal miner’s cottage near Durham, destined for the pit until the mine’s closure left him on the dole queue. He shares his journey of growing up, “dragged up proppa,” and navigating a world shaped by deindustrialisation. Fallow’s account sheds light on pressing issues in modern Britain, including the north-south divide, social mobility, and the broken promises that continue to affect his village and politics today. His memoir embodies the experiences of a generation prepared for a life that vanished, of communities eroded, and a way of life no longer seen in contemporary Britain.
Travel and knowledge are also key in this collaboration between Northumberland’s First & Last Brewery and Newcastle University’s Stu Brew. The result is a Belgian-style witbier, brewed with orange, lemon, coriander and chamomile flowers.
Open Throat + Kiburi
Full Circle Brew Co.: Kiburi – Session Stout (4.1%).
Open Throat: Henry Hoke
In drought-stricken Hollywood hills, a curious and hungry mountain lion protects a homeless encampment and contemplates their identity, but a fire forces them into the city. As they navigate the harsh realities of Los Angeles, the lion must decide between consuming a person or becoming one, raising questions about their survival and transformation.
The accompanying beer is brewed with Willamette hops which bring fruity, earthy notes along with a soft body from the oats. Kiburi is the perfect balance between coffee and chocolate. And if you’re wondering what links this beer to this book, Kiburi is the Swahili translation of ‘Pride.’
Everybody Knows + Smoking Blonde
Durham Brewery: Smoking Blonde – Golden Ale (6.0%).
Everybody Knows: Jordan Harper
Enter Mae Pruett’s LA, where she’s a ‘black-bag’ publicist tasked with concealing Hollywood scandals. When her boss is murdered, she teams up with her ex-boyfriend to unearth the truth, setting off a high-octane exploration of the dark side of contemporary Hollywood. Mae battles to redeem herself and protect her own life, challenging the corrupt system she’s long upheld.
With all of the smoke and mirrors in Hollywood, this golden ale is the perfect accompaniment to Harper’s latest work. With an aroma of oak smoked peach derived from the use of Citra hops and oak smoked wheat, you can expect a full velvety mouthfeel with soft marmalade bitterness, smoked peach in the body with a kick of coriander, leading to a smokey finish.
Prophet + Dreamcatcher
North Pier Brew Co.: Dreamcatcher – Pale Ale (4.2%).
Prophet: Helen MacDonald + Sin Blache
An all-American diner appears overnight in a remote British field. And the deaths quickly follow. A weapon like no other – Prophet – is targeting innocent people. But nobody knows who created it, or why.
If you’re ready to let your imagination run wild, this gluten-free gold-medal-winning pale ale, brewed with Chinook and Cascade hops, is set to catch those dreams.
You Can Run + Ruby Rooo
Play Brew Co: Ruby Roo – Rhubarb & Custard Milkshake Pale Ale (5.4%).
You Can Run: Trevor Wood
When her reclusive father unexpectedly welcomes a stranger into their home, Ruby eavesdrops on their argument, but it’s the stranger who ends up injured. With little time to spare, her father instructs her to pack and run from their Northumbrian cottage, offering no explanations. As they attempt to escape, her father is captured, leaving Ruby with no choice but to seek help from the villagers she’s long avoided. Desperate to uncover the truth behind her father’s abduction and the mysteries surrounding their past, she risks discovering that her entire life has been built on a foundation of lies.
From one Ruby to another, this classic (and nostalgic) beer combination will take you right back to your favourite boiled sweet treat of yesteryear. Moreish and delicious, it’s hard to put this one down. The milk sugars balance the sharp fruit to make you feel like you’ve been t’shop fir a quarter of sweets.
Twelve Moons + Twice in a Blue Moon
Wylam: Twice in a Blue Moon – DIPA (8.2%).
Twelve Moons: A Year Under a Shared Sky: Caro Giles
This book chronicles a year in the life of Caro Giles and her daughters on the remote Northumberland coast. Bound by circumstances and single motherhood, Caro finds solace in the ever-changing moon and the wild landscape. This honest memoir unfolds month by month, revealing the hidden power in our everyday lives, set against the backdrop of nature’s beauty. It’s a story of self-discovery, love, and the connection we share with the moon, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, we’re never truly alone.
With a hop bill of Citra, Strata, Nectaron and HBC 586, this DIPA features tropical notes of guava and nectarine to the front of the palate. Big, juicy, and dangerously moreish, this beer complements the changing of the seasons and stands tall amongst the Wylam DIPA dynasty.
Go read!
Want more? Check out the links for past Books ‘n’ Beer Pairings below: