Give To Gain
Northern Monk Brew Co. in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England 🏴
Amber / Red Ale - Irish Special|
Score
6.96
|
|
Lead by some of our incredible brewers, Sophie, Vismaya and Chloe, this year’s release for Internation Women’s Day is a delicious malt-forward and lightly herbal Irish Red Ale.
The theme of this year’s IWD is ‘Give to Gain’, a campaign to encourage a mindset of generosity and collaboration. We wanted that to be part of the beers journey this year. After plenty of wide-ranging conversations, and a couple of tastings, our team settled on a more unusual (for us) style after being voted for in-house by staff of various genders from across the business. The recipe creation, brew, artwork and photography were all lead and produced by women.
For this exciting release we’ve used whole cone Harlequin and East Kent Goldings hops in the whirlpool, and we're using WLP004 Irish Ale Yeast from Whitelabs that had been kindly donated and is usually found in classic Irish stouts. The result is a vibrant and refreshing red ale with a lingering biscuity sweetness.
The theme of this year’s IWD is ‘Give to Gain’, a campaign to encourage a mindset of generosity and collaboration. We wanted that to be part of the beers journey this year. After plenty of wide-ranging conversations, and a couple of tastings, our team settled on a more unusual (for us) style after being voted for in-house by staff of various genders from across the business. The recipe creation, brew, artwork and photography were all lead and produced by women.
For this exciting release we’ve used whole cone Harlequin and East Kent Goldings hops in the whirlpool, and we're using WLP004 Irish Ale Yeast from Whitelabs that had been kindly donated and is usually found in classic Irish stouts. The result is a vibrant and refreshing red ale with a lingering biscuity sweetness.
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6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 5.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Keg draught at the Sandstone, Chester. Brownish red, translucent with a spotty buff-coloured head. Light malty aroma, not much to it but that's in keeping with the style. Delicious chewy malt in the taste, little touches of berry. Fades to a gentle astringent. Light body with carbonation ramped up. What it's supposed to be.
Tried
from Draft
at
Sandstone
on 17 May 2026
at 11:46
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
440ml can. Lightly hazed reddy brown with a beige head. Aroma of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, dark fruit hints. Taste of sweet malts, biscuity, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, dark fruit hints. Medium bodied.
Tried
from Can
from Northern Monk Webshop
on 18 Apr 2026
at 19:07
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6.5
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Keg at the Old Flax Store / NM Refectory, Leeds, 14/04/2026.
Reddish amber topped with a beige head.
Nose is dried fruit esters, grains, biscuit, touch of caramel.
Taste comprises fruit rinds, caramel wafer, biscuit, straw.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a light bitter edge.
Fine for the style.
Reddish amber topped with a beige head.
Nose is dried fruit esters, grains, biscuit, touch of caramel.
Taste comprises fruit rinds, caramel wafer, biscuit, straw.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a light bitter edge.
Fine for the style.
Tried
on 14 Apr 2026
at 11:05
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Can from House Of Trembling Madness. Hazy ruby body with a thin beige head. Steady carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of toffee and burnt sugar. Flavour of glazed cherry and caramel. Medium body with a slick mouthfeel. Soft fizz. Sweet and simple. Very enjoyable.
Tried
from Can
at
House Of The Trembling Madness (Lendal)
on 04 Apr 2026
at 12:31
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
My second Monk beer in my first Monk visit to the third Monk bar to open. It is a solid sweetish red ale with plenty of body and very drinkable. Reddish-brown in colour. It's a little dark-malty in both aroma and taste, which is probably why it is agreeing with me.
Tried
from Draft
at
Northern Monk Refectory YRK
on 13 Mar 2026
at 15:58