Books ‘n’ Beer Pairings #6
Happy Bookshop Day to all of the book lovers and beer fans out there! As the weather starts to turn a little greyer and the jumpers come out of storage, we’re officially switching to hibernation mode, and what better way to get cosy than with a good book in one hand and a great local beer in the other?
To celebrate the incredible independent bookshops of the North East, we’ve once again teamed up with our friends at Forum Books for our sixth year running! Together, we’ve created the ultimate beer and book pairing guide, matching Helen’s expertly chosen titles with some of the finest North East beers.
Each of the beers featured has been lovingly sourced (either straight from the brewery or via Rehill’s of Jesmond) and sent over to Helen for her signature pairing magic and wonderful photos to bring it all to life.
You’ll find handy links below to pick up both the recommended books and beers. And if something’s out of stock, don’t worry — your local bottle shop will be able to help you track it down or find a suitable substitute. Or just grab a paperback, head to your favourite pub, and create your own perfect pairing!
As always, we’d love to hear from you. What are you reading, and which beers are keeping you company? Join the conversation with us over on Bluesky!
The Books ‘n’ Beer Pairings
The Long Shoe + Radgies of the Sky
Flash House X Hazy Daze: Radgies of the Sky – Dafty Juice Canny Good IPA (4.3%)
The Long Shoe: Bob Mortimer
If ever there was a beer to sip while losing yourself in Bob Mortimer’s brilliantly offbeat world, Dafty Juice is the one. Despite the tall tales about being brewed in barrels that once held chips, pasties (and tabs for irate sailors), this IPA is North East craft through and through; a canny blend of malt and hops that delivers just the right kick. It’s bright, bold, and a little daft in the best possible way…much like Mortimer’s humour.
In The Long Shoe, we meet Matt, a bathroom salesman down on his luck, whose life takes a strange turn when a too-good-to-be-true job offer lands in his lap. What follows is a mix of mischief, mystery, and that unmistakable Mortimer magic, full of heart, oddballs, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Crack open a cold Dafty Juice, get comfy, and let this pairing remind you why the North East does two things better than anyone else: storytelling and brewing. It’s quirky, comforting, and guaranteed to leave you grinning.
The Lamb + In Bloom
Vaux Brewery: In Bloom – Raspberry & Apricot Sour (4.2%)
The Lamb: Lucy Rose
Tart, sharp, and quietly beautiful, In Bloom is a sour that demands attention. Packed with raspberry and apricot, this vibrant pink pour is a sweet shiver in a glass, refreshing, a little wild, and full of unexpected depth. It’s the perfect match for Lucy Rose’s haunting debut, The Lamb, a dark folk tale that lures you into the woods and refuses to let go.
Margot and her mother live alone at the edge of a forest, welcoming lost souls to their cottage with food, warmth, and something far more dangerous. As a snowstorm rages and a new stranger arrives, Margot begins to question her mother’s desires and her own. What follows is a chilling, tender story about hunger, love, and what happens when the line between care and consumption begins to blur.
Drink slowly, let the sour bite linger, and sink into the eerie beauty of Rose’s storytelling. In Bloom captures the same mix of sweetness and sting that runs through The Lamb, a pairing that’s as unsettling as it is irresistible.
Muckle Flugga + Storm Porter
Cullercoats Brewery: Storm Porter – All English Porter (4.4%)
Muckle Flugga: Michael Pedersen
Dark, smooth, and full of malty richness, Storm Porter is the kind of beer that feels like home with every sip. Roasted coffee and biscuit aromas mingle with creamy malt flavours, and subtle fruity notes from Bramling Cross, Challenger, and Admiral hops add a gentle lift. It’s warming, comforting, and perfectly matched to the windswept, rugged world of Michael Pedersen’s Muckle Flugga.
Life on the remote island of Muckle Flugga is anything but ordinary. The lighthouse keeper and his enigmatic son Ouse live a quiet existence, shaped by the wild elements and the unyielding rocks around them. Everything changes when Firth, a chaotic writer from Edinburgh, arrives. His presence tests family bonds, unsettles old traditions, and forces Ouse to navigate the tug of war between past and future.
Enjoy Storm Porter as you follow the story, letting its rich, roasted depth echo the island’s isolation and the shifting tides of loyalty and love. This pairing captures the strength, complexity, and subtle warmth of a place and story that lingers long after the last page is turned.
Soyangri Book Kitchen + Togarashi Gose
Donzoko: Togarashi Gose – Gose (3.4%)
Soyangri Book Kitchen: Kim Jee Hye
Togarashi Gose is a bright, lively sour that dances on the palate. With Japanese seven spice, yuzu, black and white sesame, seaweed, chili, Japanese pepper, and a hint of ginger, this sessionable beer is tart, spicy, and utterly refreshing. Its playful complexity makes it the perfect companion to Kim Jee Hye’s heartwarming debut, Soyangri Book Kitchen.
In a peaceful village far from the bustle of Seoul, Yoojin runs a unique sanctuary where books, food, and hospitality intertwine. Over the course of a year, seven visitors arrive at her book kitchen, each at a turning point in their lives. As they experience overnight stays surrounded by shelves of books and the warmth of Yoojin’s care, their lives begin to subtly transform.
Sip Togarashi Gose as you follow their journeys, letting the tart and spicy notes mirror the delicate magic of the book kitchen. This pairing is refreshing, comforting, and full of surprises, a little like discovering your new favourite book tucked between shelves in a quiet corner.
Picks and Shovels + We Need A Bigger Dumpster
Twice Brewed: We Need A Bigger Dumpster – Cryo IPA (6.1%)
Picks and Shovels: Cory Doctorow
We Need A Bigger Dumpster is a bold, hazy IPA bursting with citrus and tropical fruit flavours from Cryo Citra and Cryo Idaho 7 hops. At 6.1%, it’s a big, vibrant beer that demands attention, perfectly matched to the high-stakes, adrenaline-fuelled world of Cory Doctorow’s Picks and Shovels.
Set in 1986 San Francisco, the story follows Martin Hench, an MIT dropout who reinvents the forensic accountant for the digital age. He finds himself swept up in the cutthroat world of Silicon Valley startups, navigating betrayal, intrigue, and the electrifying rise of Computing Freedom. With every twist and turn, Martin and his allies face dangers that could upend everything they thought they knew about technology, power, and survival.
Drink We Need A Bigger Dumpster as you dive into Doctorow’s fast-paced, tech-fuelled thriller. Its bold, complex flavours mirror the risk, ingenuity, and energy of a city on the brink of a digital revolution, making this pairing a perfect storm of hops and high-octane storytelling.
The Wolf of Whindale + Mooch
Two by Two: Mooch – Pale Ale (4.5%)
The Wolf of Whindale: Jacob Kerr
Mooch is a brand new session IPA that’s easy drinking, smashable, and packed with tropical hop juice from Nectaron and Krush hops. At 4.5%, it’s light, bright, and effortlessly refreshing — the perfect companion to Jacob Kerr’s darkly imaginative northern horror, The Wolf of Whindale.
Set in the pit towns of Northalbion, unrest is brewing and townsfolk are turning up mauled. Locals whisper about the murderous and mythical Wolf of Whindale. Caleb, recently banished for crossing a picket line, is forced to work with pit owner and antiquarian Mr Siskin, who seeks an ancient artefact that may hold magical powers. As they search lonely, storm-lashed landscapes, danger lurks at every turn, whether from man, beast, or something altogether stranger.
Enjoy Mooch as you follow Kerr’s lush and twisted tale, letting the pale ale’s tropical brightness balance the story’s dark, stormy northern landscape. This pairing delivers a mix of magic, menace, and mystery that will keep you turning pages and sipping happily until the last drop.
Service + Lush
Wylam Brewery: Lush – Luscious Pale Ale (4.2%)
Service: Anna Hedworth
Lush is a fresh, delicate, and deliciously drinkable pale ale. With a restrained dry hop using Citra and Idaho 7, it’s zesty, zingy, and squeaky clean, with bright notes of grapefruit, Amalfi lemon, and nectarine flesh. Its refreshing balance makes it the perfect companion to Anna Hedworth’s thoughtful culinary journey in Service.
In Service, Anna takes the reader through a full day in her restaurant, from breakfast to post-dinner prep, sharing the rhythms, challenges, and joys of professional cooking. Her recipes are simple, seasonal, and full of character, from Spiced Pancakes with Poached Rhubarb and Raspberry to BBQ Bavette with Courgettes and Sriracha Aioli, finishing with indulgent treats like Blood Orange, Cardamom, and Olive Oil Cake.
Sip Lush as you explore Hedworth’s world of ingredients, kitchens, and heartfelt meals. The pale ale’s crisp, refreshing flavours mirror the precision, care, and subtle complexity of her cooking, making this pairing a perfect taste of contemporary northeast England, both on the page and in the glass.
Northumbria AD 367-867 + Northumbrian Gold
Hadrian Border Brewery: Northumbrian Gold – Golden Ale (4.5%)
Northumbria AD 367-867: Colm O’Brien & Max Adams
Northumbrian Gold is a light golden ale with a gentle biscuit malt flavour balanced by floral and aromatic hops. Its classy, approachable taste makes it a perfect companion to the rich and detailed history captured in Northumbria AD 367-867.
This book explores the lands between the Forth and the Humber from the end of the Roman period to the Viking kingdom of York. It is the age of Lindisfarne, Bede, and legendary figures like Edwin, Oswald, Hild, Cuthbert, and Wilfrid. Through fresh archaeological evidence and historical research, Colm O’Brien and Max Adams reveal how Northumbria became a powerhouse of culture, intellect, and creativity. Themes of landscape, power, and the influence of elite women are woven into the story of a region whose legacy shaped the wider world.
Open a bottle of Northumbrian Gold as you journey through Early Medieval Northumbria, letting its crisp, golden taste mirror the clarity and richness of the history on the page. This pairing celebrates both the elegance of a well-crafted ale and the brilliance of a region that forged a lasting cultural and intellectual legacy.
Finnish Sauna + Spruce
First & Last Brewery: Spruce – Sprucetip Saison (4.6%)
Finnish Sauna: Lassi A. Liikkanen
Spruce Saison is a dry, crisp, and gently spicy wheat beer brewed with freshly foraged sprucetips. Its subtle pine notes and lemon zest aroma make it bright, refreshing, and full of character. Every sip feels like a breath of clean air after a long day, making it the perfect partner for Lassi A. Liikkanen’s guide to the soothing world of sauna.
In Finnish Sauna, Liikkanen, a leading global expert, explores the history, culture, and science behind one of the oldest and most restorative wellness traditions. From practical tips on how to plan, build, and maintain your own sauna to the deep-rooted customs and calm of Nordic life, this book is both an instruction manual and a celebration of slow living.
Enjoy Spruce Saison as you read, letting its crisp pine and citrus notes echo the natural simplicity and quiet clarity of the sauna. This pairing is fresh, grounding, and restorative — a reminder to pause, breathe, and take pleasure in life’s simple rituals.
The Killing Stones + Dirty Deeds
Allendale Brewery: Dirty Deeds – New England IPA (6.6%)
The Killing Stones: Ann Cleeves
Dirty Deeds is a bold, hazy New England IPA brewed in the heart of England’s last wilderness. Packed with tropical hop flavour and a smooth, juicy finish, it captures the spirit of freedom and adventure that runs through everything Allendale creates. It’s full-bodied, modern, and just the right kind of mysterious, making it a perfect match for Ann Cleeves’ gripping new mystery, The Killing Stones.
Detective Jimmy Perez returns for the first time since the beloved Shetland series, now living in Orkney with his partner Willow and their young son. When a ferocious storm lashes the islands, it reveals a shocking discovery — the body of Archie Stout, a beloved member of the local community. The murder weapon, a Neolithic stone carved with ancient inscriptions, hints at secrets buried deep in the island’s past.
As Perez unravels the truth among familiar faces and old loyalties, the wild beauty of Orkney mirrors the storm inside the story. Pair it with Dirty Deeds, a beer that’s just as layered and atmospheric. Together, they capture the rugged landscapes, restless tension, and quiet resilience that define both the islands and the people who call them home.
Want more? Check out the links for past Books ‘n’ Beer Pairings below:
