Brewery Name: Vocation Brewery
Beer Style: Imperial / Double White Stout
ABV: 7%
Brewed In: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England

Tasting Notes

Today’s beer is a rich and comforting seasonal treat from Vocation Brewery — a Bread & Butter Pudding White Stout inspired by the warm flavours of the classic dessert. Despite its pale golden appearance, it delivers all the indulgent aroma and flavour of a stout, creating a playful contrast between how it looks and how it drinks.

Appearance: Pale gold with a soft haze and a creamy white head. Looks bright and inviting, more like a golden ale than a stout.
Aroma: Vanilla custard, caramelised sugar, dried fruit and gentle spice. Notes of sultanas, nutmeg and Ceylon cinnamon make it instantly reminiscent of winter baking.
Flavour: Sweet vanilla, soft toffee and biscuit-like malt form the base, layered with dried fruit character and warm spices. The sweetness is rounded and creamy, with a subtle toasted note that echoes bread and butter pudding.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, full and silky with soft carbonation. Sweet but balanced, with a gentle warmth from the 7% ABV that enhances the dessert-like profile.

A decadent Advent beer — nostalgic, warming and ideal for a cosy December evening.

About the Brewery: Vocation Brewery

Vocation Brewery, founded in 2015 by John Hickling in the hills of West Yorkshire, has become one of the driving forces of modern British craft beer. What began as a small, independent operation has grown into a widely recognised brewery known for expressive, flavour-forward styles and bold recipe design.

Vocation specialise in hop-heavy IPAs, rich stouts and innovative limited releases like today’s beer. Their approach blends technical brewing expertise with creative flair, whether they’re crafting a soft and juicy New England IPA or a dessert-inspired stout. Bread & Butter Pudding White Stout showcases this adventurous streak — taking familiar, comforting flavours and reimagining them in a pale, silky stout with layers of spice, vanilla and dried fruit.

The brewery’s commitment to quality and experimentation has earned them a strong reputation across the UK and beyond, making them a go-to name for beer lovers who enjoy expressive and flavour-driven releases.

If you’d like to explore more independent breweries, browse our
Craft Beer collection.

Style Spotlight: White Stout

White Stout is a playful and imaginative style that delivers the flavours of a stout while keeping the appearance pale and golden. Instead of the roasted malts used in dark stouts, brewers build flavour using ingredients like vanilla, cacao nibs, coffee, caramel, biscuit malts and spices.

Key Characteristics:

• Pale gold or amber colour
• Vanilla, caramel and biscuit notes
• Soft, creamy sweetness
• Dessert-like aroma and flavour
• Low bitterness, smooth texture

Vocation’s Bread & Butter Pudding version channels classic British pudding flavours — vanilla custard, sweet spice and dried fruit — creating a dessert-forward beer perfect for the festive season.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

For more dessert-inspired beers, take a look at our
Stout & Porter section

If you want to explore other expressive, flavour-forward styles, browse our
Craft Beer collection

Prefer something lighter but still smooth? Try our
Wheat Beer range

Great choices for anyone who enjoys sweet, comforting and seasonal flavours.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 14?

Snap a photo of your Vocation Bread & Butter Pudding White Stout and share it with us — tag @TheCru.ie and use #TheCruIE on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube.
We love seeing where everyone is enjoying their Advent beers throughout December!