Brewery Name: Northern Monk
Beer Style: Porter (Spiced / Winter Porter)
ABV: 5.2%
Brewed In: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

Tasting Notes

Today’s beer is Festive Star 2025, a winter seasonal Porter from Northern Monk brewed with vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate. Rich, warming and indulgent, it’s one of those perfect fireside beers that feels tailor-made for Christmas week.

Appearance: Deep brown to jet black with a dense tan head and smooth, creamy lacing.
Aroma: Sweet chocolate, soft vanilla, warming cinnamon and roasted malt. Subtle festive spice mingles with cocoa-like depth.
Flavour: Smooth chocolate and caramelised malt lead the way, followed by layers of vanilla sweetness and a gentle cinnamon warmth. The base porter provides roast, cocoa and a touch of bitterness to keep everything balanced.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and silky with soft carbonation. The finish is warming, slightly sweet and rich without being heavy.

A festive hug of a beer — cosy, chocolatey and perfect for Advent’s final stretch.

About the Brewery: Northern Monk

Northern Monk, founded in 2013 in Leeds, has become one of the most influential breweries in the UK craft beer scene. They’ve built their reputation on flavour-driven, thoughtful brewing — from hop-forward hazy beers to deep, rich stouts and seasonal special releases like Festive Star.

Their annual festive porters are a highlight of the winter calendar. Festive Star takes a classic porter base and adds vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate to create an indulgent but balanced seasonal beer that never feels heavy. Northern Monk’s skill lies in taking bold flavours and weaving them into something smooth, drinkable and beautifully layered.

If you’d like to explore more expressive beers and winter warmers, browse our
Stout & Porter range.

Style Spotlight: Spiced Winter Porter

Winter Porters often take the classic porter template and layer in dessert-like or festive additions — chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, or other warming spices — to create a richer, more indulgent experience.

Key Characteristics:

• Dark brown to black colour
• Chocolate and roasted malt base
• Sweet notes from vanilla or caramel
• Warming baking spices
• Soft bitterness, smooth body
• Comforting, dessert-like finish

Festive Star is a prime example: chocolate-forward, softly spiced and perfectly balanced for winter sipping.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

For more rich and festive winter beers, explore our
Stout & Porter collection

Support exceptional breweries from across the UK and Ireland via our
Craft Beer selection

If you enjoy dessert-inspired beers, you might also like our
Other Beer Styles section

Each offers plenty of cosy winter character and sweet-spiced depth.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 21?

Snap a photo of your Northern Monk Festive Star 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!