Two new brews for darker days: meet Badger Frost & Fable and Outland Darkspire
As the nights draw in, two new beers are making their way to Hall & Woodhouse pubs, each approaching the colder months from a rather different direction.
From Badger comes Frost & Fable, a warming 4.3% Dark Ale made for fireside evenings and long nights in the pub. Then, venturing into altogether darker territory, Outland Darkspire is a 5% Coconut & Cocoa Stout that brings rich, roasted flavours and a more curious twist to the winter line-up.
Two beers. Two very different characters. And plenty of thought behind both.
Frost & Fable: a beer built for winter
Some beers simply feel right at a particular time of year. Frost & Fable started with exactly that thought: creating a dark, malt-led ale that comes into its own when the temperature drops and evenings stretch a little longer.
The name captures that world. Frost sets the season, while Fable nods to those stories shared over a pint when everyone has settled in for the evening. It's a distinctly Badger combination of place, character and storytelling. The recipe follows the same idea.
Extra Dark Crystal and Caramel malts provide the depth, colour and sweetness at its heart, bringing toasted malt, toffee and caramel notes. Traditional Fuggles and Target hops provide the earthy bitterness needed to balance that richer malt character.
The result? A pint that feels like "Winter's warm embrace." A deep amber-brown ale that's robust without becoming heavy, finishing smooth and warming.
Frost and Fable is very much at home when frost settles on the windowpane and firelight flickers.
Darkspire: answer the call
Outland's winter seasonal takes a different route.
Darkspire begins with an image: a mysterious dark tower on the horizon, impossible to ignore and tempting you to find out what’s waiting beyond it.
That sense of curiosity became the inspiration for a 5% Coconut & Cocoa Stout, taking the familiar roasted character of a stout somewhere a little less expected.
Pouring almost midnight black, Darkspire combines roasted malt character with dark chocolate and toasted coconut notes. Cocoa brings depth and richness, coconut adds a subtle sweetness, while oats help create the exceptionally smooth body running through the beer.
It's indulgent and full-flavoured, but designed to remain approachable and easy drinking. A stout for established dark-beer drinkers, certainly, but also an invitation for anyone curious enough to venture beyond their usual pint.
Darkness beckons.
Two different sides of winter
Frost & Fable and Darkspire might share a season, but they weren’t created to tell the same story.
Frost & Fable leans into everything Badger does best: a characterful British ale, traditional ingredients and the simple pleasure of settling into the pub when it's cold outside.
Darkspire takes Outland's more exploratory approach, using the stout style as a starting point before heading somewhere different with cocoa and coconut.
Together, they give drinkers two very different reasons to try something new this winter, whether that means rediscovering the comfort of a malt-led dark ale or following Outland into altogether darker territory.
Frost & Fable and Darkspire are rolling out across selected Hall & Woodhouse pubs* this November through January.
And if Darkspire calls when you’re nowhere near the pub, you can answer from home too, as we’ve just launched our new stout in 440ml cans on our online shop, bringing its cocoa, coconut and roasted depths beyond the bar.
So, which way will you go this winter? Pull up a chair with Frost & Fable, or answer the call of the Darkspire.
*We recommend checking ahead with your local pub to avoid disappointment.
